09/10/2014

Good Morning.

One of the most misunderstood contemporary terms is ‘Jihad.’ It is used regularly in media reporting and almost always connected with violence and bloodshed. This is troubling as the term within the Islamic tradition means ‘to toil, to exert oneself, to strive and to struggle against difficulties. Rāzi, one of the leading commentators on the Qur‘ān, argues ‘that there is nothing in the word to indicate that this striving is to be effected by the sword.’ On returning from a battle, the Prophet informed his companions that they were returning from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad. Perplexed, the companions asked, what was the greater Jihad? The Prophet replied, it was the human beings struggle against selfish desires. The Prophetic traditions explain more fully the richness of the Islamic understanding of Jihad.

“A man asked: “Should I join the Jihād?” The Prophet replied “Do you have parents?” The man said yes. The Prophet replied: “Then perform Jihād by serving them!”

“What kind of Jihād is better?” The Prophet replied “A word of truth spoken in front of an oppressive ruler.”

Sufi literature is rich with stories of how Sufis have overcome their lower selves to achieve human excellence. One of the key ethical teachings of Sufis is the idea of husn-e-zann, that is having a good opinion of others. We can only live by such a teaching if we have first encountered our selves and understood our faults and shortcomings.

May we always seek out the good in others. Amin.