Jihad in the Quran

JIHAD IN THE QURAN The followers of Islam are commanded to support the Prophet, at the level of sacrifice, in dawah work, or inviting people to God. The phrase ‘jihad in the path of God’ means the Prophet’s dawah mission and not war. T he word ‘jihad’ or its derivatives have been used in the same sense as in the Arabic lexicon, engaging in great efforts for some purpose. The word ‘jihad’ appears four times in the Quran, and every time it is used in the sense of effort and struggle, and not directly as a synonym for war. In this regard, the translation of the first relevant Quranic verse is as follows: Say, “If your fathers and your sons and your brothers and your spouses and your tribe, and the worldly goods which you have acquired, and the commerce which you fear will decline, and the homes you love are dearer to you than God and His Messenger and the struggle for His cause, then wait until God fulfils His decree. God does not guide the disobedient people.” (9:24) In this verse, followers of Islam are commanded to support the Prophet, at the level of sacrifice, in the