What is the real meaning of jihad in the Quran قرآن میں جہاد کا اصل مفہوم کیا ہے؟

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What is the real meaning of jihad in Quran?

I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah Almighty, we are beginning Statement No. 11. Our aim is to learn and teach from the Quran and Sunnah, understand the rulings, reflect on history, and seek solutions to problems with divine guidance. May Allah Almighty make this statement beneficial and a source of light for all hearts.

Today we will be describe, That What is the real meaning of jihad in Quran?

Classical scholars of Islam gave extensive commentary on the concept of jihad, particularly in Surah At-Tawbah, which is sometimes referred to as the “Surah of Jihad” because of its detailed discussion on striving in the path of Allah. Imam Ibn Kathir, in his famous Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim*, explained that the command in Surah At-Tawbah verse 41 – “Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah” – is a universal order directed to all Muslims, regardless of their circumstances, to dedicate themselves to the service of Allah’s religion. Ibn Kathir emphasized that jihad here means not only fighting with arms when necessary but also includes striving with wealth, knowledge, and truth. He noted that this verse was revealed during the campaign of Tabuk, when the hypocrites tried to stay behind by making excuses, but the sincere believers answered Allah’s call. For Ibn Kathir, jihad in this surah is about sincerity of commitment, proving one’s loyalty to Allah through sacrifice, and rejecting hypocrisy.

Imam al-Ghazali, in Ihya Ulum al-Din, took a more spiritual and moral perspective on jihad. He explained that the outer jihad (jihad al-sayf, fighting in defense) is important, but the inner jihad (jihad al-nafs, struggle against one’s lower desires) is the foundation. Citing the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH): “The most excellent jihad is that for the improvement of oneself”* (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2784), al-Ghazali stressed that without purification of the soul, physical jihad loses its true meaning. He tied this directly to Surah At-Tawbah’s condemnation of hypocrites (9:67–68), showing that the lack of inner sincerity was the real reason why many failed to participate in jihad. Thus, for al-Ghazali, the real meaning of jihad in Surah At-Tawbah is twofold: resisting enemies of Islam when necessary, and resisting the temptations of hypocrisy, laziness, and love of dunya (worldly life).

Other classical scholars such as Al-Tabari and Al-Qurtubi also gave rich insights. Imam Al-Tabari, in Jami‘ al-Bayan, highlighted Surah At-Tawbah 9:111, where Allah describes the transaction of purchasing the believers’ lives and wealth in return for Paradise. He interpreted this as a metaphor for complete submission, where jihad is the ultimate proof of faith. He wrote that jihad here is not limited to physical fighting but encompasses every form of striving to uphold Allah’s word, including teaching, preaching, supporting the poor, and protecting the Muslim community. Imam Al-Qurtubi, in Al-Jami‘ li Ahkam al-Qur’an, stressed that this verse should be understood in light of justice and mercy. He warned against interpreting jihad as aggression, quoting the hadith: “Fight in the cause of Allah but do not commit treachery, do not act harshly, do not kill a child, and do not destroy trees” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1731). This shows that Surah At-Tawbah’s call to jihad must be balanced with the Prophet’s ? strict ethical guidelines.

Moreover, scholars unanimously agreed that jihad in Surah At-Tawbah is a test of sincerity. Allah distinguishes true believers from hypocrites in verses such as verse 44 of Surah At-Tawbah : “Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day would not ask your permission to be excused from striving with their wealth and their lives. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous”. Ibn Kathir commented that this verse exposed the weak faith of those who sought excuses. For him, jihad here means demonstrating true iman by actions, not words. Similarly, al-Ghazali saw this as a reminder that jihad begins with self-accountability: purifying one’s heart so that when Allah calls, the believer responds without hesitation.

In conclusion, the classical scholars viewed jihad in Surah At-Tawbah as a comprehensive concept. Ibn Kathir emphasized its external duty of defending Islam and sacrificing wealth and life sincerely for Allah. Al-Ghazali highlighted the internal jihad of the self, without which external jihad is meaningless. Al-Tabari stressed submission to Allah through all forms of striving, while Al-Qurtubi clarified the ethical limits of jihad, preventing injustice. Together, their commentaries reveal that the real meaning of jihad in Surah At-Tawbah is a balance between external struggle for justice and internal struggle for sincerity, both of which define a true believer.

We conclude today's discourse with this humble supplication: O Allah, purify our hearts, accept our deeds, forgive our sins, and include us among Your grateful servants. Bless us in our time, our families, and our faith, and gather us under the shade of Your mercy on the Day of Judgment. Amen

Allah Hafiz

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