The concept of Jihad

and wahhabism
Authors:Ganja Sabina-Carina;Cristea Diana
Scientific leader:Ejova Cristina
 The concept of jihad
 a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty
 from the Arabic root meaning “to strive,” “to exert,” “to fight”; may express a
struggle against one's evil inclinations or a struggle for the moral betterment of the
Islamic community.
 In a religious sense, as described by the Quran and teachings of the Prophet
Muhammad, “jihad” has many meanings. It can refer to internal as well as external
efforts to be a good Muslim or believer, as well as working to inform people about the
Islamic faith.
Lesser and greater jihad

 INNER(greater) Jihad -which involves a struggle against one's own

base impulses
 EXTERNAL(lesser)Jihad-is further subdivided into jihad of the
pen/tongue (debate or persuasion) and jihad of the sword
 Jihad is sometimes referred to as the sixth pillar of Islam, though this
designation is not commonly recognized.
 In Twelver Shi'a Islam, jihad is one of the ten Practices of the Religion.
 A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid (plural mujahideen).
 The term jihad is often rendered in English as "Holy War” although
this translation is controversial.
HISTORY
 Jihad is one of the principal obligations of the MUSLIM STATE and MUSLIM
COMMUNITY.
 It appeared “towards the end of the eighth century", using the doctrine of
naskh (that God gradually improved His revelations over the course of
Muhammed's mission).
 The duty of Jihad was a collective one (fard al-kifaya)
HOLY WAR
 According to the Islamic Supreme Council of America the Arabic word
“jihad” is often translated as “holy war”
 In a linguistic sense, the word “jihad” means struggling or striving.” The
Arabic word for war is: “al-harb” and not jihad.
 Jihad is not a war to force the Islamic faith on others
 “There is no compulsion in religion” Al-Baqarah
Wahhabism ‫الوهابية‬
 Wahhabism is a conservative movement within Islam's
Sunni branch. It's named after its founder, theologian
Mohamed ibn Abdul Wahhab, who was born in the 18th
century in what is now Saudi Arabia.
Where is Wahhabism practised?

 Wahhabism is extensively practised in Saudi Arabia

 Many people prefer to call themselves salafis
 in reference to the salaf – the first, second and third generation of people
who lived at the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
The main problem

 Wahhabism has become known as an intolerant and aggressive

form of Islam, both by Muslims and outsiders.
 The movement was associated with violence from the beginning
 In 2013, Strasbourg's European Parliament declared
Salafism/Wahhabism to be the main source of global terrorism
 According to the New Statesman, Wahhabism has also been
blamed for forming the root of Islamic State's ideology
What does the other side say?

 The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has declared that "the ideas of extremism,
radicalism and terrorism do not belong to Islam in any way.
 Wahhabism had become a "boogeyman" in the West, and that blaming
the movement for terrorism was a "dangerous red herring“
What is happening now?

 The extremists remain a force to be reckoned with.

 Theresa May's government has been sitting on its own report into
the foreign funding of extremism.
 Britain has been heavily criticised for selling billions of pounds' worth
of arms to the Saudi Arabia.