RS26: Jihad

☪️ Jihad: Striving in the Way of Allah

📋 Greater and Lesser Jihad

📋 Conditions for Lesser Jihad (Armed Combat)

• Must be declared by a legitimate religious authority (not individuals)
• Must be a last resort — all peaceful options exhausted first
• Must be in self-defence or to remove oppression — NOT to force conversion
• Non-combatants (women, children, elderly) must not be harmed
• Property, crops and places of worship must not be destroyed
• Prisoners must be treated humanely
• The Qur'an states: "If they seek peace, then seek peace" (Surah 8:61)

❓ Practice Questions

✅ Answers

1. Greater jihad is the internal, spiritual struggle every Muslim faces daily — resisting temptation, controlling anger, being patient, praying regularly and trying to become a better Muslim. Muhammad said after a battle: "We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad." Lesser jihad is the external struggle, which may include armed combat to defend Islam or fight injustice. It has strict conditions: it must be declared by legitimate authority, be a last resort, and protect non-combatants. Most Muslims focus on greater jihad as the primary meaning.

🎯 Exam Tips

• Always refer to specific sources of authority (scripture, sacred texts, religious leaders)
• Explain contrasting beliefs — different views within and between traditions
• Use key terminology precisely (e.g. tawhid, atonement, sanctity of life)
• For 12-mark evaluation questions, consider both sides before reaching a justified conclusion
• Link beliefs to their impact on individuals, communities and society
• Acknowledge diversity — no religious tradition has a single, uniform view

📝 Exam Technique

⚠️ Common Errors

✍️ Model Answer

📊 AO Deep Dive

📖 Detailed Notes: Jihad

💡 Greater Jihad: The Internal Spiritual Struggle

Jihad means “struggle” or “striving” and is one of the most misunderstood concepts in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad described the “greater jihad” as the internal spiritual struggle against sin and temptation that every Muslim faces daily. This includes resisting selfish desires, controlling anger, being honest in difficult situations, giving charity when money is tight, and maintaining prayer discipline. The Qur’an states: “Those who strive in Our cause, We will surely guide them to Our ways” (Surah 29:69). Greater jihad is the daily effort to live as a good Muslim in a world full of distractions and temptations. For British Muslims, greater jihad might include resisting peer pressure to drink alcohol or take drugs, maintaining prayer while working long hours, or wearing hijab in a society where it may attract negative attention.

The concept of greater jihad emphasises that the most important battle a Muslim fights is within themselves. The Prophet said: “The mujahid (one who strives) is he who strives against his own self for the sake of Allah” (Hadith). This understanding of jihad as primarily spiritual and internal is shared by the vast majority of Muslim scholars worldwide. It applies to every aspect of daily life: the struggle to be patient, to be generous, to control one’s temper, to speak truthfully and to fulfil one’s religious obligations. Many British Muslims describe the challenge of maintaining Islamic values in a secular, consumerist society as the greatest form of jihad they face.

🔍 Lesser Jihad: Armed Struggle Under Strict Conditions

Lesser jihad refers to armed struggle, which is permitted under strict conditions in Islamic law. The Qur’an allows self-defence: “Permission to fight is given to those who are fought against, because they have been wronged” (Surah 22:39-40). The conditions for lesser jihad include: it must be in self-defence or to protect the innocent; it must be declared by a legitimate authority (a recognised government or religious leader); it must be a last resort after all peaceful options have been exhausted; it must be proportionate — no more force than necessary; and non-combatants (civilians, women, children, the elderly) must not be targeted. Forced conversion is explicitly forbidden: “There is no compulsion in religion” (Surah 2:256). These conditions are very similar to the Christian Just War criteria developed by Augustine and Aquinas.

Terrorism — the deliberate targeting of civilians to spread fear for political ends — violates every condition of lesser jihad and is condemned by the vast majority of Muslim scholars and institutions worldwide. The Muslim Council of Britain, the largest Muslim umbrella organisation in the UK, has consistently condemned terrorist attacks, stating that they “are against the teachings of Islam.” The 7/7 London bombings (2005) and the Manchester Arena attack (2017) were carried out by individuals claiming Islamic justification, but mainstream Muslim scholars have overwhelmingly rejected these claims, arguing that the attacks violated the Qur’anic prohibition on killing innocents and the requirement that jihad can only be declared by legitimate authority.

⚖️ Jihad and British Muslim Identity

For British Muslims, the concept of jihad has become a source of both meaning and misunderstanding. The media often presents jihad as synonymous with violence and terrorism, creating a distorted picture that Muslim communities must constantly challenge. A 2018 survey by Hope Not Hate found that 93% of British Muslims rejected violence against civilians, and a 2022 ComRes poll found that 86% of British Muslims said that jihad was primarily a personal spiritual struggle rather than a call to arms. The gap between media representation and Muslim reality is a source of frustration and harm, contributing to Islamophobia and the stereotyping of British Muslims.

Many British Muslim organisations work to educate the public about the true meaning of jihad. Islamic societies at UK universities, the Muslim Council of Britain and individual mosques all teach that greater jihad — the daily struggle to live a good life — is the primary and most important form. The concept of ‘jihad of the tongue’ (speaking truth to power) and ‘jihad of the pen’ (using knowledge and education to promote justice) are also emphasised as forms of striving that are relevant to British Muslim life. For example, campaigning against Islamophobia, volunteering at food banks, pursuing education and working for social justice are all described by British Muslims as forms of jihad — striving in the way of Allah through positive action.

📊 Greater Jihad vs Lesser Jihad

❓ Additional Practice Questions

✅ Additional Answers

1. Greater jihad is the internal, spiritual struggle that every Muslim faces daily: resisting sin, controlling anger, being honest, giving charity and maintaining prayer discipline. The Prophet described it as the ‘greater’ jihad because it is constant and universal. Lesser jihad is armed struggle permitted under strict conditions: it must be in self-defence, declared by legitimate authority, a last resort, proportionate, and must not target civilians. The Prophet described it as ‘lesser’ because it is exceptional and limited. The vast majority of Muslim scholars teach that greater jihad is the primary and most important form, and that lesser jihad is only justified in rare and extreme circumstances.
2. On one hand, some might argue that lesser jihad (armed struggle) has no relevance in Britain, a democratic society where Muslims can live freely and practise their faith without persecution. British Muslims have no need to take up arms in self-defence. On the other hand, greater jihad — the daily struggle to live as a good Muslim — is highly relevant: resisting peer pressure, maintaining prayer and fasting in a secular society, combating Islamophobia and working for social justice are all forms of jihad that British Muslims face every day. Additionally, ‘jihad of the pen’ (education) and ‘jihad of the tongue’ (speaking truth) are highly relevant in a democratic society where free speech and civic participation are valued. A balanced view is that greater jihad is deeply relevant to British Muslim life, while lesser jihad in its legitimate form is not applicable in the British context.

📝 Exam Questions by Topic

• AQA Past Papers - Topic Questions -- AQA
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🎬 Video Resources

• BBC Bitesize - Islam
• Religious Studies YouTube