Approaching the West — Page 91
A pproaching the West—91 This charge I commit onto you … fight a good fight; holding faith, and a good conscience. (1 Timothy, 1:18) In the same Epistle, St. Paul wrote, But they that will be rich fall into temptation and snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee from these things and follow after righteousness, goodness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy, 6:9-12) This fighting the good fight, holding faith and good conscience, laying hold of eternal life is what we call the real Jih ā d in Isl ā m. It is entering through the narrow gate. It is staying on the straight path. The next form of Jih ā d is the struggle to improve the quality of social life by removing societal evils and establishing good moral values. This is Jih ā d against poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, immorality and crime. Social and moral reformation under the guidance of the Qur’ ā n is called the “Jih ā dan Kab ī ran”—a “mighty striving”—the Great Jih ā d (25:53). The last form of Jih ā d is to repel an armed