The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 319
9. JIHAD WITH THE SWORD. The philosophy of Jihad and its true significance is so recondite and profound a matter that the people of this age and those of the middle ages have committed grave mistakes on account of their failure to understand it, which has rendered the teachings of Islām open to the criticism of its opponents, whereas Islām is a holy religion which is a mirror of the law of nature and manifests the glory of God. . The root of the Arabic word Jihād means striving and has been metaphorically applied to fighting in the cause of religion. . . . . Why did Islam have to resort to fighting and what is the purpose of Jihad? With the very birth of Islām it was confronted with great difficulties and all peoples conceived enmity against it. It has always been the case that on the advent of a Prophet or a Messenger his opponents, perceiving that his followers are a company of earnest, righteous and courageous people who are likely to march forward quickly, begin to entertain rancour and jealousy against them. More particularly is that the case with the divines and leaders of every religion. . . . They begin to devise projects to harm the new faith. Very often they feel in their hearts that by persecuting a righteous one of. God they have become subject to God's wrath and their wrongful conduct also betrays that their hearts feel guilty, yet the fierce fire of jealousy drives them into the pits of enmity. These were the causes which not only 319