Through Force or Faith? — Page 115
Chapter 2 — Islamic Teachings about Jihad 115 Jihad as Striving with Wealth, that is, Spending in the Path of God This is how the Holy Quran ordains about this form of jihad : ْمُتْنُك َنْوُمَلْعَتاْوُرِفْنِا اًفاَفِخ َّو اًلاَقِث َّو اْوُدِهاَج ْمُكِلاَوْمَاِب َو ْمُكِسُفْنَا ْيِف ِلْيِبَس ِهّٰللا١ؕ ْمُكِلٰذ ٌرْيَخ ْمُكَّل ْنِا Go forth, light and heavy, and strive with your property and your persons in the cause of Allah. That is better for you, if only you knew. ( S u rah at-Taubah, 9:41) Striving with wealth is mentioned in the Holy Quran in differ- ent forms and repeatedly. In this context. It is particularly impor- tant to bear in mind that in every instance, striving with wealth is mentioned first and the striving with life later. Thus Allah, the Exalted, clarifies the significance of striving with wealth and also defines the relative importance of striving with sword. This sub- ject is mentioned at following places as well: ( S u rah an-Nis a ’, 4:95, S u rah at-Taubah, 9:20, S u rah at-Taubah, 9:88, S u rah a s - S aff, 61:12, S u rah al- H ujur a t, 49:16, S u rah al-Anf a l, 8:73). Jihad as Striving with Sword, that is, Armed Engagement In the broader application of the term jihad , religious wars are also included by extension. But, alas in this age, it has been restricted to military conflict only. Yet, it is absolutely wrong because wher- ever only war is mentioned in the Holy Quran, the word ‘to kill’