A Rejoinder to Pope's Allegations Against Islam — Page 37
2 The Jihad to preach the word of God through the Holy Quran and is called the greatest Jihad (Jihad Kabeer) This Jihad was also started the day the Holy Prophet started his mission and continued till the last breath of his life. All his companions (his followers who lived during his time) also tried their utmost to participate in this Jihad. During this Jihad, I mean the Jihad of preaching the word of God, some companions lost their lives, others their children, still others their properties, but they never ever gave up, or relented. Through this Jihad the Muslims were able to win the hearts of people, and to gather them under the banner of Islam. No sword was ever used for this jihad. Rather the sword was raised against the Muslims to stop them from preaching the word of Allah. But in spite of all these hardships and persecutions, through love and affection, through the beautiful teaching of the Holy Quran, through his excellent character, the Holy Prophet of Islam and his companions attracted the unbelievers towards Islam. 3 The Jihad that is waged against the enemy of freedom of conscious as also to fight in self-defense. This is called the lesser Jihad (Jihad Asghar). It is mentioned in the hadeeth (the recorded sayings of the Holy Prophet) that on returning from an expedition (Tabuk expedition) the Holy Prophet said: "We are returning from the Jihad Asghar (the lesser jihad of fighting in self-defense) to Jihad Akbar (struggle against oneselD. " This Jihad was not started like the other two types of Jihad with the appearance of the Holy Prophet of Islam. Rather it was started after 13 years of severe persecution of the Muslims. The history of Islam records how the Holy Prophet along with his followers faced hostility and enmity by his 37