Sufi & Jihad.

This is coolbert:

Ever since the outrageous 9/11 attacks on the U.S., there has been an enormous amount of talk concerning the Islamic concept of jihad. "Holy War". To the westerner, this is an oxymoron. A contradiction of words that does not make sense.

Within Islamic circles, the word jihad is of course used and is part of the Koranic holy text. And Muslim advocates [apologists] of "understanding" with the west are quick to point out that there two meanings of the word  jihad.

There is one meaning that is called the lesser jihad. This is type of war that is recognized by the general public as WAR. Two groups, using arms, each trying to impose their will on own another.

There is a second meaning is called the greater jihad. This is not war in the common use of the WAR. This is for the individual Muslim who is striving to achieve moral perfection, to the greatest extent possible, through physical, mental, and spiritual adherence to his beliefs.

So which jihad are the persons that the current anti-terrorist war is being fought against most concerned with? Without a doubt, the lesser jihad. This is war in the sense as Muhammad would have recognized it. Muhammad would not have even understood the term lesser or greater jihad. To use such terms would not have comprehensible to him.

The entire concept of greater jihad only became of use during the time of the Sufis. The Sufis are best described as Islamic mystics. Persons to whom the entire panoply of Islamic ritual is not adequate to bring closeness to and understanding of GOD. The term greater jihad is attributed to the Sufis who existed and flourished many centuries after the death of Muhammad. To read further about the Sufis and their beliefs, click here.

The Sufis are persons that eschewed violence and rather advocated ascetism, contemplation, and rituals to enhance the mystical process. These WERE NOT violent people. Sufi beliefs are not followed by the current wave of Islamic thought, advocated by the followers of Abdul Wahab. Sufi beliefs are anathema to the Wahabbi. A Wahabbi will seek to persecute a Sufi. Wahabbism is the form of Islam as taught in Saudi Arabia. A form of Islam that advocates violence. The war that we see today.

Greater jihad DOES exist, but that is not what we are seeing, we are seeing the lesser form, the violent WAR form.

coolbert.