The Koran specifically exempts the disabled and "weak" from jihad (4:95, 9:91), which makes no sense if the word is being used within the context of spiritual struggle.
Why would Mohammed use graphic language, such as smiting fingers and heads from the hands and necks of unbelievers (8:12), if he were speaking of merely spiritual development?
Sahih Bukhari, one of the most authentic ahadith (accounts of the words and deeds of Mohammed), mentions jihad more than 50 times in reference to the words of Mohammed. Each reference carries a clear connotation to holy war, with only a handful of possible exceptions (e.g., a woman's supporting role in war, and a non-combatant's obligation to supply funding for the war).
"Jihad means to war against non-Muslims, and is etymologically derived from the word mujahada signifying warfare to establish the religion." Quote from Umdat as-Salik wa 'Uddat an-Nasik, the manual of Islamic jurisprudence, by Shihabuddin Abu al-'Abbas Ahmad ibn an-Naqib al-Misri, o9.0.
"It is he who has sent Mohammed with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it superior over all religions, though the Mushrikûn [disbelievers] hate it." Koran 9:33 (see also 61:9 and 48:28) The Arabic word used for "to make it superior" comes from the root z-h-r, which means "to ascend or to mount; to have the upper hand." It can also mean "triumph," "victorious," or "prevail." This verse predicts the conquest of Islam over all religions. Islam must dominate the world through jihad.
The association of "jihad" with a spiritual struggle is just a lame rhetorical strategy to downplay the massive, brutal, and barbaric violence in Islam.
You can't pick and choose parts of the foundation of your religion and say it's all valid except that part you don't like to be seen. If your foundation says to stone women to death and women can only accuse a rapist if a man was watching it and he agrees or if you hear voices it's cool to kill your own son, then it is what it is.
Imagine if references to specific calls to violence for a particular group of people who were not Christians, to attack a specific group one time, calls which expired at the time of completion, and which were not applicable to anyone not described in the original call to violence were compared to commands to attack all people everywhere for all time??
Ah denial and faux laughter, the perfect evidence-free deflection tool of someone with no proof to support his claim.
For anyone reading this who is interested in the facts about the ~400 years of jihad attacks against every non-Muslim everywhere that were the direct precursors of the defensive response known as the first crusade, you might enjoy the video below.
On judgment day you won’t be able to say that no one tried to show you the truth. If it’s a lie, you should be able to disprove it. If it’s the truth, you can learn something and align your opinion with that which is truth. Your choice and you will eternally live with the consequences of your love for or denial of truth.
The Koran specifically exempts the disabled and "weak" from jihad (4:95, 9:91), which makes no sense if the word is being used within the context of spiritual struggle.
Why would Mohammed use graphic language, such as smiting fingers and heads from the hands and necks of unbelievers (8:12), if he were speaking of merely spiritual development?
Sahih Bukhari, one of the most authentic ahadith (accounts of the words and deeds of Mohammed), mentions jihad more than 50 times in reference to the words of Mohammed. Each reference carries a clear connotation to holy war, with only a handful of possible exceptions (e.g., a woman's supporting role in war, and a non-combatant's obligation to supply funding for the war).
"Jihad means to war against non-Muslims, and is etymologically derived from the word mujahada signifying warfare to establish the religion." Quote from Umdat as-Salik wa 'Uddat an-Nasik, the manual of Islamic jurisprudence, by Shihabuddin Abu al-'Abbas Ahmad ibn an-Naqib al-Misri, o9.0.
"It is he who has sent Mohammed with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it superior over all religions, though the Mushrikûn [disbelievers] hate it." Koran 9:33 (see also 61:9 and 48:28) The Arabic word used for "to make it superior" comes from the root z-h-r, which means "to ascend or to mount; to have the upper hand." It can also mean "triumph," "victorious," or "prevail." This verse predicts the conquest of Islam over all religions. Islam must dominate the world through jihad.
The association of "jihad" with a spiritual struggle is just a lame rhetorical strategy to downplay the massive, brutal, and barbaric violence in Islam.
You can't pick and choose parts of the foundation of your religion and say it's all valid except that part you don't like to be seen. If your foundation says to stone women to death and women can only accuse a rapist if a man was watching it and he agrees or if you hear voices it's cool to kill your own son, then it is what it is.
Imagine if the Christian Bible had as many references/calls to committing violent acts and hate??
Imagine if references to specific calls to violence for a particular group of people who were not Christians, to attack a specific group one time, calls which expired at the time of completion, and which were not applicable to anyone not described in the original call to violence were compared to commands to attack all people everywhere for all time??
You mean the defensive wars against what was then almost 400 years of non-stop Muslim aggression against non-Muslims? What about them?
Ah denial and faux laughter, the perfect evidence-free deflection tool of someone with no proof to support his claim.
For anyone reading this who is interested in the facts about the ~400 years of jihad attacks against every non-Muslim everywhere that were the direct precursors of the defensive response known as the first crusade, you might enjoy the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZxScaEq2Ec
You would do well to watch and learn handshake.
On judgment day you won’t be able to say that no one tried to show you the truth. If it’s a lie, you should be able to disprove it. If it’s the truth, you can learn something and align your opinion with that which is truth. Your choice and you will eternally live with the consequences of your love for or denial of truth.