What Does Jihad Actually Mean?
'Jihad' is often attached to Islamic radicals waging a holy war against non-believers. But that's a fraction of the term's meaning, and many Muslims argue, ...
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Jihad, in the news, is often translated to mean "Holy War". But "Holy" and "war" are both English words with Latin origins, so it probably doesn't mean exactly that. According to Google Translate, the individual words exist separately in Arabic. So, what is Jihad? Does it refer to a set of conflicts, like how the Crusades refer to a set of Christian Holy Wars? Nope, it does not. So, why do they need the extra word Jihad to describe a Holy War? Does it even mean "Holy War" at all? The short answer is... no. What Jihad really means, is "struggle." It's a major religious duty, that many consider to be the unofficial 6th pillar of Islam - right below self-control, giving to the poor, and visiting Mecca. Technically, Jihad means "a ...
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Jihad, in the news, is often translated to mean "Holy War". But "Holy" and "war" are both English words with Latin origins, so it probably doesn't mean exactly that. According to Google Translate, the individual words exist separately in Arabic. So, what is Jihad? Does it refer to a set of conflicts, like how the Crusades refer to a set of Christian Holy Wars? Nope, it does not. So, why do they need the extra word Jihad to describe a Holy War? Does it even mean "Holy War" at all? The short answer is... no. What Jihad really means, is "struggle." It's a major religious duty, that many consider to be the unofficial 6th pillar of Islam - right below self-control, giving to the poor, and visiting Mecca. Technically, Jihad means "a ...
