Jihad is a delicate and difficult topic, while it can be debated from many different angles the fact is that Jihad is a legitimate part of the Islamic doctrine. How an individual Muslim translates that into his or her life is extremely individual. Jihad literally means to struggle against, so it can be taken in the context of struggle for perfection in the spiritual realm, or struggle against others of other belief systems. We would like to stress that while these doctrines are taught, not every Muslim has the desire to become a jihadist.

Jihad in Islam

by Sayyeed Abdul A'la Maududi

in print via:

Islamic Publications (Pvt.) Ltd.

6-Court Street, Lower Mall

Lahore -- 54000 Pakistan

The following excerpts are from Jihad in Islam by Sayyeed Abdul A'la Maududi. The text will be presented in full after it has been processed. The original text was taken from an address given by Maududi on April 13, 1939. The entire text is about 27 pages long in book form. In those pages, however, Maududi pretty much summarizes the entire Islamist plot and some of  its justifications in the Quran. Therefore the text serves as an excellent (and nearly comprehensive) summary of Islamist ideology. Most of the other texts presented on IslamistWatch post-date this address, and either repeat its message or expand on it in various ways. After September 11, 2001 and the American-lead ouster of the Taliban from Afghanistan, Maududi is revered by many hundreds of thousands of Islamists in Pakistan as never before, and his foundation, which has a web interface, is one of the oldest Islamist institutions in that country.

"In reality Islam is a revolutionary ideology and programme which seeks to alter the social order of the whole world and rebuild it in conformity with its own tenets and ideals. 'Muslim' is the title of that International Revolutionary Party organized by Islam to carry into effect its revolutionary programme. And 'Jihad' refers to that revolutionary struggle and utmost exertion which the Islamic Party brings into play to acheive this objective."

--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p8

"Islam wishes to destroy all States and Governments anywhere on the face of the earth which are opposed to the ideology and programme of Islam regardless of the country or the Nation which rules it. The purpose of Islam is to set up a State on the basis of its own ideology and programme, regardless of which Nation assumes the role of the standard bearer of Islam or the rule of which nation is undermined in the process of the establishment of an ideological Islamic State."

--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p9

"No one has the right to become a self-appointed ruler of men and issue orders and prohibitions on his own volition and authority. To acknowledge the personal authority of a human being as the source of commands and prohibitions is tantamount to admitting him as the sharer in the Powers and Autority of God. And this is the root of all evils in the universe."

--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p14

"Islam is not merely a religious creed or compund name for a few forms of worship, but a comprehensive system which envisages to annihilate all tyrannical and evil systems in the world and enforces its own programme of reform which it deems best for the well-being of mankind."

--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p19

"It must be evident to you from this discussion that the objective of Islamic 'Jihad' is to eliminate the rule of an un-Islamic system and establish in its stead an Islamic system of State rule. Islam does not intend to confine this revolution to a single State or a few countries; the aim of Islam is to bring about a universal revolution."

--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p24

"Islamic 'Jihad' does not seek to interfere with the faith, ideology, rituals of worship or social customs of the people. It allows them perfect freedom of religious belief and permits them to act according to their creed. However, Islamic 'Jihad' does not recognize their right to administer State affairs according to a system which, in the view of Islam, is evil. Furthermore, Islamic 'Jihad' also refuses to admit their right to continue with such practices under an Islamic government which fatally affect the publich interest from the viewpoint of Islam."

--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p28