"To all scholars who teach jihad... to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application (of theories)," former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal continued in his recorded statement to Reuters. The word “jihad” originates from the root j-h-d, with words like “ ijtihad ” and “ mujahid ” sharing the same origins. are all examples of greater jihad. “The first and greatest form of jihad in Islam is the jihad to improve yourself and to improve all humanity.”The word itself has been misused by extremist groups, with many early contemporary misuses rising from the era of Soviet invasion into Afghanistan. The document compiled by the aforementioned Interfaith Alliance, points out that “radical and extremist groups appropriate and misuse the term ‘jihad’ to give a religious veneer to their violent political movements and tactics.”

Source: Washington Post October 16, 2023 19:24 UTC