A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihad' Part 32

Dr. Sprenger (Life of Mohammad, p. 159) explains this verse of the seven slaves purchased and manumitted by Abu Bekr. They had been tortured for professing Islam, shortly after Mohammad a.s.sumed the prophetic office.

The flight referred to in verse 111th is the early Abyssinian flight.

These verses relate to the persecutions endured by humble and needy Moslems from their townspeople of Mecca. These Moslems, after being persecuted and forced as far as denying G.o.d, while their remaining steadfast in the faith, had to flee elsewhere, and then suffered much in their wanderings; but they endured their labours and fatigues, losses, disadvantages both in body and mind, patiently. There is no allusion to fighting or waging war. The Rev. Mr. Rodwell and Mr. Palmer are both wrong in translating '_Jahadoo_' as fighting. Sale is right in not translating it as fighting, but he is too paraphrastic when he translates, "and who have since fought _in defence of the true religion_," as their "Jihad" was only their great exertion and toil in suffering from persecutions.

[Sidenote: (5) The Spider, XXIX, 5.]

17. "And whoso ('_Jahada_') labours ('_Yojahido_') toils for his own good only. Verily G.o.d is independent of all the worlds."

Mr. Palmer is wrong in making _Jahada_ and _Yojahido_ to mean fighting strenuously. Mr. Sale and the Rev. W. Rodwell are right in translating by "striveth" and "efforts" respectively, and so is Sir W. Muir in taking it into, what he styles, the general sense of the verse (The Life of Mahomet, Vol. III, p. 32).

[Sidenote: (6) The Spider, XXIX, 7.]

18. "Moreover We have enjoined on man to show kindness to parents, but if they (_Jahada_) strive with thee in order that thou join that with Me of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not.

To Me do ye return, and I will tell you of your doings."

None of the commentators take the word _Jahada_ in this pa.s.sage to mean fighting or crusade, and it is difficult, therefore, to understand why the word should have been distorted from its proper literal and cla.s.sical meaning in other places of the same book.

[Sidenote: (7) The Spider, XXIX, 69.]

19. "And those who (_Jahadoo_) made efforts for Us, in our path will we surely guide; for verily G.o.d is with those who do righteous deeds."

Mr. Palmer translates the word here as meaning "fought," contrary to Mr.

Sale, the Rev. Mr. Rodwell, and Sir William Muir, who translate it "endeavour," "effort," and "strive." The conventional term Jihad, meaning crusade or warfare, was not in use in the time of the revelation of the Koran.

[Sidenote: (8) The Bee, XVI, 40.]

20. "And they swear by G.o.d with their (_Jahd_) utmost oaths that 'G.o.d will never raise him who once is dead.' Nay; but on Him is a promise binding though most men know it not."

Sale renders the word "most solemnly;" Rodwell, "most sacred oath;"

Palmer, "most strenuous oath."

[Sidenote: (9) Creator, x.x.xV, 40.]

21. "They swore by G.o.d with their (_Jahd_) utmost oath that should a preacher come to them they would yield to guidance more than any people: but when the preacher came to them, it only increased in them their estrangement."

Sale's rendering is "most solemn oath," Rodwell's, "mightiest oath," and Palmer's, "most strenuous oath."

II.--THE MEDINITE SURAS.

[Sidenote: (10) The Cow or Heifer, II, 215.]

22. "But they who believe, and who fly their country, and (_Jahadoo_) exert their utmost in the way of G.o.d, may hope for G.o.d's mercy, and G.o.d is Gracious and Merciful."

Mr. Sale and the Rev. Mr. Rodwell translate _Jahadoo_ as those who _fight_, and Mr. Palmer as those who _wage war_; but there is no reason to change the proper meaning of the word. Sir William Muir translates the verse thus:--

"But they that believe and they who emigrate for the sake of their faith and strive earnestly in the way of G.o.d, let them hope in the mercy of G.o.d, for G.o.d is forgiving, merciful."[330]

In a footnote he says:--"The word Jihad is the same as that subsequently used for a religious war; but it had not yet probably acquired its fixed application. It was employed in its _general_ sense before the Hejira, and probably up to the battle of Badr."[331] I have only to add that the word never acquired its fixed application during the lifetime of the Prophet, nor is it used as such in any chapter of the Koran either before or after the Hejira.

The connection of flight mentioned in the verse as put together with Jihad, shows that it means the labour, toil, and distress which befel the fugitives in leaving their families unprotected in the hands of their persecutors on their expulsion from their country.

[Sidenote: (11) A'l Amran, III, 136.]

23. "Do ye think that ye could enter Paradise without G.o.d taking knowledge of those among you who (_Jahadoo_) have toiled and of those who steadfastly endured."

The Rev. Mr. Rodwell translates _Jahadoo_, "did valiantly," and does not agree with Sale and Palmer, who translate it, "fought strenuously," or "fought well."

By the connection of enduring patiently, the word _Jahadoo_ probably means those who toiled and suffered in their exile from Mecca.

[Sidenote: (12) The Spoils, VIII, 73.]

24. "Verily, they who believe and have fled their homes and (_Jahadoo_) toiled with their substance and themselves in the way of G.o.d, and they who have taken in and have helped, shall be near of kin the one to the other. And they who have believed, but have not fled their homes, shall have no rights of kindred with you at all, _until_ they too fly their country. Yet if they seek aid from you, on account of the faith, your part is to give them aid, except against a people between whom and yourself there may be a treaty.

And G.o.d beholdeth your actions."

Sale renders the word _Jihad_ (or _Jahadoo_) in this pa.s.sage as meaning "employed their substance and their persons in fighting."

Rodwell ... "Spent their substance and themselves."

Palmer ... "Fought strenuously with their wealth and person."

As the word _Jihad_ has been applied here to both one's-self and his substance or wealth, it cannot mean "fighting," even if taken in the technical signification.

[Sidenote: (13) The Spoil, VIII, 75.]

25. "But as for those who have believed and fled their country and (_Jahadoo_) took pains in the way of G.o.d, and have been a refuge or help, these are the faithful, mercy is their due and a n.o.ble provision."

Sale ... "Fought."

Rodwell ... "Fought."

Palmer ... "Fought strenuously."

There is nothing in this pa.s.sage to warrant a departure from the literal and proper signification of the word _Jahadoo_, and using it in a post-Koranic sense.

[Sidenote: (14) The Spoil, VIII, 76.]

26. "And they who have believed and have since fled their country, (_Jahadoo_) toiled with you, these also are of you. Those who are united by the ties of blood are the nearest of kin to each other.

This is in the Book of G.o.d. Verily G.o.d knoweth all things."

Sale ... "Fought."

Rodwell ... "Fought."

Palmer ... "Fought strenuously."

There is no valid excuse here for changing the signification of the word _Jahadoo_ into that which is never used in the Koran or in the cla.s.sical Arabic.

[Sidenote: (15) The Cattle, VI, 109.]

27. "With their (_Jahd_) most binding oath have they sworn by G.o.d...."

Sale ... "Most solemn oath."

Rodwell ... "Most binding oath."

Palmer ... "Most strenuous oath."