Mohammed Abdul Malek

Mohammed Abdul Malek, author of A Study of the Qur’an: The Universal Guidance for Mankind, a book explaining the beliefs of Islam, contends in the following viewpoint that jihad is a misunderstood concept in Islam. Contrary to the commonly held belief that jihad exhorts Muslims to expand Islam by violent means, Malek claims that jihad simply refers to a spiritual striving to attain nearness to Allah. The doctrine of jihad never encourages war or violence, he maintains.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What evidence does Malek provide that jihad does not mean “war”"

2. As cited by the author, what is the definition of jihad provided by Ibrahim Golightly"

3. What evidence does Malek provide that what the jihad carried out against unbelievers and hypocrites was not a war...