To use the Muslim concept

of Jihad to understand

Muslim attitudes to

war.

Grade CAll will be able to describe

the meaning of ‘greater’ and ‘lesser’ JIHAD.

Grade BMost will be able to explain

why the concept of ‘lesser JIHAD’ is often misunderstood.

Grade A/A*Some will be able to evaluate

the similarities and differences between lesser JIHAD and the Christian concept of a ‘JUST WAR’.

Watch the following clip carefully and complete the following…

Some Christians agree with going to war because…

1.

2.

3.

Some Christians disagree with going to war because…

1.

2.

3.

What do you think the word STRUGGLE

means?

Write a definition OR a list of words OR ideas to explain

this word.

Struggle means to do something with difficulty in

an attempt to reach a goal.

Watch the following clip carefully...1. What does the term JIHAD mean?

2. There are TWO types of JIHAD what are they?

The Qur’an teaches Muslims that in order to follow the will of Allah, people will face many struggles, both inside themselves and in the

world.

A personal effort made by every Muslim to devote his or her

life to carrying out Allah's will and fight

against evil.

There are TWO types of JIHAD

1. GREATER (inner) JIHADstruggle that Muslims face

within themselves.2. LESSER (Physical) JIHAD

Struggle with the outside world

Set up your book

in the following

way…Use the following slides to help you

make notes

JIHADGreater

Lesser

This is the conflict of good and evil within ourselves.

Use the following slides to help you work out what greater JIHAD involves.

The struggle that Muslims face

within themselves.

I want a hat and scarf!

• Visit mosque regular

• Study Quran regular

• Help the poor and needy

• Be a good friend and neighbour

How is HAJJ a good example of GREATER JIHAD?

This is physical struggle – although Islam is a religion of peace the Qur’an teaches that there are certain circumstances where the

use of violence is permitted.

Use the following slides to help you work out why violence is sometimes permitted...

The struggle that Muslims face with

the world.

The Qur’an teaches must

fight if they are attacked.

Muhammad did it – so

its ok!

Muhammad himself fought in wars and many of his teachings permit war.

Those who die in a holy war

will go straight to heaven.

Which is more difficult to achieve, the GREATER or

LESSER jihad? Why?

Grade C

All will be able to describe

the meaning of ‘greater’ and

‘lesser’ JIHAD.

Although jihad does not mean war, many Muslims believe that

the fight against evil and the

preservation of Islam may justify going into battle.

This is then described as Harb-al-Muqadis, which is

technically a Holy War.

This is mostly a stereotype fed by the media who misunderstand many aspects of Muslim life. Jihad is often

linked to terrorists and terrorism as they misuse the concept of Jihad to justify their actions.

The idea of Jihad is often

misunderstood by non-Muslims who then see Islam as

being a violent religion, when the vast majority of

Muslims are peaceful.

Watch the following clip carefully...

Why is the concept of JIHAD often misunderstood by non-Muslims?

Grade BMost will be able to explain

why the concept of

‘lesser JIHAD’ is often

misunderstood.

When is WAR classed as JIHAD?

Use the following slides to not down

when Muslims

class war a JIHAD...

Think about the SIMILARITIES

and DIFFERENCES to the JUST WAR

criteria.

JUST CAUSE =

• Defence of Islam

• Self-defence

•Fighting injustice

All other non-violent methods must have failed!

I say YES!

War must be

authorised by a Muslim Authority!

This is called

FATWA!

It must be fought with the MINIMUM amount of suffering and innocent civilians MUST NOT be killed.

It must END when the enemy surrenders.

It should aim to

restore PEACE and FREEDOM

Compare the rules under which Muslims can fight a war with those of the JUST WAR

THEROY in Christianity...

How are the SIMILAR?Explain your

response

How are the DIFFERENT?Explain your

response

Grade A/A*

Some will be able to evaluate the

similarities and differences

between lesser JIHAD and the Christian concept of a ‘JUST WAR’.

We will look at 3 events that some have claimed to be examples JIHAD...

Use what we have learnt in today's lesson to decide whether you think each of these to be an example of Jihad – Explain

your response to each example.

Now we know what we do about GREATER and LESSER JIHAD we can make a decision

over recent events and dismiss any

misconceptions...

A growing number of Muslims (such as the Muslim Peace Fellowship) believe that war or armed forces is NEVER the

right response.

They believe this because...

• The word Islam is Arabic for PEACE –PEACE is therefore at the heart of their faith.

• WMD and nuclear weapons cannot follow the rules of lesser Jihad as innocent people will always be killed.

• There are always other means to gain PEACE instead of war.

• Violence only leads to more violence –it increases hatred.

One thing I have learnt today is...

One thing that has surprised me this lesson is...

One thing I would like to know more about is...