In his 2002 Commentary article, “Jihad and the Professors,” Middle East Forum director Daniel Pipes makes a compelling case for “the nearly universal falsification of jihad on the part of American academic scholars.” Rather than acknowledging the aggressively military nature of jihad (otherwise known as “holy war”), such academics would have us believe that it consists either of defensive warfare, a struggle for spiritual and personal improvement, or the promotion of social justice. Here are a few of the quotes he cites in the article:
Jihad as “usually understood” means “a struggle to be true to the will of God and not holy war.”
Dell DeChant, professor of world religions, University of South Florida
"…in the struggle to be a good Muslim, there may be times where one will be called upon to defend one’s faith and community. Then [jihad] can take on the meaning of armed struggle.”
John Esposito, founding director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University
Jihad is “resisting apartheid or working for women’s rights.”
Farid Eseck, professor of Islamic studies, Auburn Seminary
“It is clear that military warfare is the lesser jihad, and the greater jihad is against the forces that prevent human beings from being human, as it were.”
Mary Richardson, professor of history, Tufts University (source: Tufts Journal)
There is “the bigger jihad and the smaller jihad.” The bigger sense of the word, he said, refers to a struggle for self-improvement while the smaller sense is a struggle to show support for Islam…The use of the term to describe wars waged in support of Islam “is incorrect in the sense that it is not the primary meaning of jihad. It is a slogan to create a gap between East and West.”
Mohammed Sawaie, professor of Arabic, University of Virginia (source: Cavalier Daily, see also: Jihad Watch)
“Feeding the poor is jihad…writing your Congressperson is jihad.”
Timothy Gianotti, professor of Islamic studies, University of Virginia (source: Cavalier Daily, see also: Jihad Watch)
“The September 11 terrorism attacks and Osama bin Laden’s calls for a ‘holy war’ are irrelevant to the concept of jihad. What is more relevant is the political conditions that are creating an environment of militancy throughout the Muslim and Arab world.”
As’ad AbuKhalil, associate professor of political science, California State University-Stanislaus (source: CNN)
“Jihad has become a global fad, rather like gangsta rap.”
Jessica Stern, lecturer on terrorism, Harvard University (source: The Boston Globe)
Al-Qazzaz says there are two levels of jihad. The greater jihad is every Muslim’s quest to live out their faith in their daily lives, to improve themselves and to become a better Muslim. The lesser jihad means to protect one’s people and fight against enemies, he says. So the greater jihad prompts devout Muslims to remember their religious guidelines while fighting, which would cause them to treat war prisoners well.
Ayad Al-Qazzaz, professor of sociology, Cal State University-Sacramento (source: ACF News, see also: Campus Watch)
The fact that Spencer was accompanied by all of four security guards throughout the evening would seem to back up his conclusions. Peaceful jihad, indeed.
