Sure it means struggle within but it also means outward struggle and the OUTWARD struggle is actually the primary struggle, inward is secondary. Oh and Mein Kompf also means my struggle...
In premodern times, jihad meant mainly one thing among Sunni Muslims, then as now the Islamic majority. It meant the legal, compulsory, communal effort to expand the territories ruled by Muslims (known in Arabic as dar al-Islam) at the expense of territories ruled by non-Muslims (dar al-harb). In this prevailing conception, the purpose of jihad is political, not religious. It aims not so much to spread the Islamic faith as to extend sovereign Muslim power (though the former has often followed the latter). The goal is boldly offensive, and its ultimate intent is nothing less than to achieve Muslim dominion over the entire world.
The problem is there is no CLEAR path to paradise in the Qu'ran from doing good or being a good muslim, there is however a GUARANTEED entrance to paradise for muslims who give their life in a jihad to spread Islam. So you tell em which one is superior.
according to former PLO terrorist Walid Shoebat "It is a fallacy that 'jihad' represents an 'inner struggle'. [There are] over one hundred quotes by Muhammad [in the Qur'an] referring to jihad by the sword, by killing, by taking no prisoners, by forced conversion, or by enslavement - [and] only one quote referring to an internal struggle"
Qu'ran 3:169 - And reckon not those who are killed in Allah's way as dead; nay, they are alive (and) are provided sustenance from their Lord
4:74 - Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world's life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward.
haah are you seriously Shoebat? that guy knows nothing about islam...he magically becomes a millionaire over night by all these BS he says about being ex muslim...
you might as well and quote ergun caner while ur at it too...who are you fooling?
what you quoted is from Surah imran talkign about the family of prophet...you completely pulled it out of context...this ayaa can be applied to both internal and external struggle...
and fyi, teh primary jihad is internal, its the only you deal with MOST COMMONLY.. as far as teh external, yes, if you are in battle (under lawful circumstances..meaning you are underattack) then those who are killed fighting for justice and peace will be rewarded? whats the issue? look into America's policies with POW's and soldiers killed in battle..
Islam does not invoke violence, and in fact, states many times that there is no compulsion in religion...
1. [Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. So can you (Prophet) compel people to believe?] (Yunus 10: 99).
2. [Say, ‘Now the truth has come from your Lord: Let those who wish to believe in it do so, and let those who wish to reject it do so’] (Al-Kahf 17: 29).
3. [So (people) respond to your Lord before there comes a Day that cannot, against God’s will, be averted—you will have no refuge on that Day, and no possibility of denying (your sins). If they still turn away (remember that) We have not sent you (Prophet) to be their keeper: your duty is to deliver the message] (Ash-Shura 42: 47-48).
4. [There is no compulsion in religion: true guidance has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects false gods and believes in Allah has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break. Allah is all hearing and all knowing] (Al-Baqrah 2: 256).
again, who are you fooling...i feel liek you are iranian, who hates islam because u come from a country who practices a misinterpretted and fogged version of Islam...let me remind you, this is much like the crusades... Iran doesnt' practice the true islam
and plus, there are 1.5 BILLION muslim...do u know how islam even reached indonesia? 8 traders went there, and the ppl were smitten by their honest and character that indonesians began converting by the truckloads...Not a single "muslim jihadist" stepped foot in their land, and now there are more indonesian muslims than there are muslims in the Arab world combined.
look at America...islam is fastest growing religion and most diverse....
is this by teh sword? i live in california. do you see a sword by me? no...maybe its by my camel outside in my backyard..