THE CONCEPT OF JIHAD FROM 'MINOR JIHAD' TO 'MAJOR JIHAD' IN THE CONTEXT OF SUFISM

The concept of Jihad, derived from the roots "cehd" and "cühd," appears in the Qur'an about forty times and is one of the fundamental concepts of Islam, often considered the sixth pillar of faith. "Cehd" and "cühd" refer to making efforts with determination and awareness, showing perseverance and resolve against difficulties. In Islam, the physical efforts of an individual are referred to as "jihad," the struggle with the self is called "mujahada," and intellectual efforts in the realm of thought and knowledge are termed "ijtihad." This study particularly focuses on the struggle with the self, the "major jihad."

In Sufi teachings, the terms "minor jihad" and "major jihad" describe the individual's external and internal struggles, guiding them towards becoming a perfect human being. While the minor jihad represents the physical and material struggle in the way of Allah, the major jihad encompasses the spiritual struggle with one's own self. This study examines the concept of jihad from a Sufi perspective, providing examples from the works of prominent Sufi figures. The concepts of self-discipline, mujahada, and tazkiya are explored, and the spiritual dimension of jihad is analyzed through the lens of Qur'anic verses and hadiths.

Furthermore, this study evaluates the contemporary Muslim perspective on jihad, discussing how the concept of jihad is understood and should be applied in the modern world. In the context of globalization, the importance of self-discipline in the face of the challenges of modern life and how Sufi teachings offer valuable guidance in this regard are also addressed.

Keywords

Jihad, Major And Minor Jihad, Self, Mujahada, Sufism