Trump Promises to Deport "Jihad Sympathizers"

‘Jihad’ is not a dirty word—instead it's Trump's ignorance and bigotry that continues to inspire violence and terrorism

Since his December 2015 call to “ban all Muslims from entering America,” Donald Trump has continued to double down on his anti Muslim bigotry and hate. He’s persisted with absurd claims such as “Islam hates us,” proposed special “Muslim ID” cards, and demanded government surveillance of mosques. And then of course, his actual bigoted Muslim ban, specially designed to cause maximum harm.

Donald Trump signs the xenophobic Muslim Ban Executive Order in 2017

In his latest diatribe of bigotry this week, Donald Trump promised to “deport Jihad sympathizers” and reinstate his xenophobic Muslim ban. Legacy media has all but stopped caring about anti-Muslim bigotry, which is why it is that much more critical we continue to speak up to condemn such vile hate. Trump uses the word jihad to scare his base into voting for him. While neither he nor his base cares for what the word actually means, I’m hopeful that this short piece will offer insight on the correct meaning of the word Jihad. And that this insight can help you better inform your circle.

Let’s Address This.

It’s worth mentioning the hypocrisy of Donald Trump to try to align Muslims as extremists, when we have documented proof that he has inspired at least 54 acts of violence, and that doesn’t even include January 6 violence, or the 33 bomb threats his anti-Haitian bigotry has inspired in the last week alone.

Also worth mentioning, I cite more scripture here than I have in any prior piece in this newsletter, but I do so to demonstrate that ignorant people like Donald Trump rely on the ignorance of his base to strike fear and discord. And the best antidote to ignorance is education and a proven model—which I am trying my best to convey and exemplify from authentic Islamic sources and history.

The true meaning of Jihad

Contrary to what extremists and anti-Muslim personalities claim, the word “jihad” does not mean “to wage holy war,” or “to kill the infidel,” or “to commit terrorism.” The word “jihad” means “to struggle.” The Prophet Muhammad, who of course founded Islam, said “the best jihad was to speak words of truth in front of a tyrannical leader.” Not violence. Not terrorism. But words against tyranny. Indeed, the only two groups who claim “Jihad = Terrorism” are Taliban type terrorists and Islamophobes with an agenda. Both are ignorant of Islam and only serve and feed off of each other’s hate.

The three types of Jihad

The Holy Qur’an, which is the holy book for Muslims, describes three types of jihad (struggles), and zero of them mean or permit terrorism. These are: the jihad against yourself, the jihad against Satan — which are called the greater jihads — and the jihad against an open enemy — known as the lesser jihad. Prophet Muhammad explained this upon returning from battle when he declared: “We are returning from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad.”

1. Jihad Against Self

This jihad against yourself manifests in many ways. For example, getting your college education is the greater jihad. Quitting smoking, losing weight, beating cancer, learning a skill, parenting, even “adulting” are all forms of the greater jihad. Thus, the first and greatest form of jihad in Islam is the jihad to improve yourself and to serve all humanity.

2. Jihad Against Satan

The second jihad is the jihad against Satan. This is the jihad to preach the word of God through the Qur’an, through scholarship and through dialogue. In the late 19th century, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, coined this as the “jihad of the pen.” He condemned those clerics who claimed Islam should be spread by force, writing in 1902, “No true Muslim has ever believed that Islam should be spread by the sword.” Islam, like Christianity and Judaism, teaches that Satan misleads and promotes fear and hate. He distorts the truth to create violence. This second jihad pushes back with knowledge, truth, and love.

3. Jihad Against Open Enemy

Finally — the third, or lesser, jihad — is the struggle against an open enemy. The Qur’an clearly defines who is an “open enemy,” as I explained in detail in an earlier op-ed. The short answer is that “open enemy” is not your government, people of another faith or your fellow citizens. Instead, the Qur’an permits Muslims to fight in this lesser jihad when five strict conditions are met:

1. You are fighting in self-defense, and

2. You are being persecuted for your faith, and

3. You have fled your home and migrated to a different country to preserve peace, and

4. You are still targeted to be killed for your faith; and

5. You are fighting to protect universal religious freedom for people of all faiths and no faith.

Qur’anic verses and Jihad

Indeed, the Qur’an 22:41 specifically commands Muslims to engage in this lesser jihad to protect “Churches, Synagogues, Temples, and Mosques” from attack. And even when fighting in self-defense in these strict conditions, the Qur’an 2:194, among other places, mandates that Muslims immediately forgive if the attacker stops: “And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is freely professed for God. But if they desist, then remember that no hostility is allowed except against the aggressors.”

And yet again the Qur’an repeatedly condemns creating any sort of violent disorder or rebellion against any faith or government: “And create not disorder in the earth after it has been set in order” (7:57) and likewise, “defraud not people of their things and commit not iniquity in the earth, causing disorder” (11:86).

And in yet another safeguard to prevent terrorism, Prophet Muhammad’s rules of war categorically forbid harming civilians or enabling what is now known as collateral damage, or damage to property, livestock or greenery, or harm to any place of worship or temple — without exception. Given the Qur’ans strict condemnation of harming civilians for any reason, it is unsurprising that a Gallop Poll found that Muslims are the most likely demographic to reject violent military attacks on civilians.

In Conclusion

No one wins when extremists and Islamophobes distort the correct meaning of Jihad. America is witnessing record levels of anti-Muslim hatred and violence. Those who promote fear of Muslims with malicious distortions of words such as “jihad” only increase the likelihood of anti-Muslim hate crimes. “Jihad” — as defined by the true Islam of Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an — means a struggle for self-reformation, education, and protection of universal religious freedom. The true Jihad is a Jihad against terrorism. Therefore, Muslims should not censor themselves on a distortion of the true meaning of the word. Instead, Muslims and non-Muslims alike should stand united to emphasize the correct meaning of “jihad” and take back this narrative from extremists and Islamophobes.

We have a long road ahead, but whatever your jihad, make it a true jihad of peace, education, and protection of people of all faiths — and no faith.

Why Your Support Matters: My Jihad is to uphold justice for all humanity. Help me strengthen this Jihad justice and universal human rights. Thank you for subscribing and sharing.

Note* This OpEd includes excerpts of an OpEd on Jihad I wrote for the Washington Post in 2017.