Nadene Goldfoot

Map showing expansion of Islam by 632 (the year Muhammad passed away), as the Muslims would soon take over much of the Middle East and Persia.

After 632, Islam rapidly expanded, particularly during the 7th century, conquering vast territories from the Arabian Peninsula to North Africa, the Middle East, and even parts of Europe. These conquests led to the establishment of large Islamic empires and the spread of Islamic culture and influence throughout these regions.

In 1516, the Ottoman Empire —founded by Turkic tribesmen in Anatolia , who then established their capital on the ruins of the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople, Muslims —moved against the Mamluk rule in . The Ottoman forces defeated the Mamluk armies;, followers of Sunni religion of Islam, and conquered Bilad al-Sham, including Palestine. Most Mamluks were initially captured and enslaved, then converted to Islam and trained as soldiers. This practice was especially prominent in regions like Egypt and Syria, where Islam was deeply rooted in the culture and language. The Mamluk rulers also followed the Sunni sect of Islam.

Jihad - from Reliance of the Traveller (Shaji'ite Islamic Law), means to "war against non- Muslims ... to establish the religion (of Islam)." Also understood as "just war" or "holy war." No other definition of 'jihad'' has ever existed at any point in history in any authoritative Is lamic Law.

Islam is not just a religion, hut a complete. way of life governed by Islamic Law (Shari 'ah). " Islam is the social, cultural, military, political, and religious life of a Muslim governed by Islamic. Law. Theology is subordinate to the requirement to adhere to the Shari'ah. Islamic Law was formed from the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the 'way' of the Prophet) as detailed through the Hadiths.

From John L. Esposito: The concept and practice of jihad have been critical in the history of Islam. From the rise of Islam and the creation and expansion of the Muslim community, jihad has played a central role in Islam. Jihad (exertion or struggle) is sometimes referred to as the Sixth Pillar of Islam. Throughout history, (as in other faiths) sacred scripture has been used and abused, interpreted and misinterpreted, to justify resistance and liberation struggles, extremism and terrorism, holy and unholy wars. The importance of jihad is rooted in the Quran’s command to struggle (the literal meaning of the word jihad) in the path of God and in the example of the Prophet Muhammad and his early Companions. In its most general meaning, jihad refers to the obligation incumbent on all Muslims, individuals and the community, to follow and realize God’s will: to lead a virtuous life and to extend the Islamic community through preaching, education, example, writing, etc. Jihad also includes the right, indeed the obligation, to defend Islam and the community from aggression. Throughout history, the call to jihad has rallied Muslims to the defense of Islam.

I could say the same thing about Judaism. We are not the aggressors in this present-day war but the defenders of our ancient land and people and by association, our Jewish religion. It has been the Muslims who have been aggressors since Mohammad's death in 632 CE to take over Christian lands and now to rebel against and fight Jews for their Return to their land as a country, for Jews have never actually left the land in body or even in spirit. Muslim's reputation has been that of an aggressor, not a people of peace.

While Jihad in Islam involves a struggle, whether internal or external, Judaism doesn't have a direct equivalent. The concept of striving for good and following God's commandments is central to Jewish life, but it's not framed in the same way as Jihad; not at all. Here's where interpretation of "The Book" falls short by the history of the interpreters. It's why rabbis clung together during the Dark Ages meeting together to get a consensus on meaning of bible phrases, and writing the two Talmuds, Palestinian and Babylonian, the Talmuds Christians were so eager to burn in demonstrations because, as Jesus so aptly once said, forgive them as they know not why. Sadly, they knew not why many times throughout history.

One of the biggest anti-Semite teaching to kill Jews and drive them out of Israel is Qaradawi. Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a radical Muslim Brotherhood ideologue based in Qatar, has garnered worldwide appeal through a wide network of associations and by making use of various media outlets. Through his speeches and writings, Qaradawi has demonstrated consistent support of terrorist groups that seek to undermine a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. But instead of Jihad, Qaradawi encourages a "middle way" conception of jihad: "solidarity" with the Palestinians and others on the front line, rather than violence, is an obligatory form of jihad. Financial jihad, which corresponds with the obligation of alms giving (zakat), counts as well.

Several Muslim groups have employed "jihad" in their armed struggles, including Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State (IS), Hamas, and Hezbollah. These groups have justified their actions as "jihad" against perceived enemies, whether foreign powers, other Muslim governments, or internal dissenters.

Since the late 20th century, the word jihad has gained remarkable currency: used by resistance, liberation, and terrorist movements alike to legitimate their cause and motivate their followers. The Afghan Mujahiddin, the Taliban and the Northern Alliance, have waged a jihad in Afghanistan against foreign powers and amongthemselves; Muslims in Kashmir, Chechnya, Daghestan and the southern Philippines, Bosnia and Kosovo have fashioned their struggles as jihads; Hizbollah, HAMAS, and Islamic Jihad Palestine have characterized war with Israelas a jihad; Algeria’s Armed Islamic Group has engaged in a jihad of terror against the government there and Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda have waged a global jihad against Muslim governments and the West.

1998 Bin Laden's statement:

Hamas giving up to IDF

Praise be to Allah, who revealed the Book, controls the clouds, defeats factionalism, and says in His Book: "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)"; and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad Bin-'Abdallah, who said: I have been sent with the sword between my hands to ensure that no one but Allah is worshipped, Allah who put my livelihood under the shadow of my spear and who inflicts humiliation and scorn on those who disobey my orders.

The Arabian Peninsula has never -- since Allah made it flat, created its desert, and encircled it with seas -- been stormed by any forces like the crusader armies spreading in it like locusts, eating its riches and wiping out its plantations. All this is happening at a time in which nations are attacking Muslims like people fighting over a plate of food. In the light of the grave situation and the lack of support, we and you are obliged to discuss current events, and we should all agree on how to settle the matter. No one argues today about three facts that are known to everyone; we will list them, in order to remind everyone: 3, Third, if the Americans' aims behind these wars are religious and economic, the aim is also to serve the Jews' petty state and divert attention from its occupation of Jerusalem and murder of Muslims there. The best proof of this is their eagerness to destroy Iraq, the strongest neighboring Arab state, and their endeavor to fragment all the states of the region such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sudan into paper statelets and through their disunion and weakness to guarantee Israel's survival and the continuation of the brutal crusade occupation of the Peninsula.

Fighting against such jihadists who have set a mind-set are Israel's :

Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency): This agency is at the forefront of counterterrorism efforts in Israel, including those related to jihadist groups, according to Reuters. The head of Shin Bet is a key figure in this area.
Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman): This directorate is responsible for providing intelligence on threats, including those from jihadist organizations, according to Wikipedia. The head of Aman would be a high-ranking officer with expertise in this area.
Special Forces: Units like Sayeret Matkal and Shayetet 13 are involved in counterterrorism operations and hostage rescue, which may involve confronting jihadist elements.
Netanyahu should be the expert on fighting jihadists since he was in Sayeret Matkal!

Jews are waiting for the time when their enemies love their own children more than they hate Jews. (Golda Meier). So far was we see, Hamas as little feeling for their people's babies.

Resource:

https://irp.fas.org/world/para/docs/980223-fatwa.htm

https://www.unaoc.org/repository/Esposito_Jihad_Holy_Unholy.pdf

https://www.adl.org/sites/default/files/Sheik-Yusuf-al-Qaradawi-2013-5-3-v1.pdf

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/Joint_Staff/13-F-0117_DOC_07-course-materials-perspectives-on-Islam_and_Islamic_radicalism.pdf