Peace only means a ceasefire for an unlimited duration, but this helps nations to revive. In Iran’s case, however, I am sure that Iran’s strategy does not consist in reality. If Iran considers Israel responsible, then who nourished Israel and enabled it to fight against the Arabs? But in the long run, the destiny of nations changed, and now Iran is fighting both itself and the Arabs.
• Jihad is a basic spirit of Islam. Jihad translates literally to “striving” or “struggling”; it represents the overarching spirit of exerting oneself in the path of God, which encompasses both personal spiritual discipline and the pursuit of justice.
• Muslim scholars categorize Jihad into two main forms:
• The Greater Jihad: the internal, spiritual struggle to live a virtuous life, overcome personal sins, and resist temptation.
• The Lesser Jihad: the external struggle which includes the defense of the faith, standing up against oppression and tyranny, and, when necessary, armed conflict regulated by strict rules of engagement.
• Islamic scholars also like to view Jihad from these perspectives within the faith.
• Many Muslims and modern scholars emphasize Jihad as an Internal Struggle — that the most significant jihad is the internal, daily effort to remain faithful, patient, and moral.
• Standing Against Oppression: many traditions highlight that striving for justice and speaking truth to power are vital components of Jihad.
• Armed Defense: classical and traditional interpretations outline that the Lesser Jihad can involve “just war,” which is strictly governed by rules (e.g., prohibiting the targeting of women, children, and non-combatants) and is intended solely for defense or defeating
oppression.
(For more details on Jihad, you can read the UNAOC Jihad Study.)
• Internal Struggle is also called Jihad al-Nafs, meaning daily spiritual effort.
• Striving with the Tongue and Pen: the effort to speak the truth, educate others, and
promote what is good while forbidding what is wrong. (Nawa-e-Waqt was an esteemed
daily newspaper in Pakistan, and on its masthead a slogan was written: “Speaking the truth to the face of a cruel ruler is Jihad.”)
• Physical Combat (Jihad al-Sayf): this involves fighting to defend Islam or protect the oppressed. Physical jihad is bound by strict rules of engagement; it strictly forbids targeting children, women, and patients, and destroying vegetation and animals.
• But what can be said about the Iranian regime, which started this escalation at home and began killing innocent people who were Muslims by faith? Even women were not spared, and the killing of regime opponents was called Jihad — contradicting the standard of the Islamic religion, which holds that if a Muslim kills a Muslim, he no longer remains a Muslim. So how can Iran justify its war as jihad? I think there is a team working for the Iranian regime that is not faithful to the regime or to the country of Iran itself, because they are giving it the wrong advice that Iran should stand firm even unto death. There is no pro-Iran
or pro-regime position here. The question arises: if the son of the Imam becomes the head of the government of Iran, then Imam Ruhollah Khomeini had forbidden any kind of monarchy in Iran.
• In several of my previous articles, I have requested that President Trump and other leaders form an Imam City at Mashhad, just like the Vatican City of Rome, with no arms but duly guarded by the Pakistani Armed Forces, under United Nations and international observation.
• Iran should have a new regime under democracy, and the people may elect any
government they wish, even one led by an Imam.
I really salute President Trump and the American Armed Forces, and Field Marshal Asim Munir and the Government of Pakistan, who are striving for the safety of the Arab countries at the risk of their lives. May Holy God, through the Prince of Peace, bless peace in the Middle East.