A Critical Study of the Discourse on Judaism in "The Spirit of "Al Jihad fil Islam"

Abstract

Syed Abul A‘laMaududi renowned treatise "The Spirit of Jihad in Islam" (Al-Jihad fi al-Islam) offers not only a comprehensive exposition of the Islamic concept of jihad but also presents a critical and comparative analysis of the ideologies of other religions and nations, particularly Judaism. Iqbal contrasts the Jewish perspective on warfare, moral philosophy, and socio-religious conduct with the ethical and universal principles of Islam, highlighting the inherent contradictions within Judaic thought.According to Syed Abul A‘laMaududi, the Jewish concept of combat is primarily based on narrow national interests, religious exclusivism, and racial superiority. In contrast, the Islamic notion of jihad is founded on justice, human freedom, and the support of the oppressed. He argues that in Jewish tradition, warfare often served the purpose of tribal dominance and material gain, while Islam elevated jihad as a means of global peace, human equality, and moral responsibility.
Syed Abul A‘laMaududi critically examines the Judaic idea of being the “Chosen Nation,” asserting that it fosters historical arrogance and moral decay. He views this concept as antithetical to the Islamic vision of universal human unity, which emphasizes servitude to God and the establishment of justice for all.FurthermoreSyed Abul A‘laMaududipoints out that Judaism confined its religious teachings to a specific ethnic group, lacking the universal spirit that characterizes Islamic doctrine. As a result, Jewish warfare evolved into a form of ethnic defense, whereas Islamic jihad emerged as a moral and humanitarian endeavor aimed at the eradication of falsehood, resistance to oppression, and the welfare of all humanity.