Zaid Shakir – Jihad: A Just Struggle or Unjust Violence?

About this lecture

In this comprehensive lecture, Imam Zaid Shakir explores the full meaning of Jihad in Islam — from its linguistic roots to its Quranic dimensions — making the case that it is neither unjust violence nor a call to perpetual warfare, but a multifaceted concept rooted in justice, ethics, and spiritual struggle. He addresses the three types of Jihad identified by Imam Fakhruddin al-Razi: the inner struggle against the soul (*nafs*), the struggle to engage non-antagonistic non-Muslims with wisdom and good character, and the carefully qualified permission to physically defend against oppression. The lecture also tackles terrorism, media-induced perceptions of Muslims, and the responsibilities of Muslims living in the West, concluding with a lively Q&A session covering topics ranging from the Taliban's destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan to the ethics of armed resistance movements.