Principles of Islam
19. Greater Jihad
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These factors sometimes appear within man in the
form of negative feelings. This is something to
which everyone must remain intellectually alert, so
that if for any reason there is some danger of a
negative mindset gaining the upper hand, he may
consciously and deliberately turn himself to
positive thinking. Even if circumstances repeatedly
place him in situations, which are depressing, and
demoralizing, he must never on such occasions lose
courage or lose sight of noble goals. The re-assertion
of his ethical sense is the real
jihad,
which he has to
wage.
From the Islamic standpoint, intention is all-
important. Any undertaking carried out with good
intentions will win God’s approval, while anything
done with bad intentions is bound to be
disapproved of and rejected by God. In actual fact,
intentions are the sole criteria of good or bad
actions in the divine scheme of things.
This truth relates
jihad
to man’s entire life and to all
of his activities. Whatever man does in this world,
be it at home, or in his professional capacity, in
family or in social life, his prime imperative must be
