Jihad Between Ideality and Reality (Anthropological Socio-Religious Approach)

Abstract

This study examined Jihad between Ideality and Reality. The three main focuses in this research are: (1) Jihad in the ideal concepts (2) Jihad in reality (3) Misperception of the implementation of jihad. The research method is descriptive-qualitative. The data was collected by using the literature review; books, articles in scientific journals, newspapers, seminar papers. Besides that, data was obtained through in-depth interviews conducted on scientists in the fields of sociology, religion, and anthropology. The results show that the meaning of jihad and its implementation is very elastic, fully becoming the area of ijtihad of the ulama. The excesses of interpreting wild jihad will bring harm to religion and Moslems themselves. To clarify the more correct meaning it is necessary to study and agreement of collective ijtihad by the competent institution between the scholars and researchers. Discourse about jihad that is not identical, even completely different from war, especially terrorism began to spread and strengthen among Moslems today. But they cannot stop that. They should not be trapped with apologetics. Indonesian Moslems - as the largest Moslem population in the world - must prove the meaning of holistic jihad through real praxis, which includes economic empowerment and strengthening the nation's intellect.