Returning to the Jihadi Spirit is the Way to Progress in Society / Jihadi Action Means Sincere Effort, Facing Obstacles, and Trusting in God

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Qom: Hojjat al-Islam wa’l-Muslimeen Awliya Sha’bani, the head of Jihad for the construction of the Mustafa al-Alamiyah community, spoke at the specialized session of the Path of Excellence Discourse at the Tebyan Center in Qom on the topic of “The Place of Jihad Activities in the Thought of the Imams of the Revolution.” He explained the conceptual dimensions, epistemological foundations, and practical characteristics of Jihad in the intellectual system of Imam Khomeini (RA) and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and emphasized the need to revive the spirit of Jihad in various cultural, scientific, social, and managerial fields.

In this session, which was held in the meeting hall of the Tebyan Center’s representative office in Qom, Hojjat al-Islam wa’l-Muslimeen Sha’bani stated in his speech that the word Jihad is associated with the concept of military battle and battlefield in the minds of many people more than anything else, and stated: “In Islamic culture, Jihad is a much broader concept than armed confrontation and includes all areas of sincere effort to achieve divine goals.”

Pointing out that jihad in religious teachings is divided into two parts: minor jihad and major jihad, he added: "Minor jihad is the confrontation with the external enemy and presence on the battlefield; but the major jihad is the struggle with the inner self and the air that is the foundation of other struggles. If someone is not victorious in the internal field, he cannot emerge victorious in the external field."

Emphasizing that Imam Khomeini (RA) and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution have extended the concept of jihad to all areas of social and individual life in his intellectual system, this seminary professor said: "In the eyes of the Imams of the Revolution, jihad is not limited to the battlefield; it also includes cultural, scientific, economic, managerial, social, and constructive jihad. Wherever there is a need for sincere efforts to realize the ideals of the revolution and serve the people, there is the field of jihad."

Shabani continued: When we pay attention to the repeated expressions of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution in his statements and statements, we see that terms such as jihadi management, jihadi movement, jihadi progress, and jihadi work have been repeated many times. This repetition shows that jihad is a key and fundamental concept in the discourse of the Islamic Revolution, and if this spirit remains alive in society, the nation will be on the path of excellence and progress.

He clarified: From the perspective of the Imams of the Revolution, jihad is a kind of outlook, method, and lifestyle. This spirit can be transformative.

In another part of his speech, Hojjatoleslam Walmuslim Shabani referred to the history of the establishment of Jihad-e-Sazandegi and said: In Khordad/Jawza 1358, just a few months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) issued a decree to establish Jihad-e-Sazandegi. The goal of this institution was to help develop and develop villages, eliminate deprivation, and serve the people without any gratification. This action was one of the concrete examples of the Imam’s understanding of the concept of jihad.

He added: Jihad-e-Sazandegi accomplished great things with limited resources and volunteer forces. Jihadists dug wells alongside the people of the villages, built roads, established health centers, and worked day and night for the welfare of the people without material expectations. This experience was a practical symbol of Jihadist management and work in the early days of the revolution.

Shabani continued: Over time, Jihad-e-Sazandegi was merged into the Ministry of Agriculture, and although its administrative structure changed, the Supreme Leader of the Revolution repeatedly emphasized that the spirit and name of Jihad should not be removed from the country's development and service activities. For this reason, the Basij-e-Sazandegi was later formed to continue this blessed path.

Stating that today, more than ever, we need to revive the spirit of Jihad among the young generation, Shabani said: In a situation where society is facing economic, cultural, and social problems, if the spirit of Jihad among the people, especially the youth, remains alive, many dead ends will be opened. Experience has shown that wherever young people have entered the field with divine intention and revolutionary zeal, success has been achieved.

He added: Jihad does not only have a military meaning. Jihad in the field of science means a round-the-clock effort to produce the knowledge needed by the country, Jihad in the field of culture means confronting the enemy’s intellectual invasion, Jihad in the field of economy means production and work without dependence on foreigners.

This seminary professor noted: Today, in the conditions of the enemy’s combined war, every student, pupil, worker and manager can be a mujahid in the way of Allah; provided that he does his work with pure intention, commitment and continuous effort.

Continuing his speech, Hojjatoleslam Walmuslimin Shabani explained the characteristics of jihadi action in the thought of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and stated: In the statements of the Leader of the Revolution, the word jihad and its derivatives have been used more than hundreds of times, and from this repetition, the characteristics and criteria of jihadi work can be extracted.

He then pointed out the most important of these characteristics and said: Among the characteristics of jihadi action, we can mention the existence of a role model, honesty and truthfulness, trust in the youth, a sense of duty, sincerity, scientific and rationality of action, presence in the field, faith, trust in God, tireless effort, purposefulness, innovation, belief and self-confidence, fighting despair and laziness, avoiding selfishness and working for God.

Explaining other characteristics, he added: Another characteristic of jihadist work is trust and faith in divine promises. A true mujahid never despairs, because he is certain of the promise of divine victory. Also, trusting the youth and giving them a platform is another characteristic of the jihadist approach in management.

Referring to the scope of jihad fields from the perspective of the Leader of the Revolution, the seminary professor continued: In His Holiness’ statements, jihad is not defined only in the military field, but various fields of jihad are mentioned; including scientific, cultural, economic, missionary, social, political, moral and managerial jihad. In fact, jihad in any field means that a person strives for God, with sincerity and against obstacles and enemies.

He stated: If we were to categorize the words of the Leader of the Revolution, more than a hundred different types of fields for jihad can be identified. Sometimes jihad is obvious, such as being present on the battlefield, and sometimes it is hidden, such as scientific struggle in the laboratory or cultural efforts in schools and mosques. All of these are examples of jihad.

In another part of his speech, Shabani referred to the role of the clergy and students in jihadi activities and said: Students and clergy are present alongside the people in jihadi camps and, in addition to carrying out construction work, they also work in the cultural and propaganda fields. When jihadi groups are dispatched to deprived areas, in addition to construction, they teach rules, hold ethics meetings, answer doubts, and promote religious culture. This combination of construction jihad and propaganda jihad is one of the blessings of the Islamic Revolution.

He added: The students of Al-Mustafa University and other seminary centers are good examples of jihadi presence in the field. These camps are not just physical work, but also involve training in collective spirit, responsibility, simplicity, and spirituality.

The seminary professor noted: In some deprived areas, in addition to development activities, jihadi clerics have also created knowledge circles, held question-and-answer sessions, and insight sessions for the people, which have had significant social and cultural effects.

Continuing his speech, Hojjatoleslam Walmuslimin Shabani referred to the obstacles and harms of jihadi activities, saying: Just as jihad has many blessings, there are also harms and obstacles on its path that must be carefully identified and resolved.

He listed these harms as despair and hopelessness, self-centeredness, weakness in teamwork, hypocrisy, neglect of divine intention, and falling into quantitative thinking, adding: Sometimes it is observed that some groups, instead of focusing on quality and effectiveness, are only looking to increase the number of meetings and activities to be seen in reports. This view contradicts the spirit of jihad.

Shabani emphasized: Another harm is self-suppression and scientific arrogance. Sometimes, some people distance themselves from practical work and direct service to the people due to their position or education, while the spirit of jihad means humility and readiness to serve at any level.

He clarified: A jihadi activist must wear the clothes of duty, not the clothes of position. Being a jihadi means putting aside formalities and going to the field of action. Those who work for the sake of God are not afraid of being seen or not, but their only concern is doing their duty.

In another part of his speech, referring to the strategies for strengthening the jihadi spirit, the seminary professor stated: For the continuation of jihadi activities, three factors must be together: jihadi management, belief in divine promises, and popular participation. Wherever these three elements are combined, progress has been achieved.

He added: Jihadi management means using existing capacities in the best possible way, making courageous decisions, and relying on God. In jihadi management, limitations turn into opportunities.

Shabani noted: Another element is trust in God and belief in divine victory. A true mujahid never despairs. The Leader of the Revolution has said that whoever strives in the way of God has no right to despair, because the divine promise is certain.

He emphasized: The third factor is the presence and participation of the people. Experience has shown that whenever the people have been on the scene, divine blessings have been bestowed upon the country. Jihadi popular movements are a clear example of this truth.

Hojjatoleslam Walmuslim Shabani continued by pointing out examples of jihadi management in various fields and said: In recent years, jihadi groups have been able to accomplish great things despite limited resources; from building houses for the disadvantaged to creating educational and health infrastructure in remote areas. Many of these activities have been carried out without government funding and only with the effort and participation of volunteers.

He added: In one of the deprived areas of the country, a group of jihadi youth were able to implement several development projects using private vehicles and public donations. This is an example of jihadi management that is carried out with minimal resources and maximum motivation.

Shabani stated: In the scientific field, Iran's young scientists have been able to make significant progress in the defense, nanotechnology, and medical industries by relying on the jihadi spirit. These successes are the result of the same spirit that the Imams of the Revolution emphasized.

In another part of his speech, he referred to the effects and achievements of jihad and stated: Jihadist work leads to the growth and progress of the nation, increases national dignity and authority, retreats enemies, and fulfills divine promises. Wherever work is done with divine intention and in a spirit of struggle, blessings and victory have been achieved.