Performing Greater Jihad (al-Jihād al-Akbar) in the Hajj Season and Hajj Rituals

The term “greater jihad” (al-jihād al-akbar) is mentioned in verse 52, Surah al-Furqan[1] and it refers to features, such as maximum effort and use of all facilities; attention to place, time, and audience; and continuity and indefatigability. Considering greater jihad (al-jihād al-akbar) as non-military, this research aims to answer these questions: Can the Hajj season be a suitable ground, capacity and situation for carrying out greater jihad (al-jihād al-akbar) based on the teachings of the Holy Qur’an? Can the Hajj rituals be a set of actions against the enemies’ demands? This research discusses those concepts in the Hajj rituals that by observing them, the pilgrims and Muslim community can implement the ruling of greater jihad (al-jihād al-akbar) with the approach of opposing enemies, because only performing the Hajj rituals, regardless of devils and enemies’ goals, does not lead Muslim community to the goals of the Abrahamic and Muhammadan Hajj, and it is necessary to do this ruling to reach a monotheistic community; greater jihad (al-jihād al-akbar) is also helpful in this direction. This research enumerates the heart desires of the enemies and points to the capacities of the Hajj season and the Hajj rituals based on teachings of the Holy Qur’an. The research also categorizes the findings into specific and general strategies, practicable in Hajj that lay the groundwork for performing greater jihad (al-jihād al-akbar). This library-based research uses intra-Qura’nic thematic analysis.