UMMAH and JIHAD, THE MUSLIM EXPERIENCE

Observant Muslims at pilgrimage of Mecca

This week we visit our cousins in the faith of Islam, connected as we are through the faith bonds of Abraham. Our guide from the Life of Meaning is Seyyed Hossein Nasr, an Iranian native who is now an American citizen. He is Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University.
He is also the author of the book, The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity.
He gives a balanced approach to what a Muslim is. As often quoted there are two key statements that Muslims share he says, "There is but one God." "And Mohammed is his messenger." While many persons, even in the West, are familiar with these statements of greeting between the faithful, there are two other concepts from the faith, one perhaps not so well known and one too often heard in negative context that Nasr expresses.
The first is ummah and the second is jihad.

Ummah is translated as nation or community..
How do you define community?

Jihad is translated as struggle.
It can be the greater struggle which is the internal struggle of the soul or external which is defense of the faith or the building of society. What are your thoughts on these?

How do these two concepts relate to the religious heritage of our faith brothers of Abraham, the Jews, and our own Christian tradition?

Walter Morton for Terra Icognita