The Concept of Jihad and Qital in the Perspective of Islam and Christianity: A Comparative Analysis Between Hadith and the Gospel in the Context of Indonesia

The concepts of jihad and qital in Islam and their Christian equivalents are often debated, especially in the context of religious pluralism in Indonesia. In public discourse, these two terms are often misunderstood as legitimising violence, whereas both have complex theological, ethical and historical dimensions. This study aims to comparatively analyse the understanding of jihad and qital based on the Prophet Muhammad's hadith-reports and the Gospel teachings on warfare and sacrifice, and how the two teachings are interpreted by their adherents in Indonesia. The research method used is qualitative-descriptive with a comparative approach of text and context, through a literature study of sahih hadith and Gospel texts, as well as a review of the interpretations of Muslim and Christian religious figures in Indonesia. The results of the study show several main points: firstly, the traditions explain jihad as an all-encompassing struggle that includes spiritual, social, and military aspects, with qital as the last part in defence of religion and humanity proportionally. Secondly, in the Injīl, although there is no direct terminology such as jihad and qital, there are teachings about love, sacrifice and moral struggle against evil, which are often interpreted in a spiritual and pacifist way. Third, in Indonesia, interfaith leaders tend to emphasise peaceful and contextual interpretations of verses and hadiths that speak of warfare, in order to maintain harmony. Fourth, it was found that both religions have great potential in promoting the value of peace when interpreted contextually and moderately. This research contributes to the strengthening of interfaith dialogue and interfaith understanding in a plural society.