Exploring the Shifting Understanding of Jihad Among Former Terrorists in their Journey Towards Disengagement: Transforming the Sword

Abstract

Purpose: This article explores the transformation of former terrorists' understanding of jihad verses to promote non-violence and disengagement. Method: The research uses a qualitative, narrative-phenomenological approach to analyze this shift. Data collection techniques with interviews (in deph interview), observation, and documentation. The depth of the data was obtained by searching for additional informants with snowball sampling techniques.Conventional content analysis techniques for open coding in this study. Open coding is obtained from the narration of informants. Result: The findings indicate a change in perception among former terrorists, but it does not completely eliminate their desire for holy war. Instead, they now view global jihad as defensive rather than offensive, and the law of jihad has shifted from an individual to a collective obligation. Former terrorists have replaced acts of terror with peaceful, humanistic actions. This transformation occurs during the process of indoctrination and later reflection on their perceived jihad actions. The informants' reflections are influenced by holistic interpretations of jihad verses, considering the impact of terror acts and social interactions with outgroups, family, and humanity. Ultimately, the research recommends a contextual examination of jihad verses to form the basis of deradicalization programs. Providing ongoing support to former terrorists during their reflection is crucial. Conclusion: Based on previous discussions, it can be concluded that a shift in understanding the meaning of jihadi verses occurred in all informants in this study. The shift in understanding of global jihad to defensive jihad; the law of jihad from fard 'ain (individual obligation) to the law of fard kifayah (collective obligation); jihad with acts of terror to jihad with peaceful and humanist action. This shift in understanding occurs in two stages, namely when the process of indoctrination of terror and when they reflect on actions that have been believed to be jihad.