Jihad and the Clash of Civilizations in the Polish-Lithuanian Lands

Abstract

The world sees a threat from Islam to modern civilization. Also, for Muslims, Western culture seems to be dangerous to their values. The resulting tensions are defined in Islam by the term of jihad or ‘holy war’, which assumed in the history the forms of armed or ideological struggle. Today it is accompanied by the theory of the clash of civilizations which sees the causes of future conflicts in the World in cultural, religious, ethnic and social differences.

In Poland, Islam was represented by the Polish-Lithuanian Tatars. The close coexistence of the two cultures formed a tolerant and relatively liberal Polish Muslim community. Relations were good. Muslim jihad served to defend our land, and the clash of civilizations did not bring out the differences between the two cultures, but increasingly it brought them nearer.

The influx of new Muslims to Poland changes the image of Islam. However, it should not affect the peaceful cooperation between the two civilizations. It is hoped that their meeting in the Polish Lands will not generate differences and conflicts, but will be based on reciprocal understanding and dialogue.