The Concept of Jihad in GAM's Struggle: Teungku Abdullah Syafi’i's Perspective

Abstract

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is often viewed from political and ethnic perspectives, while the religious dimension, particularly the concept of jihad, which motivates many of its members, is rarely explored in-depth. This gap highlights the lack of literature that examines the religious thought, particularly the perspective of GAM’s spiritual leader, Teungku Abdullah Syafi’i. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing Abdullah Syafi’i's thoughts on jihad in GAM’s struggle. The research employs a qualitative approach, using literature analysis from academic journals related to GAM and jihad. The findings reveal that Abdullah Syafi’i interprets jihad not merely as physical warfare but as a moral and spiritual struggle to uphold Islamic law and defend the rights of Muslims in Aceh. This thought significantly influenced the morale of GAM members and provided a moral justification for their struggle.