المعنى الاصطلاحي

A paganistic polytheistic religion branched off from Hinduism.

الشرح المختصر

"Al-Jeeniyyah" (Jainism) is an Indian religion that split from Hinduism. It is also called "Jain Dharma" and the "Atheistic Movement". It was established as a revolution against Brahmans. It is built upon the fear of repeated births by way of transmigration. It was founded in the 6th century B.C in India by Mahavira (the great hero) who was born into the royal Kshatriya family. He began the phase of asceticism, seclusion, and contemplation from his youth, walking naked for a year, after which he began his call. Beliefs and thoughts of Jainism: 1. Denial of the Creator, belief in the divinity of Mahavira and making him their god. They associate him with the twenty-three Jinas, while acknowledging the Hindu gods except three: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. 2. Belief in transmigration and in karma (which is a physical substance that mixes with the soul and surrounds it). A person continues to be born and die so long as the karma is attached to his soul, and he does not become pure until he rids himself of karma. 3. Belief in salvation which means achieving eternal happiness, free from sadness and pain. The way to reach salvation is by adhering to good and avoiding evil. 4. Belief in suppression of emotions, nudity, calling for freedom from all shackles of life, and slow suicide through self-starvation. 5. The speeches, directives, and responses of Mahavira represent the holy reference of Jainism. They were compiled in forty-six books, recorded in Sanskrit. The most important of these books is "The Twelve Angas". Jainism is divided into two major sects: 1- Digambara (sky-clad): those who take the sky as clothing for themselves and they incline towards extreme asceticism. 2- Svetambara (white-clad): the moderate common class of Jainism, and they implement the general principles of Jainism.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Al-Jeeniyyah": It is derived from "jina" an indian word which means the "subjugator of his desire". They were called so owing to their belief that twenty-four Jinas took part in founding their religion, the last of whom was a man called Mahavira.