Jihad

''Jihad'' (; ) is an Arabic word that means "exerting", "striving", or "struggling", particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God's guidance, such as an internal struggle against evil in oneself, efforts to build a good Muslim community (''ummah''), and struggle to defend Islam. Literally meaning 'struggle', the term is most frequently associated with warfare.

''Jihad'' is classified into inner ("greater") ''jihad'', which involves a struggle against one's own passions and impulses, and outer ("lesser") ''jihad'', which is further subdivided into ''jihad'' of the pen/tongue (debate or persuasion) and ''jihad'' of the sword (warfare). Much of Muslim opinion considers inner ''jihad'' to have primacy over outer ''jihad'', although many Western scholars disagree. The analysis of a large survey from 2002 reveals considerable nuance in the conceptions of ''jihad'' held by Muslims around the world, ranging from righteous living and promoting peace to fighting against the opponents of Islam.

The word ''jihad'' appears frequently in the Qur'an referring to both religious and spiritual struggle and to war and physical struggle,}} often in the idiomatic expression "striving in the path of God ''(al-jihad fi sabil Allah)''", conveying a sense of self-exertion. In the ''hadiths'', ''jihad'' refers predominantly to warfare. Greater ''jihad'' refers to spiritual and moral struggle, and has traditionally been emphasized in Sufi and Ahmadiyya circles. The sense of ''jihad'' as armed resistance was first used in the context of persecution faced by Muslims when Muhammad was at Mecca, when the community had two choices: further emigration (''hijrah'') or war. The Qur'an justifies war in self-defense or in response to aggression towards other Muslims, however the sword verses have historically been interpreted to renounce other verses and justify offensive war against unbelievers, forcibly converting polytheistic pagans during the early Muslim conquests. A set of rules pertaining to ''jihad'' were developed, including prohibitions on harming those who are not engaged in combat, on killing animals such as horses, and on unnecessary destruction of enemy property.

In the twentieth century, the notion of ''jihad'' lost its jurisprudential relevance and instead gave rise to ideological and political discourse. While modernist Islamic scholars have emphasized the defensive and non-military aspects of ''jihad'', some Islamists have advanced aggressive interpretations that go beyond the classical texts. The term has gained additional attention in recent decades through its use by various insurgent Islamic extremist, militant Islamist, and terrorist individuals and organizations. Today, the word ''jihad'' is often used without religious connotations, like the English ''crusade''. Provided by Wikipedia