The real meaning of Jihad

Jihad is an Arabic word from the root Jee Ha Da.
It literally means to struggle or strive. Jihad is
struggling or striving in the way or sake of Allah.
Jihad takes a very important status in the doctrine
of Islam and is
one of the basic duties for every Muslim.
Though, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the
term Holy War. Such a term, or its equivalent
doesn’t exist in the Islamic doctrine.
The Christian Crusaders in the mid-ages invented
this ideology of Holy War.There is nothing “Holy”
about wars. Wars only involve killings and
disasters!
Jihad has many forms,
• Jihad of the heart/soul (jihad bin nafs/qalb)
• Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lisan)
• Jihad by the pen/knowledge (jihad bil qalam/ilm)
• Jihad by the hand (jihad bil yad)
• Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif)
Jihad of the Heart/Soul
Jihad of the heart/soul; in Arabic: jihad bin nafs/
qalb. It is referred as “the greater Jihad” (al-jihad
al-akbar).
It is one’s inner struggle of good against evil;
refraining oneself from the whispers of Shaitan
(Satan).
This process involves allowing Islam to transform
one’s soul to achieving internal peace; and
forgoing the hatred and anger.
Glorious Quran commands "
“Jihad is ordained for you (Muslims) though you
dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing
which is good for you and that you like a thing
which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not
know.”
{Surah 2: Al-Baqarah, Verse 216 }
Jazak Allah Khair.
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