Jihad

Jihad is an Arabic term meaning “striving” or “exertion.” In Islamic thought, it refers to the effort to live according to God’s guidance and to promote justice. The concept encompasses personal, ethical efforts as well as collective actions that protect or advance the Muslim community.

Islamic jurisprudence typically distinguishes between the greater jihad, the inner, personal struggle against sin and weakness, and the lesser jihad, a physical struggle that some scholars permit under strict conditions, such as defensive war declared by legitimate authority and proportionate means. Some translations render jihad as “holy war,” but classical law emphasizes that armed struggle is limited and subject to ethical rules, including discrimination between combatants and noncombatants and avoidance of harm beyond necessity.

Historically, jihad has been applied in various contexts, from personal reform to state defense, and has been invoked by rulers and reformers across different eras. In some periods, it was closely tied to military campaigns; in others, it focused on social, economic, or religious reform within communities.

Today, the term remains contested and highly politicized. Some extremist groups frame their actions as jihad, while many Muslim scholars and communities distinguish between those interpretations and the traditional, more expansive ethical framework. States and international organizations often encourage disciplined, legal forms of defense and condemn indiscriminate violence carried out in the name of jihad.