aljihad

Aljihad, usually transliterated as al-Jihad or aljihad, is an Arabic term meaning struggle or striving. In Islamic thought, jihad denotes the effort to live in accordance with God’s will and to improve oneself and society. The term derives from the noun jihad, from the verb jahada, meaning to strive or to exert effort.

Classical Islamic scholarship distinguishes between greater jihad and lesser jihad. The greater jihad refers to the inner, personal struggle against sin, arrogance, greed, and ignorance. The lesser jihad refers to organized, sometimes armed struggle undertaken under strict conditions, typically in defense of the Muslim community or to protect religious freedom or life, property, and honor, and only under the authority of a legitimate ruler or community. Jurists emphasize ethical constraints in warfare, including forbidding harm to civilians and proportionality of force.

Historically, jihad is invoked in Qur’anic verses and Hadiths in both spiritual and military senses; its application has varied across eras, regions, and legal schools. In modern times, the term is widely used in political contexts, sometimes as a slogan or in the names of organizations; mainstream Islamic scholarship condemns indiscriminate violence and stresses that armed struggle is not a universal obligation and must meet legal and moral criteria. Some non-state actors and terrorist groups have co-opted the language of jihad to justify attacks, which is rejected by most Muslims and by many governments.

Overall, al-Jihad is a multi-layered concept in Islam, encompassing personal spiritual effort and, under certain conditions, organized defense, while remaining distinct from indiscriminate violence or terrorism in the broader ethical tradition of Islam.