mujhid

Mujhid is a transliteration of the Arabic noun مجاهد, which derives from the root j-h-d meaning to strive or exert oneself. The term is the active participle of the verb and generally means “one who strives in the way of God.” In Islamic usage, it can refer to a person engaged in spiritual striving (jihad al-akbar) as well as to someone who participates in armed struggle in the name of Islam. The broader concept of jihad encompasses internal, moral effort as well as external, military actions, with the balance between these readings varying by tradition and context. Some spellings render the term as mujahid, while others use variants such as mujahed or mujhid; mujahideen is the common plural.

Historically, mujahid has been applied to individuals who mobilize for religiously framed conflict or resistance, and it has appeared across different periods and regions. In modern times the term is widely associated with fighters in Islamist or nationalist movements who claim to act in defense of Islam or Muslim communities. The famous Afghan mujahideen of the 1980s is a prominent example, though the label has also been used in other conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. The connotation of mujid can vary significantly depending on speaker, source, and political context.

In scholarly and public discourse, mujid is treated as a descriptive term rather than a formal title. Its meaning is shaped by the broader concept of jihad and by the ideological and historical setting in which it is used. Related terms include mujahideen (plural) and jihad as a theological or military concept.