Jihad:

The literal meaning of Jihad is struggle or effort, and it means much more than holy war. In the Quran
jihad is a term with multiple meanings. During the Meccan period (c. 610–622 ce), when the Prophet
Muhammad received revelations of the Quran at Mecca, the emphasis was on the internal dimension of
jihad, termed ṣabr, which refers to the practice of “patient forbearance” by Muslims in the face of life’s
vicissitudes and toward those who wish them harm. The Quran also speaks of carrying out jihad by
means of the Quran against the pagan Meccans during the Meccan period (25:52), implying a verbal and
discursive struggle against those who reject the message of Islam. In the Medinan period (622–632),
during which Muhammad received Quranic revelations at Medina, a new dimension of jihad emerged:
fighting in self-defense against the aggression of the Meccan persecutors, termed qitāl. In the later
literature—comprising Hadith, the record of the sayings and actions of the Prophet; mystical
commentaries on the Quran; and more general mystical and edifying writings—these two main
dimensions of jihad, ṣabr and qitāl, were renamed jihad al-nafs (the internal, spiritual struggle against
the lower self) and jihād al-sayf (the physical combat with the sword), respectively. They were also
respectively called al-jihād al-akbar (the greater jihad) and al-jihād al-asghar (the lesser jihad).

Muslims use the word Jihad to describe three different kinds of struggle:
1-A believer's internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith as well as possible
2-The struggle to build a good Muslim society
3-Holy war: the struggle to defend Islam, with force if necessary
Many modern writers claim that the main meaning of Jihad is the internal spiritual struggle, and this is
accepted by many Muslims.

The internal Jihad

The phrase internal Jihad or greater Jihad refers to the efforts of a believer to live their Muslim faith as
well as possible. The Prophet is said to have called the internal Jihad the "greater Jihad".

On his return from a battle, the Prophet said: "We are finished with the lesser jihad; now we are starting
the greater jihad." He explained to his followers that fighting against an outer enemy is the lesser jihad
and fighting against one's self is the greater jihad (holy war). For instance, an authenticated hadith of
the Prophet states:

“The fighter in Allah’s path is the one who strives against his lower self (nafs) in obedience to Allah - al-
mujahid man jahada nafsahu fi ta'ati'lLah.” (The hadith is reported and graded hasan [sound] in Al-
Tirmidhi, Sunan, no.1671, but without the final phrase, "in obedience to Allah." But it is recorded with
that phrase elsewhere with a reliable chain of narration, such as in Ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, no. 1234.)

Here, the Prophet defines the mujahid primarily as one who strives to exert his "lower self," the carnal
matrix of base instincts and impulses, into compliance with the ethical architecture of "obedience to
Allah," that is, conduct reflective of the Divine Names and Qualities. This, then, is what is meant by 'jihad
al-asghar' - the Greater Jihad - and it is considered Greater simply because it is fundamental and primary
to all of Islam.

Holy war:
When Muslims, or their faith or territory are under attack, Islam permits (some say directs) the believer
to wage military war to protect them. Permissible reasons for military Jihad:

Self-defense
Strengthening Islam
Protecting the freedom of Muslims to practice their faith
Protecting Muslims against oppression, which could include overthrowing a tyrannical ruler
Punishing an enemy who breaks an oath
Putting right a wrong

There are two types of Jihad against the Kuffar.

1- Offensive Jihad, 2- Defensive Jihad

1- Offensive Jihad is when the Muslims launch an offensive attack. If this attack is on the Kuffar who
have previously received the message of Islam, then to call them towards Islam before commencement
of the attack is considered preferable. However, if the message of Islam has not reached them, then the
Kuffar will be invited towards Islam. If they reject this true faith, then they will have to pay Jizyah (Kufr
tax). If they refuse to submit to the payment of Jizyah then the Muslims are to fight against them. With
this type of Jihad, the Kuffar who plot against the Muslims are repelled and their hearts are filled with
fear, so that they do not succeed in their plans.

The offensive Jihad is Fardh Kifayah, the purpose of which is to ensure the Kuffar remain terrorised and
away from mischief, thereby, allowing the message of Islam to be conveyed without any obstructions.

If one group of Muslims fulfil this obligation then it will be sufficient on behalf of all Muslims, but if there
are no Muslims fulfilling this obligation then everyone is considered sinful.
It is stated in Fatawa Shami: It is required of the Imam (leader) of the Muslims to dispatch the army
routinely once or twice a year towards the Kufr countries. It is also the duty of the Muslim public to
assist the Imam in this noble cause. If the Imam does not send an army, then he will have considered
sinful.

The majority of Jihad undertaken at the time of our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was within the
category of offensive Jihad.

The Quran has called upon the Muslims to undertake the offensive Jihad and when this obligation is
satisfactorily fulfilled there would be no apparent need for the defensive Jihad.

When Muslims neglect this important obligation then they are subjected to the defensive Jihad and this
has become, with regret, widely common in our time.
2- Defensive Jihad is when the kuffer enemy attacks, the Muslims, forcing them in to a defensive
position. This is one of the most important obligations upon the Muslims. In researching and studying
the Jihad work predecessors, we understand that Jihad is considered Fardh ayn under the following
conditions: -
a) When the unbelievers attack upon a country or city belonging to the Muslims or if they gain control of
a Muslim country.
b) When the unbelievers take Muslims captives.
c) When a Muslim woman is held by the Kuffar, to ensure her freedom is Fardh upon the whole Muslim
Ummah.
d) When the Imam (leader) of the Muslims orders the Muslims to go for Jihad.
e) When the Kuffar and Muslims face each other in the battlefield and the battle takes place.
What a Jihad is not.
A war is not a Jihad if the intention is to:
Force people to convert to Islam
Conquer other nations to colonies them
Take territory for economic gain
Settle disputes
Demonstrate a leader's power