"Jihad" means to struggle or strive, and Islam means submission to the will of God. Jihad is an Arabic word that means struggle. Accordingly, it is defined as exerting your best and greatest effort to achieve something. It is not the equivalent of war, that is called in Arabic 'Harbl' , not equivalent of killing that means in Arabic 'Qatl', and not equivalent for terrorism, that means in Arabic 'Irhab'. Jihad embraces every kind of striving in God's cause. A mujahid or jihadist is the one who practices Jihad. He is the one who uses all physical, intellectual, and spiritual resources to serve his/her cause; who confronts any power that stands in its way; and, when necessary, dies for this cause.
In the early beginning of Islam, the nonbelievers in Mecca (a city currently belongs to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) tried to assassinate Prophet Muhammad and waged wars against Prophet Muhammad and his followers. That is why Islamic Jihad was legalized at that time to allow Muslims to defend themselves and their religion.
Afterward, when Islam religion spread in the area and no more hostilities happened, Prophet Muhammad (peace upon him) said what means "finished the smallest Jihad (defending yourselves against enemies) and started the greatest Jihad (defending yourself against the forbidden pleasures such as drinking alcohol, gambling, prostitution, cheating, terrifying the innocents, stealing money and properties, false witness, etc..).
Accordingly, Jihad is defined under two categories:
- The smallest jihad (or the Minor Jihad or military jihad), and
- The greatest (or major jihad or self jihad.
In the smallest jihad (or military jihad), you are licit to practice it only in two cases:
- First: to defend religion, home, land, and people against any invaders and attackers.
- Second: to provide help and support to other people who are oppressed and unable to practice their own will and freedom of choice.
In both cases of the smallest (or the military) jihad, Muslims are commanded, by Quran and prophet teachings, to be fair and just. You should not kill an innocent, a woman, a child, an old man, or any civilian. You are commanded not to be excessive in using force and not to terrify civilians.
In the greatest jihad (or major jihad or self jihad), you must always practice it (and strive) to:
- forbid yourself from any action against God commands and against His prophet (PBUH) teachings as what to do and what not to do
- do good for yourself, your family, your community, mankind , and nature.