What is Jihad?
In the 21st century, Islam has undergone a lot of scrutiny. As a result of this, many people not familiar with the religion are manipulated into believing that Islam is full of hatred and violence. This of course absurd and the furthest thing from the truth. I'm sure at any point within the last 10 years or so, you have heard the term jihadist on several occasions. Every time the west plans to smear the name of Islam with it's propaganda, you will almost always see or hear the name terrorist, or jihadist associated with it. Furthermore it's always paired with images of war and suicide bombers. But what does Jihad really mean?
In reality, the word Jihad in arabic means to struggle, or to strive in the way of Allah. That sounds vague and that's because it is. You can struggle and strive in many ways. But Jihad mainly refers to a person striving against his or her own desires. Here in America we commonly hear people talking about fighting against or confronting their inner demons, well that person is actually engaging in Jihad. We all have things that we struggle with internally and when we confront those things we are perfoming a jihad. When we strive to become a better person and stop bad habits, that is a jihad. Obviously, when you struggle against something that you think is bad for you and want to stop, and strive for something that is better for you when attained, what some don't realize is that you are simultaneously striving in the way of God because it is making you a better person. And God wants us to be the best versions of ourselves at the end of the day. Every effort to improve one's self is Jihad. This kind of Jihad is the most important jihad.
Jihad also means to fight in the way of Allah, but this is purely defensive. As a muslim, you are allowed to defend yourself if and only if someone seeks to inflict harm upon you. In defending yourself you have to use appropriate force. You wouldn't use a nuclear bomb to kill a roach now would you? But lets be clear. This in no shape or form justifies any senseless act of aggression towards innocent people. A suicide bomber is not performing a jihad when he or she decides to kill innocent women and children and take his or her life. This is prohibited in Islam. In Fact, Allah tells us not to use our own hands to bring distruction upon ourselves. Islam strongly forbids suicide.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoso hurls himself down from a mountain and thus kills himself will be in Hell hurling himself down therein, abiding therein and being accommodated therein for ever; whoso takes poison and thus kills himself, his poison will be in his hand; he will be tasting it in Hell, always abiding therein, and being accommodated therein forever; and whoso kills himself with gun [lit., “piece of iron”], his gun will be in his hand; he will be shooting himself therewith against his belly in Hell, abiding therein and being accommodated therein forever."