What is the real meaning of jihad?

Answer 1

The word Jihad does not mean "Holy War". Jihad means effort or endeavors against man’s own self. Jihad is to work hard to do right things. Islam ask his followers to recognize their duty towards themselves, and that duty is Jihad, striving for good against evil, beginning with the conquest of a man’s own lusts. His training for Jihad is not only military training; it is the whole structure of Islamic discipline. Without the wider human aim there can be no Jihad. In the religious sense, it probably applies to the whole effort of the Muslim to assert and establish the sovereignty of God in men’s mind, by performing his religious duty as laid down in the Quran, an effort, which should last through all his life. It should govern every action of his life, or he is no true Muslim. This duty may be summarized as the fight for good against evil in every connection and in every field, beginning with a man’s own heart and mind. Our Holy prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"The greatest Jihad is that against a man’s own lust;" Which means that the best way of recommending the belief in Allah’s universal sovereignty and extending the new realm of peace and brotherhood is by the example of righteous conduct. The term Al-Jihad-ul-Akbar. "The greatest Jihad," is also applied by the Holy prophet (peace be upon him) to the effort of the student to become learned and the effort of the learned to spread knowledge.

Answer 2

We know very well that in every language certain words may have many different meanings depending on its usage. Struggle can be in your mind, in your own life, in your work, in your way to office with the traffic, or struggle may be fighting with the enemy. Historically, Jihad means Holly War. For 1400 years, Muslims always understood the meaning of Jihad as Islamic Holy War. Every Islamic scholar, will agree with this meaning of Jihad. Technically, Jihad is war against non-Muslims (disbeliever; hypocrites) only, since Muslims are forbidden to fight the Muslims. In the Islamic history, more than 80% of the texts are filled with Holy War. If you want to give Jihad a new twisted meaning, a politically correct one, then you better first change the Qur’an, Hadiths and all those Islamic history books available in the library throughout the world.

Answer 3

Jihad is Arabic for struggle within ones self.
A mother giving birth is a Jihad.
A person dealing with a mental illness is a Jihad.
A person battling an addiction is a Jihad.

Answer 4

Well the meaning of Jihad means to
to make an effort or to struggle!

Answer 5

Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism. In the Quran, God has said:

“God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers.” (Quran 60:8)
The Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children, and he would advise them: “...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child.” And he also said: “Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years.”
Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.

He once listed murder as the second of the major sins, and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, “The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.”

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them. Once the Prophet Muhammad said: “A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died. On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth.”

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action. The Prophet, may God praise him, was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?” He said: “There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.”[9]

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible. The Prophet Muhammad said: “When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way. One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal.”

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims. If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam.

Answer 6

This question hit me on the inside. I can assume of course that you know what jihad is.

For me jihad means so many things. Things that I can not explain. But it is the struggle you have inside. Fighting ones own temptations. Seeking truth to better ones self with the will of Allah subhana wa ta'ala. We have two parts inside of us and I continuously struggle, honestly.

But more and more everyday, Islam shines inside me, mashallah. I wish to hold on to this light in this life, in my death, and in the hearafter, inshallah.

MAY ALLAH TA'ALA KEEP ME. ameen

Answer 7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jihad this might help. It seems that Jihad includes both spiritual Jihad (inner struggle) and physical Jihad (holy war).

Answer 8

To be a better muslim and to spread the words of Allah

Answer 9

Religious Holy War

Answer 10

Seeing as you are a soldier of Allah we shouldn't need to tell you.