Knowra Jihad Jihad Jihad is striving or struggle in Islam, especially effort to live faithfully and serve God. Islamic traditions also use it for armed struggle under particular legal and historical conditions.
Greater jihad : A commonly used term for inward moral and spiritual striving in Islam. It highlights the inward dimension of jihad, though the phrase’s status and use vary among Muslim scholars.
Quran : The central scripture of Islam, regarded by Muslims as God’s revelation to Muhammad. Its verses use forms of the Arabic root associated with striving and struggle.
Da'wah : The invitation to Islam through teaching, example, and communication of its beliefs. Some traditions connect striving in God’s cause with peaceful teaching and religious service.
Qital : An Arabic term for fighting or combat, used in Islamic texts and legal discussions. Unlike jihad, which can mean broad striving, qital specifically denotes fighting.
Lesser jihad : A traditional designation for outward struggle, often associated with armed combat. It names the outward counterpart in a classification that distinguishes spiritual effort from combat.
Hadith : Reports about the sayings, actions, and approvals of Muhammad, transmitted in Islamic traditions. Hadith literature supplies teachings used to interpret forms and limits of jihad.
Defensive jihad : Armed resistance described in Islamic legal and political traditions as defense against attack. It illustrates the interpretation of armed jihad as a response to aggression.
Hirabah : A category in Islamic law concerning violent banditry or armed public disorder. It is a legal crime, not a synonym for jihad or legitimate armed struggle.
Taqwa : God-consciousness in Islam, expressed through reverence and conduct shaped by awareness of God. Moral striving is often understood as cultivating this quality in daily life.
Sharia : Islamic guidance and law derived through interpretation of foundational sources and legal reasoning. Legal discussions place armed jihad within rules governing authority, conduct, and obligations.
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