A good description of ‘Jihad’

Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah’s cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah: they are the people who will achieve (salvation)

Qur’an, chapter 9, At-Tauba, verse 20

.

Here is a brief but a good description from the Qur’an of what ‘Jihad’ entails. Jihad doesn’t mean just fighting, in essence it consists

• a true and sincere Faith in Allah(swt) and shunning the desire for paltry material gains

• an earnest and ceaseless activity in the cause of Allah(swt), which, if need be, may include fighting and sacrifice of life, person or property in the cause of Allah(swt).

Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad. Jihad is striving in the path of Allah(swt) and may be done through the pen, knowledge, emigration, sacrifice of wealth, property and when required through fighting.

And Allah(swt) knows best.

(based on the translation and explanation of the verse by Ustad Abdullah Yusuf Ali)