A black and white image of an old punch card machine with a punched card in it.

Jihad, definition, Complete Idiot’s Guide

BySherwin Arnott

The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Understanding Islam
Yahiya J.A. Emerick, A Pearson Education Company, 2002
Google book

The word jihad literally means to struggle or strive or to work for something with determination. Although English translations define it as holy war, that is not the Arabic meaning. The Arabic word for war is harb, and the word for fighting is qital. This is important to know because “making jihad” is any action done to further the cause of God. Providing missionary services in a tough place, going to a far land to study, or donating money when it’s a hardship can be a type of jihad. Even just trying to curb your desires for the life of this world is considered a type of jihad.