Three Types of Jihad

Jihad is a peaceful struggle to remain steadfast on the path that is pleasing to God, to convey the message of God to all of mankind and, in an extended sense, to face antagonists, which was a peaceful one in the past, and remains now as well.

Islamic jihad, when properly understood, is a constructive and continuous action or process. It continues uninterrupted throughout the life of a true believer. It has three aspects:

1. Jihad-e-Nafs: This is the struggle against one’s negative feelings and improper desires and persevering to remain steadfast on the path that is pleasing to God.
2. Jihad-e-Dawah: This is the struggle to convey the message of God to all of mankind and to make utmost effort for this cause with feelings of compassion and well-wishing for all. it is an exalted task, and so it is called jihad-e-kabir or ‘great jihad’ in the Quran (25:52).
3. Jihad in the Face of Antagonists: In the past, this jihad was a peaceful one, which remains relevant till today.

In this sense, jihad is a peaceful struggle, not a violent one.

There are numerous similar verses in the Quran and Hadith reports that tell us that the act of jihad is a peaceful action. It is a form of struggle for a Divine task conducted within peaceful limits. Then, the correct translation of jihad would be ‘peaceful struggle’.