The most misinterpreted aspect of the Quran is jihad. Jihad, in reality, is peaceful activism but has been misinterpreted as violent activism. ‘Jihad’ is an Arabic term which literally means to make ‘effort’ or ‘struggle.’ Some people portray the picture of Islam as a religion of violence by using the word, jihad. They say that jihad in Islam is a holy war. But there is no concept of holy war in Islam. Jihad has nothing to do with war or violence. It simply means making great efforts or striving for a particular purpose. Jihad is, therefore, a peaceful struggle. The word used in the Quran to refer to war is qital. It is important to clarify that in Islam, war is defensive, not offensive and undertaken when all peaceful means have been exhausted. Further, war can only be declared by an established state. No individual or NGO has the right to declare and engage in warfare. The Quran states: ‘strive with the utmost strenuousness by means of this [Quran, to convey its message to them].’ (25:52) Nowhere does it say to strive ‘with the help of the sword’. Clearly, jihad is an act to be performed by the power of ideology rather than the power of the sword; it is only another name for peaceful activism along Islamic lines. Peace is the bedrock of Islam. According to the Quran, on the Day of the Judgement, God will say: ‘O peaceful soul, come and enter my Paradise’ (89:28). And only those who have followed the path of peace in this world will be allowed entry into God’s Paradise.

Source: The Seeker’s Guide