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[quote=Muslima]If you open a modern Oxford English dictionary, you would probably
find the definition of Jihad as “a holy war undertaken by Muslims againstnon-believers”. This is a very poor definition.  Before trying to define what Jihad is, we should first define what it is NOT.
Jihad is NOT Holy War
Jihad is NOT blowing up one’s self  (Suicide is a  sin in Islam)
Jihad is NOT killing innocent people
Jihad is NOT flying a plane into a building packed with civilians
Jihad is NOT fighting out of anger and hatred
Jihad is NOT killing others just because they don’t agree with you
Jihad is NOT killing others just because they are not Muslims
Jihad is an Arabic word from the root Jee Ha Da. It literally means to
struggle or strive. Jihad is struggling or striving in the way or sake of
Allah. Jihad takes a very important status in the doctrine of Islam and is one of the basic duties for every Muslim. Though, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the term Holy War. Such a term, or its equivalent doesn’t exist in the Islamic doctrine. The Christian Crusaders in the mid-ages invented this ideology of Holy War.
Jihad has many forms:
Jihad of the heart/soul (jihad bin nafs/qalb): is referred as
"The greater Jihad” (al-jihad al-akbar).It is one’s inner struggle of good against evil; refraining oneself from the whispers of Shaitan (Satan).This process involves allowing Islam to transform one’s soul to achieving internal peace; and forgoing hatred and anger.

Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lisan): It is defending Islam and spreading Islam by scholarly lectures, speeches and debates. It often overlaps with Da’awah (invitation to Islam, or spreading the message of Islam).

Jihad by the pen/knowledge (jihad bil qalam/ilm)

Jihad by the hand (jihad bil yad)

Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif) In contrary to Jihad of the
heart/soul; this form of Jihad is referred as “the lesser jihad” (al-jihad alasghar).Sometimes it is necessary to undertake Jihad by the sword. This would include usage of arsenals and engaging in a combat. This could be simply a bunch of freedom fighters or an organised campaign of army.Jihad by the sword is use of arms to engage into a combat. It is not misuse of arms to create violence.There are only two situations were Jihad by the sword is allowed to be
undertaken.

1) For self-defense. When someone attacks you or when your
nation has been attacked. Engaging into combat due to self defense.

2) Fighting against evil and unjust. It is also a sin if a Muslim sees unjust been done, capable of stopping it, yet not doing
Anything about it. This can include war on drug, war on child labour as well as war on terror!The Muslims already announced the war on terror fourteen centuries ago, under the name of Jihad bis saif!

There are many rules and limitations when engaging in combat under the title of Jihad. For example, civilians are not to be harmed; trees are not tobe cut down; women and children can't be killed, asylum should be granted to surrendering enemy soldiers;etc.

“And if anyone of the Mushrikun seeks your protection then grant
him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and then
escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men
who know not.”
{Quran, Surah 9: At-Taubah, Verse 6; Mohsin Translation}

The treatment for prisoners of war is also clearly stated in the Quran.
Prisoners of war under Muslim prisons are to eat, drink and dress the
same Muslim soldiers eat, drink and dress.And even under the unfortunate event of shortage of food, it is the prisoners who are to eat first before the Muslim soldiers guarding them!

Despite the fact that Jihad by the sword is the lesser Jihad, it is the only form of Jihad that most of the people in the world perceive Jihad as.This is unfortunate, especially for the Muslims. Many so-called “teachers of Islam” have been misusing this to assemble their so-called “holyarmy” to fight their so-called “holy war”. But you can’t blame the religion for what a few of its people do. [/quote]

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