"Jihad" means struggle. Muslims use the word to mean several different kinds of struggle, but most westerners know the word in the context of a holy war.
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Jihad never means in Islam holy war and never intended by Juhad to make Islam the leading religion of the world. Jihad means struggle to do the good and the struggle to to follow God commands as not to do furnication, not to cheat, not to be violent, to be kind to your neighbor, to be forgiving, to maintain good morals, ... etc. This is called the major Jihad. The minor jihad is tyo defend youeself against those who attacks you or deprive you from your homes and lands.
A struggle or conflict to spread Islam is a Jihad
There is nothing in Islam religion called Islamism or jihadism. There is Islam and jihad. The difference between them is that Islam is a religion per Qur'an revelation by God to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the angel Gabriel (or Jibril). However, jihad is the struggle ; practiced by Muslims and one Muslims; to get life requirements, raise up families, practice good morals and religion teachings as well as struggle to defend lands, homes, families, and religion against military attacks. When Islam interferes with politics it is called political Islam. When jihad is directed ti fulfill political goals it is called political jihad. Refer to related questions below.
There aren't groups in ISLAM there is only ISLAM (Qur'an & sunnah) jihad means to strike and struggle for the sake of ALLAH. ISLAM came to the 21st century from the idol worshiping times by jihad, IF there is no jihad there would be no ISLAM.
Jihad or the call to struggle.
Jihad is to defend your life, home, country, and faith. Jihad is to struggle against unjustifiable desires and against doing bad deeds. In this context, Jihad has no relation with violence and never leads to violent Islam. Islam is never a violent religion. Islam calls for peace and justice and good morals. If Islam calls for defending your lands and properties (called military Jihad) it does not mean violence. If Islam calls Muslims to struggle within themselves to be in the right path of God and not to commit sins, it does not mean violence, Islam calls for peace and tolerance. refer to related question below.
Jihad does not mean holy war. Jihad is an Arabic word that means struggle. All of us; irrelevant to faith or religion; do jihad (or struggle) for better life, better education, doing good deeds, avoid bad deeds or sayings. Also Jihad includes struggle against those who attack your lands, homes, or faith. Refer to question below.
Jihad is a struggle against military attacks as well as struggle to follow Islam rules without deviations. Refer to related question below.
Answer Ayes and no because Islam allows Jihad and allows individual Immams to encourage Jihad and to fight against the west, Islam bears a heavy responsibility where terrorism is concerned. However, it is the individual who decides to maim and kill in the name of Islam who is responsible for his/her own actions.It is interesting to note that Islamic leaders remain silent after each atrocity and do not condemn such attacks.Answer B (Comment on Answer A above)Jihad is allowed in Islam by prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and all Muslims leaders. Jihad is and Arabic word that means struggle. All our lives are based on struggle. You struggle to get better work opportunity. You struggle to raise up your children well. You struggle for a cause of better living, better education, better job, ...etc. jihad or struggle is Islam is of two kinds:major jihad or major struggle: Major jihad is the struggle against your own desires to do what is wrong as cheating, fornication, bribery, ... etc.minor jihad or minor struggle: this is the military struggle against those who attacks you, oppresses you, deprives you from your lands or property, etc... It is a defensive military struggle.No single Muslim army is attacking and western country. however, many Muslim countries are attacked by western armies. It is logic that these occupied countries by the west to perform Jihad against those invading armies.It is clear in Islam teachings not to kill civilians or children or women or old people. If some Muslims do that, then it is their misunderstanding of Islam and not because of Islam religion teachings.Look to who benefits from the so called Islamic terrorist attacks and then you can understand who initialized it or who is behind it even if who executed them are claimed as Muslims. It is a dramatic conspiracy actions for politicians to implement their agendas in the Middle East and Muslim countries.
A struggles for the defense of Islam
To physically fight against the enemies of Islam
The greatest jihad (or major Jihad) is the struggle to avoid committing sins or violating Islam morals and rules. Refer to related question below.
Jihad, as described in the Quran, refers to a struggle or effort to strive towards self-improvement, to defend one's faith, or to promote justice and peace. It can be both an internal spiritual struggle (greater jihad) and a physical defense of Islam in the face of aggression (lesser jihad). Terrorism, on the other hand, involves the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, causing fear and harm, which is explicitly condemned in Islam. Jihad promotes peace, while terrorism goes against the principles of Islam by causing harm to innocent people.