What is the Difference between jihad and terrorism?

Answer 1

The word 'Jihad' means 'striving' or 'effort'. It can mean the effort to establish what is good and right - in any form. That means that each person who strives to obey God is involved in jihad. Voting, or protest against injustice are forms of jihad. Also fighting a war can be jihad; however, there can be no injustice in such a war. For Muslims to be aggressors, kill innocent people - any innocent people - or even destroy crops and livestock is forbidden. These things are NOT jihad. Fighting is only allowed under certain circumstances - and neither killing innocents, nor suicide are ever allowed. If there is a war, and the other side wants peace, then Muslims MUST establish PEACE.

You already know what terrorism is - and it is FORBIDDEN by God. www.freequran.org

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From a historical standpoint:

Jihad is something that has been used historically by various Islamic caliphates to justify wars of expansion etc. And more recently by "Islamic extremists" to justify terrorism. Jihad has long ago become a political tool just as "Islamic extremists and al'qeada" have become a political tool in the US.

Note:

Striving to improve your community can be considered a jihad.

source: General Education requirements at college.

-Ashlikesnow

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Using word "Jihad" for terroris; suicide attacks and extrimist activities is a "misnomer" rather a planned misnomer. Jihad is a source of God's blessing while terrorism is a source of great sin. Holy Quran says " he who kills a single person kills whole humanity and he who saves a single person saves whole humanity"

Answer 2

The word, "Jihad" (from Arabic), means a personal striving to achieve spiritual excellence. In Islam, the concept has four parts, Heart, Tongue, Hand and Sword (in that order). Heart refers mostly to the inner struggle to achieve spiritual excellence. Only the Sword refers to actual physical combat.

More recently, the word has been used for violent acts in support of Islam. Whether the acts themselves comply with the tenets of Islam, or are sins, is a topic of hot debate by Islamic scholars and the rest of the world.

Radical Islamic elements have popularized the word to be coincident with terrorist acts, but this may be a false or misleading use of the word.

Terrorism is another kettle of fish. The specific definitions of this word are deeply confused and often contradictory, but usually refers to acts that:

1. Injure or kill innocent individuals who are not involved in the matter at hand, not as collateral damage, but as targets.
2. Are conducted (at times) by members of a military or paramilitary organization out of uniform.
3. In the case of sovereign nations, are conducted outside the accepted rules of engagement with the intention of creating emotional impact, predominantly (but not exclusively) on the civilian population.
4. Are directed at non-military targets.

Note that this is an admittedly vague definition, and in fact I am aware of no concise, accurate, non-contradictory definition of the term "terrorism".

In summary, the term "Jihad" refers to a specifically Muslim concept, whereas terrorism is much more general.