The great Imam Ibn Taymiyya has defined Jihad as “any good action, any action that was virtuous.” This is in line with its Arabic rootword “jahada” which means ‘to strive’ or ‘to struggle’. Jihad can thus be understood as a continuous effort towards enjoining good and bringing betterment to the community with full piety and God consciousness, and does not exclusively mean striving through wars and weaponry against hostile enemies.
This understanding of Jihad can also be recongnized when one observes and studies the Qur’anic verses which mention the word jihad, and other words which mean war like “qital”. While the mention of “qital” in the Qur’an specifically explained the specific conditions in which Muslims are allowed to engage in wars, verses which mention the word Jihad bear a wider meaning. In Surah al-Hujurat verse15, Jihad is expanded to “Jihad with their wealth” “The (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah. Such are the sincere.” In another verse, Jihad is described in a general meaning in Surah al-Maidah: 35 “O ye who believe! Be mindful of your duty to Allah, and seek the way of approach unto Him, and strive in His way in order that ye may succeed.”
With the above understanding, Muslims could thus appreciate their religious life more, as they can regard the good deeds that they have committed to and striving for daily, with full piety and God-consciousness, as a form of Jihad. May we be accepted among those who succeed and are sincere, in our daily quest of Jihad, for Allah and His Truth. Wallahu a’lam.