jihad

/dʒiˈhɑd/

/dʒiˈhɒd/

Other forms: jihads

Jihad is an Islamic religious term that most often means a kind of inner struggle for a spiritual goal. Many Muslims view jihad as an important duty of their religious life.

The word jihad literally means "struggle" in Arabic. It's an important concept in Islam, one that appears dozens of times in the Quran, usually in the sense of a believer's internal struggle to be a good Muslim and fulfill essential religious duties. In Western popular culture and news, and among some groups of Muslims, jihad is more often used to mean "holy war," or a violent struggle against the enemies of Islam.

Definitions of jihad

1. noun

   a holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral or spiritual or political goal
   synonyms: jehad

   type of:

   nisus, pains, strain, striving

   an effortful attempt to attain a goal
2. noun

   a holy war waged by Muslims against infidels
   synonyms: international jihad, jehad

   type of:

   war, warfare

   the waging of armed conflict against an enemy