The short answer
Jihad means striving or exertion. Muslim sources and scholarship use it in different contexts, including moral and spiritual effort and, in legal discussions, armed struggle. Reducing it either to “holy war” or only to an inward struggle leaves out part of that history.
A little more context
The existence of rules about warfare does not make violence unrestricted. Qur’an 2:190 connects fighting with limits against transgression; Sahih al-Bukhari 3015 reports a prohibition on killing women and children in warfare. These sources are relevant to rejecting the deliberate targeting of civilians.
Historical wars, extremist claims, and modern state actions still require specific examination. A group’s use of religious language does not establish that its actions are justified. Equally, a responsible answer should not pretend that the history of Islamic law contains no discussion of armed conflict.
Sources & further reading
- Qur’an 2:190 Limits in a passage about fighting.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3015 Prohibition on killing women and children in warfare.
- Qur’an 5:8 Justice even in the presence of hostility.
Original introductory summary, not a direct scripture translation. Prepared 21 October 2026. Qualified human religious review is pending. About our editorial approach.