Jihad meaning: Learn what Jihad really means

Learn what Jihad really means in Islam. Explore Quranic verses, types of jihad, and Islamic teachings that debunk violent misconceptions. Jihad explained. The literal meaning of Jihad is struggle or effort, and it means much more than holy war. Jihad, in Islam, a meritorious struggle or effort. Although in the West it is sometimes erroneously translated as ‘holy war’ and understood as referring exclusively to military combat, Islamic texts yield a broader array of meanings connected to moral and ethical struggles. What does jihad mean? The word "jihad" is widely used, though often inaccurately, by Western politicians and media. In Arabic, the word means "effort" or "struggle".