In recent years, the word jihad has become synonymous in many minds with a form of religious extremism that causes a great deal of fear and suspicion. It is commonly thought to mean "holy war," and especially to represent efforts of Islam extremist groups against others. The word Jihad stems from the Arabic root word J-H-D, which means "strive." Other words derived from this root include "effort," "labor" and "fatigue." Essentially, Jihad is an effort to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own heart, or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option, but Muslims view this as a last resort, and it in no way is meant to mean "to spread Islam by the sword," as the stereotype now suggests.

Islam never tolerates unprovoked aggression initiated by Muslims; in fact, Muslims are commanded in the Qur'an not to begin hostilities, embark on any act of aggression, violate the rights of others or harm the innocent. Even hurting or destroying animals or trees is forbidden. War is waged only when necessary to defend the religious community against oppression and persecution. The Qur'an says that "persecution is worse than slaughter" and "let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression" (Quran 2:190-193). Therefore, if non-Muslims are peaceful or indifferent to Islam, there is never a justified reason to declare war on them.

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The Qur'an describes those people who are permitted to fight:

"They are those who have been expelled from their homes

in defiance of right, for no cause except that they say,

'Our Lord is Allah.'

Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another,

there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches,

synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of God is commemorated in abundant measure . . ." -Qur'an 22:40

Finally, the Qur'an also says, "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Forcing someone at the point of a sword to choose death or Islam is an idea that is foreign to Islam in spirit and in historical practice. There is absolutely no legitimate historical precedent for waging a "holy war" to "spread the faith" and compel people to embrace Islam. Such a conflict would constitute an unholy war entirely against Islamic principles as set forth in the Qur'an. The use of the term jihad by some extremist groups as a justification for wide-spread global aggression is, therefore, a corruption of genuine Islam principle and practice.

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