Through Force or Faith? — Page 111
Chapter 2 — Islamic Teachings about Jihad 111 jihad in the way of Allah) as meaning fighting in the path of Allah, vis-à-vis, fighting for the cause of religion. Jihad, an Islamic Term In the religion of Islam, the word jihad is used as a term for the struggle for religious purposes. The study of the Quran, Ah adīth [sayings of the Holy Prophet], and dictionary clearly show that in Islamic teachings and Islamic history, the term of jihad has been used, in different settings and circumstances, for different forms of service of faith, and these are the following: 1. Struggle against ego. 2. Struggle with Quran, that is, proclamation and dis- semination of Quran. 3. Struggle with wealth, that is, spending in the path of Allah. 4. Struggle with sword, that is, warfare. The details of these different forms of jihad are as follows: Jihad as Striving Against the ‘Self ’ The greatest nemesis of man is his own ego. Therefore, Allah, the Exalted, has repeatedly admonished to wage a lifelong jihad against it.