The concept of G'ihad in classical Islamic thought

Abstract

The term gihad has during the past decades become an oft-repeated rallying call to war by terrorist groups claiming Muslim identity. Conversely, and perhaps as a reaction to the harm caused to the image of Islam by such violent elements, others have attempted to reinterpret the term by distinguishing between two main types of gihad, namely the lesser and the greater. The so-called 'lesser gihad' is thought to refer to the call to armed conflict, whereas the 'greater gihad' is taken to refer to the struggle that each individual Muslim must undertake in order to bring about liberation from one's evil desires. Others have further distinguished between various types of gihad. It is therefore worthwhile taking a closer look at its meaning as well as its interpretation in classical Islamic thought.