Jihad is a duty whereby a person worships Allah in a unique way, and that is to strive wholeheartedly and to the utmost for Allah's cause, be it verbally, financially, or physically, even to the degree of sacrificing one's self.

    Jihad is not a holy war, as it is so often mistakenly assumed in America or the West.  Jihad is rather the corner stone upon which Islam was built, and it is Islam's spine, for without positive, forward, and productive efforts for Islam, Islam would be limited.  It was through the bold, fearless, and determined efforts of the early Muslims that Islam could stand on its feet, and it was through the efforts of numerous daring, courageous people that Islam spread so swiftly and in such a spectacular way.

    Jihad means that a person does his utmost and puts all his heart into the effort for Allah.  He is to keep trying no matter what the odds are.  When the spirit of Jihad spreads, then a collective endeavor will be the result.  It will be an effort by many people channeling their energies in the same manner toward the service of the Almighty, toward doing a noble job for Him.

BUT JIHAD FOR WHAT?  

    Jihad means putting yourself and your efforts into the service and cause of Islam, and influencing others to do so too.  Jihad means that you become involved, to be a positive Muslim, an active, dynamic Muslim who works for Islam.  Jihad takes you away from being a self-centered, passive person who does not want to be involved and makes an extroverted person out of you, a working person for the lofty cause.

▪    Jihad means working totally for Islam.

▪    Jihad means repelling and undoing attacks against Islam.

▪    Jihad means overpowering injustice.

▪    Jihad means repelling unfairness.

▪    Jihad means correcting indecency and what is offensive.

▪    Jihad means fighting evil and corruption wherever it happens to be

▪    Jihad means using all your efforts, talents, capital, and yourself for the purpose.

Therefore, when people collectively become the tool for the work of Jihad, the outcome of their effort will be unmatched, and the results will be outstanding.  By then, the results will be felt and they will be excellent, and the community will prosper in the true sense of goodness.  The effects will bring about great changes for the good of mankind and the cause of Islam.

Jihad comes in two forms:

1.  The Major Jihad (Al-Jihad Al-Akbar).

2.  The Lesser Jihad (Al-Jihad Al-Asghar).

WHAT IS THE MAJOR JIHAD?  

    Major Jihad means to concentrate on refining one's self and taking a course which leads to good conduct in the Islamic way.

hThis may sound good, but if a person studies Islamic recommendations and learns about the high level of self-refinement he or she will then police himself or herself and control it for that purpose.  By so doing that person will succeed in attaining new heights of integrity, goodness of character, and decency.

ØWhen a good Muslim learns of how high the Islamic character should be and when he or she strives wholeheartedly to attain this level, he or she will have done the Major Jihad.  Like so many things in Islam this is a life-long endeavor.  This endeavor may succeed at times and it may fail at other times, but if the person keeps to those refinements of character he or she will have done this religious duty.  When this is done for the sake of Allah, the person will be amazed at the good outcome of his or her endeavor.

In order to apply this Islamic duty you will want to learn what Islam wants of you, and that comes under two categories:

1. To enhance the qualities of goodness in you and

2. To struggle against the bad tendencies and desires within yourself.

hEach person is endowed with many, many good qualities.  Some of these qualities are obvious and some lay dormant.  Islam urges us to enhance and enlarge upon such qualities.  Islam strongly encourages truth, fairness, and justice.  It wants the Muslim to be upright and good, kind and considerate.  It wants him or her to be patient, sincere, truthful and trustworthy.  Islam wants him or her to be true, fair, and just.  It also wants him or her to be conscientious, righteous, and virtuous.

hBut to enhance only the good qualities is not enough.  A person has to struggle against the many bad qualities as well.  Islam wants the Muslim to struggle against any evil thoughts or tendencies.  It wants him to control any unlawful desires of the flesh, to hold back the tendencies to lie and cheat, or to be a double-dealer and unfair.  Islam wants him to fight any forms of injustice to others, and to resist any tendency to steal or lie, or to do the improper.

hIslam wants a person to fight greed in all its forms, and to think in terms of "we" instead of "I".  It wants the Muslim to struggle against the conceit in himself and to stop being an egotist and to recognize it when he is envious, so that he may do something about it.

hThe list continues, but saying it briefly, Islam wants the personal conscience to be the "overseer, the prosecutor, and the judge" at the same time, but only along the lines of goodness.

hYou see now why this is called the Major Jihad, you see how difficult it can be, and you see that when applied, it can elevate the self to beautiful heights of goodness and virtue!

hWhen Muslims apply this principle, a beautiful society of righteous people will spring up.  This Major Jihad is truly a cornerstone in the foundation of Islam, it is a way of purifying one's self and society.

WHAT IS LESSER JIHAD?  

Lesser Jihad can be:

1. Through the endeavors and works of the person,

2. Through the financial means of the person,

3. Through the physical means of the person.

hThrough personal efforts a Muslim can explain Islam to others and urge them to understand it better, to apply it well, and to hold to its spirit of goodness.  He should also fight evil, not only in the society but also in the government.  A true Muslim is one who exposes and struggles against any form of corruption, be it in society, government, people, or rulers.  Corruption is a form of transgression, and this is to be exposed and corrected.  Exposing something bad and corrupt, and fighting it is not enough.  In addition to that, a formula or a solution has to be studied and put forward to correct the situation.  If no solution is put forward, corruption of many forms will spread.

hA Muslim therefore must unleash his energies, vigor, and ability for the betterment of his society for the sake of what is good.  A Muslim is to find ways and formulas for sound practices that can lead to the good of the society, based upon what is wholesome, fair, and just.  However, such personal endeavors of Jihad are not enough.  Jihad by financial means is very important too.

WHAT IS JIHAD BY FINANCIAL MEANS?  

    While personal endeavors of Jihad are essential, they often are the forerunners of other forms of Jihad.  A Muslim committed to doing his Jihad will use his financial means for the purpose in addition to his time, energy, and effort.  He will give liberally from his savings or earnings, just as he does of his time, vigor, and energy.  He has to give when it seems reasonable to give, and the cause seems to be the right one.  For without financial backing many institutes won't be able to survive.

    Without giving financially to establish and support Islamic institutes of learning, how can the local Muslim community be consolidated and unified?  This is especially true here in America, where so many Muslims are scattered haphazardly here, and there, and there is obviously a dire need for establishing places where Muslims can come and work together for the cause of Islam.  The points of attraction are the Islamic centers with facilities for schools, to be managed by the people, supported by the people, and utilized by the people.

    Do you see now how important financial Jihad is and the tremendous role it can play?  If such Islamic centers spring up everywhere in America can you imagine what the renaissance of Islam in America can do, especially if these centers are well managed?  An Islamic center can continue to be a mere building of little use if its management is inept, clumsy, and unconcerned, and if it keeps evading its responsibilities.

    If people start doing their Jihad in earnest, especially the one having to do with their financial endeavors, the Islamic movement will undoubtedly grow.  This will change the picture for Islam in this country and it will boost it a great deal.

WHAT IS PHYSICAL JIHAD?  

    This is a component of the lesser Jihad, and it is the hardest.  Only the most dedicated Muslims are likely to go through it, only the very lucky ones.

    If a source of injustice and corruption is present, and if all means are exhausted in correcting this source, then Muslims are to use physical means against it, even at the expense of sacrificing their lives for it.  This is also true when a Muslim country is invaded by an outside force, whereby Islam may suffer.  Then it is incumbent on every Muslim to rise against the situation and to fight it with his sweat and blood.

An excellent example which history cannot forget was when Imam Al-Husain rose against the tyranny and corruption of Yazid.  While the odds against him were overwhelming, while the outcome was obvious, Imam Husain moved steadfastly ahead for the effort, with an unbending, matchless dedication, thus exposing the corrupt Yazid, Benu Umayya, and their clients.  Imam Husain's move proved to be the turning point for Islam, because through it he turned the scale in favor of Islam, and he paved the way for Islam to flourish rather than deteriorate.  It is true that in the endeavor Imam Husain lost his life, and it is true that he is called the Prince of the Martyrs, but he surely did the most astonishing feat for Islam that none ever dared to do.  This is embodying sincerity for Islam.  This is the true spirit, and this is the way physical Jihad can be.