Jihad

A term used in Islam to describe a striving for perfection. Usually, the term refers to an internal struggle that a person has with their imperfections. The term is also used to refer to a defensive war. Some radical Fundamentalist Muslims and the Western media often interpret the term as a synonym for an aggressive 'holy war'.

The lesser jihad is against obstacles to the divine order, whilst the greater jihad is the drive against inner forces of being open to God.