noun

jihad

jih-HAHD/dʒɪˈhɑːd/

A devoted struggle in pursuit of Islamic religious duty.

She understands jihad as a daily struggle to live her faith.

A determined, peaceful environmental campaign: a coordinated group protects a mature tree from clearance by linking arms across the path of a stopped excavator.

Etymology

Arabic jihād literally denotes struggle or effort. English first used it for religious warfare, then broadened it to a campaign for a doctrine or cause.

In context

Dad Saves America41:23

people who simply watch a videotape of him, never meeting him, will drop out of university, move to Afghanistan and join the jihad against the Soviets.

I Interviewed the 9/11 Mastermind’s Family. Here’s What I Discovered. - Richard Miniter

More examples

For him, jihad includes resisting greed and helping people in need.
The imam describes the struggle against anger as a form of jihad.
The class discusses both spiritual and armed forms of jihad.

Forms

jihad · jihads

Similar words

striving: Striving describes sustained effort without implying a religious duty.
struggle: Struggle emphasizes difficulty and effort, not necessarily Islamic commitment.