stands for the constant inner moral struggle or constant
reform of one’s life.
- Lesser jihad involves fighting the enemies of Allah in
order to enhance Allah’s dominion in the world. This
fighting may not involve actual combat, but that is one of
the forms it can take. The theory of lesser jihad is not a
product of the Koran or Hadith; it was actually formulated
during the tenth through twelfth centuries, long after the
death of Muhammad. However, its theological premises for
taking up arms against unbelievers are drawn from the
Koran.
Islamic theology specifies many forms of lesser jihad
besides the taking up of arms. These are for both individuals
and groups. They can be exercised by any individual
Muslim or by social institutions under Muslim authority.
Some of the forms of lesser jihad include the following: (1)
Migration to the infidels’ lands for the sake of Muslim
evangelization; (2) Oral jihad,which is the apologetic
struggle to defend Islam against detractors; (3) Written
jihad,which involves publishing books, websites, and other
forums to defend and spread Islam, or raising money and
recruits for Islamic causes; (4) Construction in jihad, which
involves building mosques and Islamic schools, especially
in non-Muslim lands; (5) Monetary support for jihad (which
involves establishing Islamic banks, insurance companies,
trusts, and business partnerships; levying special taxes
(jizya) on infidels; supporting the families of those who
wage jihad in all its different forms [the Mujahadeen] — as
well as the ‘‘martyrs’’ [the Shaheed] who have died in