Jihad is a broad Arabic term that, at its core, means to expend one’s efforts in a good cause despite the adversity involved.
Islam’s scriptures use the term jihad in a variety of contexts. The Qur’an refers to the jihad of preaching an unpopular truth (25:52), the jihad of pursuing guidance despite obstacles (29:69), and the jihad of resisting the persecution of oneself (2:190) and others (4:75). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also used the term jihad in the context of speaking truth to power, seeking knowledge, selflessly serving one’s parents, and battling the evil within one’s soul.