Jihad is often translated as "holy war", but that narrow definition is disputed, by many muslims who employ a wider definition.

Most muslims use it in its original linguistic context and translate it as "struggle". For these muslims Islam is essentially a religion of peace. They emphasise the passages in the Koran that deal with a person's inner struggle (internal or greater jihad) to dedicate him or herself to Allah. They also refer to passages that state that while it is permitted to enter into...