We must also remember that jihad, which literally means “struggle,” has a long, complex history and cannot be reduced to the category of “holy war.” Jihad may connote the use of force, though whether this force is understood as defensive—to protect Muslims from external attack or threat—or expansionist has been a subject of debate in Islamic history. From the colonial period onward, many Muslim reformers and intellectuals argued that jihad means just or defensive war. On the other end of the spectrum, more radical Muslim thinkers, such as Sayyid Qutb, have understood jihad as permitting the violent overthrow of established governments in Muslim countries. All of these disagreements, moreover, reflect what some Muslim scholars call “the lesser jihad.” “The greater jihad,” they insist, pertains to the internal struggle against one’s own evil inclinations or desires. Some Muslims even insist that nonviolent jihad is the only legitimate kind.

DEFINE: Clarifies that jihad literally means 'struggle' and encompasses both the 'greater' inward spiritual struggle and the 'lesser' outward combat, with contested interpretations.

Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Intro…, loc. 285