Synopsis: This five minute short, from Simple Islam summarizes the Islamic concept of Jihad, an Arabic word which means “to strive, or struggle in the way of God.” In Islam there are two types of Jihad termed the lesser jihad, represented by a lower case j, and the greater Jihad, represented with a capital J. The lesser jihad is the fight in self-defense of those who seek to harm a Muslim or prevent them from practicing their faith. This was a temporary edict which dates back to the founding of the Islamic faith, when Muslims experienced savage oppression. This jihad was only to be carried out to defend against aggression until peace was restored. The second, or “Greater Jihad” is defined as “the struggle within” to resist one’s evil inclinations. It is the moral struggle to become a better person and develop a closer relationship with God.