The meaning of 'jihad'

In his book Jihad in Islamic History: Doctrines and Practice, Michael Bonner explains that "the Arabic word jihad does not mean 'holy war' or 'just war.' It really means 'striving.'" An Islamic scholar at the University of Michigan, Bonner writes, "When followed by the modifying phrase fi sabil Allah, 'in the path of God,' or when – as often – this phrase is absent but assumed to be in force, jihad has the specific sense of fighting for the sake of God (whatever we understand that to mean)." Maher Hathout, author of the book Jihad vs Terrorism, also clarifies that jihad is much more than jihad by the sword, which, according to National Geographic, "has received the lion’s share of global attention." In an interview with the global media outfit, Hathout described jihad as a "range of activities all based on the Arabic meaning of the word 'exerted effort.'" "In the Quran, it's projected as exerting effort to change oneself, and also in certain situations, physically standing against oppressors if that’s the only way," he said. However, Hathout cited limits in the way even jihad by the sword should be practiced, based on the Quran. “It’s categorically mentioned, in clear Arabic language, that you only fight those who fight," he said. “You don’t harm civilians, children, or even infrastructure. And you don’t exceed that." – Paterno Esmaquel II/YA, GMA News