Is Jihad Ibadat Or A Thing To Achive Purity?

[Dr. Irfan Shahzad]

If jihad means to strive in the way of Allah for anything good, it is by its own virtue Ibadah for example to train oneself to act upon the divine injunctions by subduing one’s cardinal desires and whims. This is for purification. If it means fighting in the way of Allah then it purpose is not to achieve purity but either to defend or to fight transgression or persecution. However, to do Jihad, one has to purify first so that his jihad is only for God’s sake. This comes as a necessity.