What is Jihad?

The Arabic word Jihad is often translated as a ‘Holy war’ but in a pure sense the word Jihad means ‘ struggling or striving’. In a religious sense Jihad has many meanings, it refers to both external and internal efforts by true believers of Islam. Military Jihad is required to protect the faith of other people, it can be performed by using various method , diplomatic or by political means. 

But if there is peaceful alternative then Islam has ordered to use a peaceful method first and on other side there are rules for engagement in military jihad , such as women, children or old people must never be harmed and any peaceful solution from the enemy must be prefered and accepted.