Jihad

Jihad is an Arabic word that literally means struggling or striving. More broadly, it is an Islamic concept that can refer to a struggle within oneself against sin, attempts to convert others to Islam, the general improvement in society, or behaviors against non-believers of Islam. The Koran uses the word jihad in many different ways, both with and without militaristic connotations. Typically in modern parlance it is used to refer to making war on all "enemies of Islam" and is used by terrorist groups to justify their violent actions.