Jihad (Arabic: جهاد‎) is a term which appears in the Islam's holiest book, the Quran. It means "struggle", but has been misinterpreted by some to promote unjust violence. In fact the Quran, read in its proper context, only permits fighting in self defence.

Over a century ago, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community rejected all such unjustly violent interpretations:

In the present age, the pen has been raised against Islam and it was through it that Muslims had been caused so much pain and suffering. Therefore, the pen should be the weapon of the Muslims. It is the duty of every Muslim to join this battle … The jihad of this age is to propagate Islam and refute the allegation of the critics; to spread the beauty of the true religion, Islam, in the world, and to manifest the truth of prophet Muhammadsa to the world. But this did not mean that jihad by the sword now is abrogated, only that today, jihad by the pen is the real jihad, until God produces different circumstances in the world.

- Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Malfoozat

O ye Muslim divines and maulvis, listen to me. I tell you truly that this is not the time for fighting for faith. Henceforth desist from religious wars and the sword which causes bloodshed. To persist with bloodshed is not the way of Islam. Had I not arrived there might have been some excuse for this misunderstanding. I have brought you a commandment which is that Jihad of the sword has ended but the Jihad of the purification of your spirits must continue to be waged.

- Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, The English Government and Jihad