The words “jihad”- holy war -and “mujahede” -struggle- are derived of the word “jehd”.
“Cehd” literally means efforts, doing one's best in a decided and conscious way.
“Jihad” and “mujahede” is making effort to resist against the attacks of the enemy.
Although both words have the same meanings, “jihad” is mostly used for bodily effort and “mujahede” expresses spiritual effort.
As it is known “jihad” is making efforts in the way of Allah, for the sake of exalting His name, making war and working for this goal. “Jihad”-holy war- is done against an open enemy or against nafs-carnal mind- and Satan. We may define the struggle against an open enemy as “jihad” and the struggle against nafs and Satan as “mujahede”.
Besides we should remember that in the field of knowledge, especially about the knowledge of fiqh-Muslim canonical jurisprudence- the struggle and excessive effort to find a religious rule is named as “ijtihad” and the savant who makes this effort is called as “mujtehid”. All those concepts are literally related among them
“Jihad”-holy war- and mujahede “struggle” are the efforts to protect the believers' Islamic way of life and Muslim society in all respects. Holy war is done for defense against the enemies of Islam. It is carried out for exalting the name of Allah, to remove the obstacles before people that prevent them to be Muslims and diminish confusion and oppression over the world.
“Jihad” and “mujahede” are the certain commandments of Allah to the believers.
“O ye who believe! do your duty to Allah seek the means of approach unto Him and strive with might and main in His cause: that ye may prosper.”
(Maide Sūra, 5-35).
The degree of the ones who struggle in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives is very high and their reward will be abundant. (Saff Sūra, 61/10-12). If the believers like this world and the dwellings in it more than holy war, Allah punishes them (Tevbe Sūra, 9-24) Allah tests believers with this order of holy war.
“Jihad” and “mujahede” acquire a meaning only when they are for the sake of Allah The Most High, for exalting His Name and to acquire merits. (Buhari, Jihad Chapter, 15/4-24)
Those who fight for a worldly advantage, reputation, booty and revenge are not in the way of Allah.
Doubtlessly, the struggle done against “nafs” -carnal mind- and Satan helps a believer to reach the degree of piety. A person who doesn't limit the desires of his “nafs” falls into depravity and astray. He is misleading by the deception of Satan easily. This struggle causes a believer to acquire Islamic moral qualities.
The desires of “nafs” are defined in two groups:
• The ones which are its right
• The desires which are not its right and excess the limits.
A Muslim meets the rightful asking of his carnal mind. Because, it is necessary for the continuation of life. But he limits its excessive desires-appetites-, delight and blind ambitions.
Indeed to train one's nafs means bringing it to a maturity that makes possible to surrender before Allah, to perform the commands and prohibitions of Islam. In one respect this is to persuade one's carnal mind to fulfill Islamic principles, worship and devotion for the sake of Allah. “Mujahade” -struggle- is a method of this effort, endeavor and goal.