ADNAN OKTAR:Waging jihad means exertion, to strive to spread the religion of Allah. For instance, at this moment, we are waging jihad, we are striving, showing an effort and pushing. Let me retract that, not pushing, may Allah forgive, I mean we are striving with all our beings. People sometimes have difficulty in differentiating jihad and war, combating (Qital). They imagine them to be the same. They are not. Ordering to war is something different, it involves combating.

For example, Muslims are attacked, their lives, possessions and honor are attacked and one of the Muslims is killed in a full scale war waged against them. He is martyred. It then becomes obligatory for Muslims to defend themselves, by the order of the state. From that point on combating is then required. I mean a defensive attack is required. That is because they are slaughtering you. You have no other alternative. You have no means to avoid that. If the only way to stop those who are slaughtering you is combating, then the defensive wars took place in the time of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). The battles of Trench and Badr, they were all defensive wars, and Allah commanded them to combat. The conditions of combat were realized. I mean people had been slaughtered. But how? The opponents were at your throat and were killing women and children and everyone. You have no way out. You are either to wipe them out or to put up with it. Allah says "wipe them out". Muslims are striving with for their lives as self-defense, but that is another issue.

Or else, apart from that, jihad means preaching, it is spreading the religion.

OKTAR BABUNA:Insha'Allah