Yeah I know this word freak a lot of people out even some muslims when they heard the word what comes to their mind is an holy war,beheadings,blowing up oneself etc etc
I read a lot of post on social network which portrayed islam a bad religion and muslim terrorist because of a misunderstood concept in islam

Jihad is not a declaration of war against non muslims.It doesnt mean fight the Arabic word for war is Al harb. Jihad is not blowing up oneself. Suicide is a sin in Islam. One of the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) narrated by Abu Huraira The Prophet said "He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the hellfire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the hell fire

LET THEM KNOW

MEANING OF JIHAD
Jihad is an Arabic word basically it means to struggle and to strive ( I think everyone do this we struggle to go to school, to get good grade etc)
The concept jihad has been categorised into four levels which i am going to discuss here.
FIRST LEVEL/ LEVEL NUMBER ONE
This is the struggle against one's self. This level is broken down into four issues.
1.) The struggle to learn what one need to know about one's religion ( This can be done by anybody christian, muslim ). The Prophet (PBUH) said the seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every muslim. Al Tirmidhi Hadith 74.
2.) The struggle to apply the knowledge one learn.
3.) The struggle to invite others to embrace the teachings of Islam doing so with wisdom and intelligence. The Prophet (PBUH) also said: Achieve knowledge and impact it to the people. Al Tirmidhi Hadith 107.
Abu Darda said "indeed my greater fear concerning standing on the Day of Judgement is that it will be said to me: you have learned hence what have you done with your knowledge?"(Jaami' Bayaan al Ilm Wa fadlih)
4.) The struggle to patiently endure the hardship one faces.

LEVEL TWO
Te struggle against shaitan (devil). This level consist of two issues
1.) One's struggle to ward off doubt about one's faith that shaitan cast into one's mind
2.) One's struggle to ward off the suggestion of lustful, evil acts

THIRD LEVEL
The struggle against tyrants and evil doers.( Abu Darr ( May Allah be please with him ) said the Prophet said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious said: O My slaves, I have prohibited Myself injustice, and have made oppression unlawful for you , so do not oppress one another ). This level consist of three issues with the first being better than the second and the second being better than third and the third being a minimum requirement meaning if you can't do the first do the second or the third.
1.) To struggle against them with one's hand ( power ). Qur'an 4 verse 75 An Nisa.
And what is wrong with you tha you fight not in the cause of Allah, and for these weak, ill treated and oppressed among men, women and children...
2.) To struggle against them with one's tongue by speaking out.
3.) To struggle against them with one's heart ( by hating the evil and feeling that it is wrong).
The Prophet said " Whoever of you sees an evil must then change it with his hand, if he is not able to do so, then ( he must change it ) with his tongue, and if he is not able to do so, then ( he must change it ) with his heart, and that is the slightest (effect of faith" (Muslim)

FOURTH LEVEL
The struggle against disbeliever ( anybody can be refers to as disbeliever, a christian can call a muslim a disbeliver and vice versa). This level is broken down into four issues.
1.) Struggling againt them with one's heart
2.) Struggling against them with one's tongue (when they talk about their religion you also talk about yours).
3.) Struggling against them with one's wealth ( building of schools,orphanage etc to propagate Islam).
Qur'an 2 verse 195 Al Baqarah.
And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the cause of Allah),and do good truly Allah loves Al muhsinûn (the good doers).
4.) Struggling against them with one's hand (fight them only if they fight you)