What do Muslims mean by jihad, and how do they celebrate their festivals?
The meaning of jihad (greater and lesser), and the celebration and significance of the festivals Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha and Ashura.
A focused answer on jihad and Muslim festivals for OCR GCSE Religious Studies (J625), covering greater and lesser jihad, the rules of lesser jihad, and the festivals Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha and Ashura, with sources of wisdom and authority.
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What this dot point is asking
OCR wants you to explain the meaning of jihad (the greater and lesser forms) and the celebration and significance of the main Muslim festivals: Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Adha and Ashura. Jihad is a widely misunderstood term that the exam expects you to explain carefully, and the festivals connect to Ramadan and Hajj. The topic feeds the evaluation question on which form of jihad is more important, so you need the content, the careful definitions, and the sources.
Jihad: the greater and lesser struggle
OCR expects you to be clear that jihad is not terrorism: the Qur'an forbids transgressing limits, "fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits" (Surah 2:190), and forbids the killing of innocents. A famous Hadith reports Muhammad, returning from battle, saying they had returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad, the struggle against one's own soul, which underlines that the inner struggle is primary.
The festivals
Why these practices matter
Jihad and the festivals both express devotion to Allah in action. The greater jihad is the everyday heart of Muslim life, the constant effort to be faithful; the lesser jihad, properly understood, is the just protection of the community, never aggression or terror. The festivals renew faith and community: Id-ul-Fitr crowns the discipline of Ramadan, Id-ul-Adha re-lives the obedience of Ibrahim, and Ashura keeps alive the Shia memory of sacrifice for the truth. Together they show that, for Muslims, faith is lived, in inner struggle and in shared celebration.
Try this
Q1. What is the difference between the greater and lesser jihad? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. The greater jihad is the inner, lifelong struggle to be a good Muslim and resist temptation; the lesser jihad is the outward struggle, which can include the strict, rule-bound defence of Islam.
Q2. Explain what Id-ul-Adha celebrates and how Muslims mark it. [Short explanation]
- Cue. It recalls the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah (who provided a ram instead); Muslims celebrate during Hajj with prayers, may sacrifice an animal, and share the meat with family, neighbours and the poor.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR J625 20192 marksGive two Muslim festivals.Show worked answer →
This is the 2-mark AO1 question, 1 mark per point. Give two distinct festivals, for example Id-ul-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Id-ul-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice, during Hajj). Other acceptable answers include Ashura (important especially to Shia Muslims). Markers want two separate festivals, so do not repeat. Spelling the names correctly helps with the SPaG marks on the paper as a whole.
OCR J625 20216 marksExplain the meaning of jihad for Muslims. Refer to sources of wisdom and authority in your answer.Show worked answer →
This is the 6-mark extended AO1 question. Explain that jihad means "to strive" in the way of Allah. Develop the two forms: the greater jihad is the inner, lifelong struggle to be a good Muslim, resist temptation and obey Allah; the lesser jihad is the outward struggle, which can include the strict, rule-bound defence of Islam (a just military struggle with conditions). Stress that jihad does not mean terrorism. Anchor in sources: a Hadith in which Muhammad calls the struggle against one's own soul the "greater jihad", and the Qur'an's limits on fighting ("do not transgress limits", Surah 2:190). The top band rewards developed points with accurate sources.
OCR J625 202315 marks"The greater jihad is more important than the lesser jihad." Discuss this statement. In your answer you should: refer to religious teachings and sources of wisdom and authority; give reasoned arguments to support this statement; give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view; reach a justified conclusion.Show worked answer →
This is the 15-mark AO2 evaluation question. Argue both sides. Arguments for the statement: a Hadith describes the inner struggle against one's own faults as the "greater jihad", and it is a daily, lifelong duty for every Muslim, the foundation of a good life; the lesser jihad is rare and tightly restricted. Arguments against: the lesser jihad (the just defence of the faith and community) can be a serious obligation when Islam is attacked, and protecting the vulnerable matters greatly; some argue both are important in their place and should not be ranked. Use specialist terms (jihad, greater jihad, lesser jihad). A justified conclusion weighs the everyday centrality of the greater jihad against the gravity of the lesser jihad when it applies, and should stress jihad is not terrorism.
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