There is no concept of 'holy war' in Islam. The phrase 'holy war' is not used anywhere in the Qur'an or in the authentic sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, nor in early Islamic literature. The Arabic term for military war is qital, not jihad. According to Islamic teachings, it is unholy to instigate or start a war, while it is recognised that wars are sometimes inevitable and justifiable as a last resort.

The phrase 'holy war' has been used in European and Western literature in association with the Crusades. This may have influenced various Western translators of the Qur'an to use the phrase 'holy war' when they translated the word jihad into English. Today, it is to a large extent the same circles that keep using the phrase 'holy war' in association with conflicts involving Muslims.

The Qur'an sometimes talks about "fighting in the way of God". The prophet Muhammad and Muslims throughout ages did not understand this as "to fight with people of other religions", rather they have understood it as meaning to establish justice and ensure freedom of religion for all people irrespective of their religious backgrounds.