American Muslims Reclaim "Jihad" With New Ad Campaign

HUFFINGTON POST
By Doug Stranglin

An ad campaign on San Francisco buses is aimed at trying to change public perception of the word "jihad," which the program's founder says has been distorted by extremists -- Muslim and anti-Muslim alike. Ahmed Rehab, a 36-year-old political activist, started the campaign in Chicago in December and expanded it to 25 San Francisco buses at the start of the year. The MyJihad ads, featuring attractive young men and women and plastered on the side of city buses, include slogans such as "My Jihad is to build friendships across the aisle. What's yours?" and "My Jihad is to stay fit despite my busy schedule. What's yours?" Merriam-Webster defines "jihad" as: "A holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty; also: a personal struggle in devotion to Islam especially involving spiritual discipline; a crusade for a principle or belief." [link]