Richard Bonney laments what he deems a misappropriation of the term jihad by both pundits in the West seeking to portray Islam as inherently violent, and a small faction of Muslim fanatics seeking political gain. Jihad, he contends, has been perverted from its original intent of encouraging spiritual athleticism and allowing for physical defense when transgression occurs. He endeavors to return to the term’s roots to detail how and why it has been manipulated over time to take on exclusively violent and aggressive connotations. By doing so, Bonney hopes to empower Muslim moderates to publicize the concept of jihad as purely defensive, as well as to enlighten non-Muslims of Islam’s true message of peace, balance, and pluralism.