This being known then, there are four degrees of jihad: jihad against one’s self, jihad against Satan, jihad against the Disbelievers [Kuffar], and jihad against the hypocrites.
Jihad against one’s self is of four degrees as well; one of them is to wage jihad against the self in learning guidance and the religion of truth, that without which there is no success for one’s self, nor happiness in its life or afterlife; when this knowledge leaves one’s self, it is wretched in both worlds. The second degree is to wage jihad against the self in deed after having learned, otherwise it is mere knowledge without works; if this does not oblige one’s self, it is of no use to it. The third is for one to wage jihad against the self in calling people to it and teaching it to those who do not know it, otherwise he is one of those who conceal the guidance and signs that Allah has sent down, and his knowledge is of no use to him, nor does it save him from Allah’s punishment. The fourth is for one to wage jihad against the self in being steadfast in the hardships of calling people to Allah and the offense of people, and to bear all of this for Allah. If one accomplishes these four degrees, he will become one of those who are perfect in knowledge and deed [rabani]; indeed the forefathers agreed that a man of knowledge is not worthy of being called rabani until he knows the truth, acts on it, and teaches it; whoever knows, does, and teaches – he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
And Jihad against Satan has two degrees; one of them is to wage jihad on him by pushing back against the suspicions and doubts that he casts on servants, which detract from belief. The second is to wage jihad on him by pushing back against the depraved desires and the lusts that he casts on servants. Conviction follows the first jihad; steadfastness follows the second; the Most High said: { And We made leaders [imams] from among them to guide by our commandments, when they were steadfast and had conviction in our signs } [Al-sajda 24]. He has made known that leadership in religion is attained by steadfastness and conviction; steadfastness averts lusts and depraved desires, while conviction averts doubts and suspicions.
Jihad against the Disbelievers and the hypocrites has four degrees: by one’s heart, tongue, wealth, and life. Jihad against the Disbelievers is specifically more by one’s hand, while jihad against the hypocrites is specifically more by the tongue. Jihad against the leaders of oppression, innovation [bid’], and abominable deeds is of three degrees: the first is by the hand, if possible; if one is unable, he proceeds to it by the tongue, and if he is still unable, then he wages jihad in his heart.
These, therefore, are thirteen degrees of jihad, and “Whoever dies without having gone out on an attack or having talked to himself about attacking, has died on a limb of hypocrisy.”