What is the authenticity of the hadith "The greatest jihad and the lesser jihad," and what is its meaning?

The questioner : What about the well-known saying, "The greatest jihad and the lesser jihad"? What is the validity of the chain of this saying and its meaning?

The Shaykh : The hadith "We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad" is not authentic in terms of its chain of narration. As for its meaning, I do not consider it correct either. This is because, although jihad against the self is undoubtedly a very important matter in Islam—so much so that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said —it is not hidden from any Muslim that a person going out to fight in the cause of Allah the Exalted and Majestic is not equal in the intensity of his jihad to one who remains in his home, in his country, among his family and wives, no matter how righteous, pious, and self-disciplined he may be. Such a person does not equal the one who left his country to fight in the cause of Allah the Exalted and Majestic while he is in his own home. As is said in some lands, and it has been placed... in his palm, these two are not equal: the one who directly exposes himself to death in the cause, and the one who fights his own self. This is the general jihad mentioned in the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, I do not consider the meaning of that hadith to be correct: "We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad"