Is the hadith that the best jihad is the jihad of the self authentic?

Question:
The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is an authentic hadith?

Answer:
I do not know, by Allah. The well-known one is: . This refers to general jihad, not specific jihad. If the wording is authentic, it means the same as the other wording: the one who strives is the one who strives against his own self for the sake of Allah. This means complete jihad; the one who constantly strives against his own self in jihad and in other matters, in other times. This is general: he strives in jihad, and he strives against his own self in times of ease.