What is the best type of jihad?

Question:
Which is better: struggling against the self by abandoning sins, or struggling against the enemies of Allah with wealth and self? And which is better: jihad with wealth or jihad with the self? Does jihad with the tongue and the pen fall under jihad with the self?

Answer:
Both types of jihad are obligatory: struggling against the self regarding sins, and struggling against the enemies with wealth and self. However, if the latter is not achieved, then jihad against the disbelievers with the self and wealth is greater than struggling against the self regarding sins.
Jihad against the disbelievers is among the causes of Allah guiding him and granting him success, so that he abandons sins; because sins are among the things that aid the enemies and cause the self to be weak in jihad. So if Allah grants him the favor of abandoning sins, this becomes greater in jihad, more significant in jihad, and more beneficial for jihad.
So jihad against the disbelievers with the Muslims, and cooperating with the Muslims—even if he has a sin—is more obligatory. It is not a condition for the one who fights that he be a pious, pure person. No, he fights even if he has sins. He fights with his brothers with his self and his wealth. But if Allah grants him the jihad of the self in abandoning sins along with jihad against the disbelievers, this is more complete, and it is obligatory upon him, and a fard upon him.
So he must struggle against both: he must struggle against the self in abandoning sins, and he must struggle against the enemies of Allah with his self, his wealth, and his pen. Jihad with the pen is a great jihad. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It was narrated by al-Nasa'i, Ahmad, and a group of scholars with a sound chain.