Is the meaning of jihad simply killing non-Muslims?

Linguistically, Jihad means expending effort and energy. Technically, it means a Muslim's exertion of effort to elevate the Word of Allah and establish His religion on Earth. It does not aim to kill non-Muslims but rather to establish the religion of Allah, implement His law, and deliver people from the injustice of other religions to the justice of Islam. Allah says: (And fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] [all] worship is for Allah [alone]) Al-Anfal/39.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sa'di mentioned that the purpose of fighting in the way of Allah is for religion to be entirely for Allah, to prevail over all other religions, and to repel all polytheistic practices that oppose it.

Non-believers benefit from Jihad, as they are fought until they enter the religion of Allah, which is the cause of their salvation. Allah says: (You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah) Al Imran/110. Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurairah, in explanation of the verse: "The best people for the people, you bring them in chains around their necks until they enter Islam." Ibn al-Jawzi said: "Its meaning is that they were captured and shackled, and when they recognized the truth of Islam, they willingly entered it and thus entered Paradise."

The ranks of Jihad are four: Jihad of the self, Jihad against Satan, Jihad against non-believers, and Jihad against hypocrites.