America's War on Terror: Jihad
Jihad is an Arabic word meaning "struggle." The term is interpreted by some as an internal, non-violent struggle to maintain faith and morality, while others interpret it as a violent struggle in a "holy war."
Jihad is a widely debated term that has multiple interpretations throughout the world. In its purest form, it is an Arabic word meaning "struggle." This "struggle" is interpreted by some as an internal, non-violent struggle to maintain faith and morality, while others interpret it as a violent struggle in a "holy war." According to a past president of the Harvard Islamic Society, jihad is "the determination to do right, to do justice even against your own interests. It is an individual struggle for personal moral behavior." In this "determination to do right," Muslims are often called on to defend their faith and community by extending the territories ruled by Muslims.
Sources
» History News Network. "Jihad: How Academics Have Camouflaged Its Real Meaning."
» Moss, Michael and Souad Mekhennet. "The Guidebook for Taking a Life." The New York Times, 10 June 2007.