Daniel J. Pipes

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A correctiive and suggestion for further reading

Reader comment on item: What is Jihad?

Submitted by Christopher Chase (United States), Jan 10, 2003 at 14:43

Actually, "Jihad" is more properly translated as "holy obligation" or "struggle." Like most other politically operative words, such as "democracy," or "communism," or "just war," jihad tends to be interpreted and re-interpreted again depending on the agendas at hand in the clash of political discourses or factions, and who is doing the interpreting.

Historically Muslim poetry, political essays, and philosophy, are full of multiple meanings and interpretations of the term, from internal moral struggle to militaristic interpretations. Majid Fahkry's texts are helpful in this regard....

Recommended Reading:

"Religion and State", by L. Carl Brown.

This can be found at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0231120397/qid=1042227366/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5007929-7963865?v=glance&s=books

Christopher Chase

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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