Blackwell Reference Online

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The word jihad (which derives from the verb jahada , meaning “to strive, to exert oneself, to struggle”) is one of the most prominent Arabic terms in the western world owing to its vital influence in Muslim society and its significant political role there. It is also one of the most crucial concepts in political sociology for understanding contemporary Muslim society, particularly with the emerging trend of Islamist movements in many parts of the globe. Jihad is a highly contested concept/discourse by which different groups attempt to define and construct their authority and power over “other” groups and people. In order to comprehend the complex meaning of this concept/discourse, following Karl Mannheim's sociology of knowledge, we need to situate it in its sociohistorical context and examine how the production of this knowledge reflects the interests of its producer. Furthermore, from Foucault's viewpoint, the concept/discourse needs to be placed against the backdrop of power relations either among groups within Muslim society or between Muslim society as a social entity and its broader social context, particularly non-Muslim society. The origin of the concept dates back to the history of the Prophet Muhammad (570–632), as reflected and written in the Qur'an and the notes of his speeches, sayings, and behavior ( hadith and sunnah ). The word is generally used to denote an ... log in or subscribe to read full text