jihads
Struggles for faith
Jihads is the plural of jihad, an Arabic term meaning struggle or striving.
In Islamic tradition, jihad refers to spiritual struggle against sin or effort to live according to God's will.
In Western usage, jihad typically means holy war—armed struggle waged in defense of Islam: The group declared jihads against Western nations.
The word carries strong associations with militant Islamism in news coverage.
Armed conflict between groups
- holy warArmed conflict over faith
- fightersThose who engage physically
- mujahideenMuslim guerrilla combatants
- combatArmed hostile engagement
armed · resistance · conquest · battlefield · martyrdom · caliphate · territory · enemy
Changes in position
- extremismIdeology beyond accepted norms
- radicalizationShift toward extreme ideology
- ideologyStructured belief framework
- terrorismIntimidation through targeted violence
recruitment · propaganda · militant · insurgency · organizations · cells · networks · fundamentalism
Labored effort against resistance
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- faithTrust without proof
- pietySincere religious devotion
- self-disciplineRegulating one's own behavior
spiritual · inner · soul · purification · devotion · righteousness · temptation · ego
warfare
Armed conflict between groups
- holy warArmed conflict over faith
- fightersThose who engage physically
- mujahideenMuslim guerrilla combatants
combat · armed · resistance · conquest · battlefield · martyrdom · caliphate · territory · enemy · defense
movements
Changes in position
- extremismIdeology beyond accepted norms
- radicalizationShift toward extreme ideology
- ideologyStructured belief framework
terrorism · recruitment · propaganda · militant · insurgency · organizations · cells · networks · fundamentalism · grievances
struggle
Labored effort against resistance
self-discipline · spiritual · inner · soul · purification · devotion · righteousness · temptation · ego · sincerity
campaigns
Organized efforts toward goals
- strugglesDifficult prolonged efforts
- crusadesAggressive advocacy campaigns
- battlesMilitary combat events
fights · efforts · endeavors · missions · causes · movements · advocacy · activism · reform · social
- Nigerian Religiontraditional religion, Pentecostalism, orisha, megachurches, diviners
jihadspeace
Freedom from disturbance
truces · ceasefires · armistices · pacifism · peacemaking
jihadscivil wars
Domestic armed conflicts
territorial disputes · colonial wars · territorial conflicts · trade wars · resource wars
jihadsself-purification
Removing one's own impurities
contemplation · meditation · self-discipline · asceticism · soul-searching