Knowra Jihadism Jihadism Jihadism is a modern political ideology that advocates armed struggle framed as jihad to establish or defend an Islamic order. It is distinct from Islam as a religion and from the broader range of meanings attached to jihad.
Salafi jihadism : A current within jihadism that combines Salafi theology with advocacy of armed struggle. This influential current supplies a distinct theological and political framework for many jihadist movements.
Abul A'la Maududi : A South Asian Islamic thinker who argued for Islam as a comprehensive political and social order. His political writings helped shape later Islamist thought, though he did not advocate jihadism as defined here.
Jihad : An Arabic term for striving or struggle, with religious meanings that include personal, social, and armed forms. Jihadism narrows this broader concept into a modern ideology centered on armed struggle.
War on terror : The international military, legal, and security campaign launched by the United States after the September 11 attacks. Al-Qaeda's attacks prompted policies that transformed security and conflict across many countries.
Terrorism : The use or threat of violence against civilians or other noncombatants for political purposes. Whether a jihadist act counts as terrorism depends partly on its targets, methods, and definitions used.
Takfir : The practice of declaring another Muslim an unbeliever. Some jihadist groups use takfir to justify violence against Muslims they deem illegitimate.
Sayyid Qutb : An Egyptian Islamist thinker whose writings criticized secular rule and influenced militant movements. Jihadists drew on his account of modern society as estranged from Islamic governance.
Islam : A monotheistic religion based on the Qur’an and the teachings of Muhammad. Jihadism is a political ideology advanced by some actors, not a definition of Islam.
September 11 attacks : A series of coordinated al-Qaeda attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. The attacks brought jihadist violence to the center of global politics and security policy.
Radicalization : A process through which a person adopts increasingly extreme political or religious beliefs, sometimes including support for violence. Researchers debate how radicalization leads some people toward jihadist violence and others away from it.
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