Islamism and Jihadism: The Transformation of Classical Notions of Jihad into an Ideology of Terrorism

Abstract

Abstract Contemporary jihad is the lineal descendant of classical jihad theory as modified by contemporary radical Islam. It has expressions in both Sunni and Shiʿite Islam, but differs from the classical material in that the targets allowable for jihad are not states but smaller groups or even individuals. The article traces the history of this development.