First, we would like to start with stating that Islam does not call for violence; rather it abhors all forms of violence and terrorism, whether against Muslims or non-Muslims. Islam, moreover, calls for peace, cooperation, and maintaining justice, and provides for the happiness and welfare of humanity as a whole. This fact is declared in the Qur’an when Allah says: (Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.) (An-Nahl 16: 90)

Jihad is one of the words that have been misused due to misunderstanding its true meaning. The word “Jihad” is derived from the Arabic word “Jahd” which means fatigue or the word “Juhd” which means effort. A Mujahid is he who strives in the Cause of Allah and exerts efforts which makes him feel fatigued. The word “Jihad” means exerting effort to achieve a desired thing or prevent an undesired one. In other words, it is an effort that aims at bringing about benefit or preventing harm.

Jihad can be observed through any means and in any field whether material or moral. Among the types of Jihad are struggling against one’s desires, the accursed Satan, poverty, illiteracy, disease, and fighting all evil forces in the world.

There are many religious texts that refer to these types of Jihad. Among the forms of Jihad is defending life, property or honor. Those who die while engaging in Jihad are considered to be martyrs, as confirmed by Hadith. Jihad is also done to avert aggression on home countries and on all that is held sacred, or in order to face those who try to hinder the march of the call of truth.

In Islamic Shari`ah, Jihad in the Cause of Allah means fighting in order to make the Word of Allah most high, and the means for doing so is taking up arms in addition to preparation, financing and planning strategies. A large number of people are supposed to take part in Jihad including farmers, craftsmen, traders, doctors, engineers, workers, security men, preachers, writers and all those who directly or indirectly participate in the battle.

This type of Jihad was a major concern of Muslims in the beginning of the formation of the Islamic community, and a lot of verses of the Glorious Qur’an and the Hadith advocated and encouraged it. Almighty Allah says: (March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor) and strive with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah.) (At-Tawbah 9: 41) Jihad is considered an individual duty (Fard `Ein), on all Muslims who are capable and fit to fight, in the event of being invaded by the enemy, and is considered a collective duty (Fard Kifayah) in the event of not being invaded. However, if the Imam (leader) calls to Jihad, people must respond to his call. This is evident from Allah’s Saying, (O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allah (i.e. Jihad) you cling heavily on the earth?) (At-Tawbah 9: 38), and the Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, “When you are called to Jihad, then go forth.”

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Since I was unable to personally hold one-on-one interviews with female Jihadists, I relied on research collected by Iraqi police investigations of detained female Jihadists who failed in detonating themselves at some point during their suicide operation.

My own encounter with the tribal system, as well as the psychological, religious and social atmosphere these women live through are also tools that play a part in my analysis. The rests of the articles that will appear on this blog over the next few months will discuss in more detail female Jihadists’ motives and methods.

Please keep in mind though that the objective of this series is to shed light on the importance of the issue through commentary and debated ideas that come from question just like the one you posted here. Only through such questioning can we expand current research in order to better understand the various factors that play a role in shaping female Jihadists’ rational.

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From a broader viewpoint, I wonder if suicide bombing has ever been an effective weapon. it might be argued that they do more harm than good for the causes of the bombers. The deadly kamikaze attacks by the Japanese during WWII convinced the Americans that bombing cities with conventional and nuclear weapons was the only way to defeat Imperial Japan. The deadly kamikaze attacks stiffened American resolve and forced the US to adopt desperate measures to end the war quickly. More recently, the suicide bombing campaign of the second Intifada did little to resolve Palestinian grievances, but resulted in a lot of carnage, lost opportunities, and senseless destruction. There is little support in the US for the Palestinian cause when we see their suicide bombers killing innocent people. Likewise, in Iraq, the repulsive, unrestrained brutality of the suicide bombers and their sponsors has stiffened American resolve to support Iraq until security has been achieved.

Suicide bombing is a weapon that the weak use against the strong – but there are better weapons and better methods. George Washington was able to defeat the world’s most powerful nation and achieve American independence without ever having to resort to such tactics. One of Washington’s most potent weapons was public opinion – shaped by a free press. The pen is mightier than the sword!!

Extremeist groups like Al Queda don’t understand this. They lost their focus in Iraq, and they missed their opportunity to seize the moral high-ground. They lost the propaganda war because their methods of jihad are immoral and utterly repugnant.