Final answer:
The term jihad in Islam means 'struggle' and most commonly represents a moral struggle, rather than solely a 'holy war' against the Western or modern world. It encompasses a range of efforts to live according to Islamic teachings and has been differently interpreted over time, including in the context of modern international conflicts. Claims that jihad refers only to conflict with the West are a misinterpretation of its broader historical and religious context.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of jihad in Islam is often misunderstood, especially with the claim that jihad refers only to religious struggles against the modern or Western world. In reality, jihad means 'struggle' in Arabic and can signify various kinds of efforts on the part of Muslims to live in accordance with the teachings and example of Muhammad. This encompasses the 'jihad of the heart', which is the moral struggle against life's temptations. While it can sometimes mean 'holy war', this is not the predominant use of the term.
Jihad has historically been used in different ways, such as the struggle against internal doubt by Sufi mystics or against evil, in which case individuals from different faiths could stand together. Similar to the Christian concept of 'just war', jihad must be declared by a recognized authority, and in Islam's early days, it encouraged non-violence towards Christians and Jews unless provoked. The term's complexity is illustrated by its varying usages and also by modern political discourse. After events like 9/11, the term has been used to describe extremist attacks, but this does not align with the term's broader and historical meanings.
It is crucial to recognize that contemporary conflicts have political and economic dimensions and that resistance to global trends such as globalization can stem from these concerns, not just religious ones. A distinction also exists between militant Islamic fundamentalists who advocate for a traditionalist view of society and those favoring reform towards a modern civil law framework. The evolution of Islamic fundamentalism and its interaction with modern global dynamics continues to be a subject of debate and conflict within the Muslim world.