Defence and strategy

Muslim Community Leader’s Perspectives on Jihad

Karel ČERNÝ, Jiřina STEHLÍKOVÁ

The paper uncovers how the Czech Muslim community leaders interpret meaning of jihad, and focuses on the question how to deal with a possible radical inside their ranks. It is based on interviews and qualitative methodology. Two interpretations of jihad have been identified: a narrow one focusing on a violent aspect of the concept, and a broad one focusing on non-violent ones. There are two competing narrations regarding the question if there is any authority legitimate to issue jihad, however there is a tendency to see a defensive jihad as a legitimate one.