‖ jihad, jehad
(dʒiːˈhɑːd)
Also jahad.
[Arab. jihād struggle, contest, spec. one for the propagation of Islam.]
A religious war of Muslims against unbelievers in Islam, inculcated as a duty by the Koran and traditions.
| 1869 M. Wilks' Sk. S. India (ed. 2) II. xlviii. 381 The projects of Jehad—holy war. 1875 Kaye Sepoy War III. iv. 167 To collect money and preach the Moslem Jehad. 1880 Gen. Roberts in Daily News 14 Feb. 2/4 The Mollahs have been preaching a jehad or religious war. |
b. transf. A war or crusade for or against some doctrine, opinion, or principle; war to the death.
| 1880 J. Cowen in Daily News 2 Feb. 6/5 The political jehad that was being preached against doctrines which..had right and justice to sustain them. 1880 Sat. Rev. 6 Mar. 305 His last attempt to stir up a kind of moral jehad against the Government. 1886 19th Century XX. 505 An economical government bargained to abolish the deer [in the New Forest]. So the edict went forth, and a ‘Jihad’ against the deer was proclaimed. |