Understanding Jihad

""Understanding Jihad is one of the most helpful of the spate of new books to appear since the tragic events of September 11, 2001 on the debate about jihad in Islam. Cook's approach is based on historical and textual analyses, and is enhanced by valuable theoretical discussion. This book will help readers find their way through the vast literature by Muslims and non-Muslim scholars on what we can't seem to get away from calling 'holy war'."--Richard C. Martin, Professor of Islamic Studies, Emory University"This book is important to current political and religious discourse on the role of Islam in today's world, and increases our understanding of the seemingly odd behaviors we observe through the media. A tremendous contribution."--Reuven Firestone, author of "Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam""Struggle in the Path of God is one of the most helpful of the spate of new books to appear since the tragic events of September 11, 2001 on the debate about jihad in Islam. Cook's approach is based on historical and textual analyses, and is enhanced by valuable theoretical discussion. This book will help readers find their way through the vast literature by Muslims and non-Muslim scholars on what we can't seem to get away from calling 'holy war'."--Richard C. Martin, Professor of Islamic Studies, Emory University