The Idea
This claim says that the concept of jihad in Bin Laden’s usage moves from a limited defensive meaning to a broader conception that makes sacred war possible on a wider scale. The text does not merely describe violence; it also shows the transformation in meaning itself: from a reaction tied to alleged defense to a generalization of the idea of confrontation. Here, the concept becomes a means of expanding war rather than regulating it.
Condensed Formulation
Bin Laden’s jihad: moving from defensive jihad to the generalization of sacred war
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim is important in the book’s trajectory because it shows how religious concepts can be reworked within a violent political discourse. The argument does not stop at practice; it follows the shift in meaning that makes it possible to justify practice. In this way, the text links religious language to its transformation into an instrument of mobilization, thereby reinforcing its critical interpretation of contemporary violence.
Why It Matters
Its importance lies in showing that the danger does not lie only in armed action, but also in redefining concepts in ways that broaden violence and grant it legitimacy. This helps explain how a familiar religious term becomes a tool for justifying total war. It also highlights one aspect of Arkoun’s interest in reading meanings before settling for judgments about outcomes.
Brief Evidence Passage
The text presents Bin Laden’s concept of jihad as a shift from a limited defensive meaning to a broader conception of sacred war. It does not merely describe violence; it shows the concept itself changing from a reaction linked to alleged defense to a generalization of confrontation. In this way, the concept becomes a means of expanding war rather than regulating it.
Reading Questions
- What is the difference between defensive jihad and sacred war as presented in the text?
- How does this shift in meaning change our understanding of the use of religious vocabulary in political conflict?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear location within the book’s material.