Partisans Of allah: Jihad In South asiaThe idea of jihad is central to Islamic faith and ethics, yet its meanings have been highly contested over time. They have ranged from the philosoph ical struggle to live an ethical life to the political injunction to wage war against enemies of Islam. Today more than ever, jihad signifies the political opposition between the Islamic world and the West. As the line between Muslims and non Muslims becomes more sharply drawn, Ayesha Jalal seeks to