Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam

Amazon

The most up-to-date and detailed historical and linguistic study of the rise and evolution of the concept of “Holy War” within Islam, tracing it to social, theological and pre-Islamic Arabic influences. As a study of a religious and ethical idea, Firestone’s work makes a nice supplement to Paul Fregosi’s Jihad in the West, which covers the actual history of holy wars through time.