Jihaad is probably the most misunderstood concept in modern times - by non
muslims as well as muslims themselves! Jihaad
does not mean only to do battle or go to war or to fight , it also means to struggle and
fighting is only just one way of doing it, in the way of Allah alone and only in the way of allah . It does not mean to fight anyone for any other cause like defending your person or your
country, or for revenge or for money or any other cause. The Iraqis and the Afghanis may be fighting to defend their country or to free it from outsiders'' occupation but what they are doing is not ''jihaad'' in any case. And the suicide bombing is certainly not ''jihaad''. In fact many ulema or scholars around the world have declared it ''haraam'' or forbidden in Islam!