In Western vocabulary the term “jihad” has been especially used to denote the “sacred war” of Muslims against their enemies. The 11 September 2001 tragedy has led to the identification of jihad, which was largely unknown to the Western public, with terrorism. But jihad also means “effort” made in social and political domains in order to enhance the territorial expansion of Islam. Religious authorities are unanimous in maintaining that neither this “offensive jihad” nor the “sacred war” is compulsory for Muslim women. Martyrdom ( shahāda ) associated with participation in these t…