Legitimation und Mobilisierung in dschihadistischen Texten

How can a violent Islamic jihad be justified in the name of religion? This question is frequently discussed by jihadi authors, who aim at legitimising acts of violence in order to attract new supporters for their crusade. Based on a selection of contemporary Arabic texts, this study analyses the main jurisprudential arguments used by jihadists to justify violence by focusing on the jihadist exegesis of the Qur’an, Sunna and classical Sunni jurisprudence. Specifically, it addresses the most common rhetorical devices applied by jihadi authors and the strategies they employ to mobilise supporters and incite them to engage in a violent jihad. Presenting several translations from Arabic texts, this work draws an authentic picture of contemporary jihadist language and illustrates the central narratives and enemy stereotypes of the jihadist ideology.