The Christian Crusades, or Holy Wars, occurring in the eleventh through the thirteenth century, could best be compared to which of the following ideas in the Islamic world?
Explanation
Answer - A - The Christian Crusades, or Holy Wars, occurring in the eleventh through the thirteen century, are best compared to the idea of Jihad in the Islamic world.
Key Takeaway: Jihad, or “struggle,” is considered to be a religious duty of all devout Muslims. Under Islamic law, jihad is the only form of warfare permissible. The main purpose of jihad is not to convert non-Muslims, but to expand and defend the influence of the Islamic state. Many modern Muslim fundamentalists have attempted to re-interpret the basic meaning of jihad, stating that it essentially means defensive warfare that is meant to protect Muslim interests (thus the Western definition of jihad as “holy war”).
