JIHAD as speculated herein is a theory to be proven. (in work)
I. Background: What is Jihad (Bing Research)
Jihad is an Arabic word that means “effort” or “struggle.” In the context of Islam, it refers to a struggle or fight against the enemies of Islam, or the spiritual struggle within oneself against sin. It is a religious duty for Muslims to engage in jihad, which can be interpreted as a personal struggle in devotion to Islam involving spiritual discipline. Jihad can also refer to a crusade for a principle or belief.
II. Tactics of Jihad: Biref Discussion (Bing Research)
The tactics used in jihad have evolved over time and have been shaped by historical and political contexts. According to a report by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, jihad by the sword has been shaped by seven historically-shaped political conceptualizations of jihad, occurring in the following order: empire building; the suppression of apostate subjects; the revolution against “false” Muslim leaders; the anti-colonial struggle and “purification” of the religion; countering Western influence and jahiliyya; guerrilla warfare against secular invaders; and finally, the direct targeting of civilians in terrorist attacks.
III. How Many Student Chapters are there in the United States (Bing Research)
Current student demonstrations in support of HAMAS indicate there is a strong following in higher education. The extent or activities are not well known. However, it must be acknowledged that students are subject to the same intimidation as Palestinians are by HAMAS.
Muslim Students Association (MSA) is a religious organization that aims to establish and maintain Islamic societies on college campuses in Canada and the United States. It serves millions of Muslim students throughout their college and university years. The MSA National, also known as the Muslim Student Union, is an umbrella organization for all affiliated chapters at various campuses across North America 1. Local chapters are only loosely connected with the parent institution and often take different names, such as “Islamic Students Association” or “Muslim Discussion Group”. Not all campus Muslim groups are necessarily affiliated with MSA National [citation needed].
The first MSA National Chapter was formed in 1963 at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (UIUC) by international students. The initial leadership came from Arabic-speaking and Urdu-speaking members, with guidance from students of the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood and Pakistan-based Jamaat-e-Islami Islami movements. A Saudi Arabian charity, the wahhabist Muslim World League, provided early funding for the group.
As of October 2023, I could not find any information on the exact number of Muslim student chapters in the United States. However, it is known that MSA National has chapters in colleges across North America.