On the following pages, I will attempt to show how this contradiction is dealt with, and which inter- pretation is attached to the concepts of jihad, martyrdom, suicide, and civilian status, both historically and in the present. I must first mention that in the presentation of the various positions, the worldview of a certain group of contemporary Muslims is left out of consideration: the silent minority of secularized, educated Muslims who do not refer exclu- sively to religious tradition when expressing their views and who do not regard everything as binding which others claim to be hallowed by the Koran and by Prophetic tradition. At present, this group has prominent exponents in several countries, but the general climate restricts them from expressing their views publicly.