JIHAD (also written JEHAD, JAHAD, DJEHAD)  , an Arabic word of which the literal meaning is an effort or a contest . It is used to designate the religious duty inculcated in the Koran on the followers of Mahomet to wage war upon those who do not accept the doctrines of Islam . This duty is laid down in five surasall of these suras belonging to the period after Mahomet had established his power . Conquered peoples who will neither embrace Islam nor pay a poll-tax (jizya) are to be put to the sword . (See further MAHOMMEDAN INSTITUTIONS.) By Mahommedan commentators the commands in the Koran are not interpreted as a general injunction on all Moslems constantly to make war on the infidels . It is generally supposed that the order for a general war can only be given by the caliph (an office now claimed by the sultans of Turkey) . Mahommedans who do not acknowledge the spiritual authority of the Ottoman sultan, such as the Persians and Moors, look to their own rulers for the proclamation of a jihad; there has been in fact no universal warfare by Moslems on unbelievers since the early days of Mahommedanism . Jihads are generally proclaimed by all persons who claim to be mandis, e.g . Mahommed Al7mad (the Sudanese mandi) proclaimed a jihad in 1882 . In the belief of Moslems every one of their number slain in a jihad is taken straight to paradise .