Jihad - Towards a Renewed Understanding of an Islamic Concept
 

The articles linked here are by some of today's contemporary classicist Islamic scholars' responses to those who would willy-nilly invoke the word "Jihad" in support of indefensible acts - acts which contradict not only the spirit but the letter of Islamic law.

Jihad: A Misunderstood Concept from Islam - Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani & Shaykh Seraj Hendricks
Islam upholds the values of reason, balance and responsibility in the conduct of its worldly affairs. There is nothing arbitrary about its legal provisions relating to matters of war, peace, international relationships and the rule of law. In this area there is considerable agreement between Islamic law and the legal systems currently practiced throughout the world. In addition to the real possibility that these legal systems were profoundly influenced by the legal heritage of Islam, this commonality can be explained by the fact that the protection and endorsement of basic human rights form the cornerstone of Islamic legislation.

Principles of Leadership in War & Peace: A comprehensive explanation of Jihad from the Classical Perspective - Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani (PDF)
Context and circumstance of Qur’anic revelation and Hadith are crucial in coming to terms with Jihad. It is an error to judge Islam and Muslims in the light of the kind of “Jihad” that has fallen victim to ideological tendencies. The critic also has to be wary of the interpretation of “Jihad” which is projected, and sometimes imposed, by the selective “religious reformism” so rampant today. They ignore central aspects of Islam’s intellectual heritage, selectively repress important figures and disregard Islam’s impeccable history of adherence to the standards of law and justice in affairs of state.

Uses and Abuses of Jihad - Dr. Hashim Kamali (PDF)
Jihad is no longer seen as a holy struggle to defend oneself and the Muslim masses against hostile assailants but also to initiate acts of violence against the perceived enemy.

Defending the Civilians - Shaykh Afifi al-Akiti (PDF)
There is simply no legal precedent in the history of Sunni Islam for the tactic of attacking civilians and overtly non-military targets. Yet the awful reality today is that a minority of Sunni Muslims, whether in Iraq or Beslan or elsewhere, have perpetuated such acts in the name of Jihad and on behalf of the Umma. .the almost unanimous response of the orthodox Shafi'i jurists from the Far East and the Hadramawt was not only to make clear that the minimum legal position from our Sacred Law is untenable, ...and that we would thereby be running a real risk of losing the moral and religious high ground.