Struggle by James the First raises a hoot initially in papers (5)
I believe the answer is:
jihad
'struggle' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'james the first raises a hoot initially in papers' is the wordplay.
'the first' says to take the initial letters.
'raises' says the letters should be written backwards.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'papers' becomes 'id' (identification papers**).
The first letter of 'james' is 'j'.
The initial letter of 'hoot' is 'h'.
'a'+'h'='ah'
'ah' back-to-front is 'ha'.
'ha' going inside 'id' is 'ihad'.
'j'+'ihad'='JIHAD'
'by' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for jihad that I've seen before include "Holy war as declared by osama Bin Laden" , "Muslim holy war" , "crusade" , "blessed war" , "Muslim war against unbelievers" .)