Jihad?

Watching this video, though it may sound funny, made me scared as well despite being a Muslim. Even another friend of mine who is Muslim thought the video was scary.

It is definitely understandable of why Americans (or rather EVERYONE) who watches this video or any type of video on any religions, race or gender that portrays them as being violent based on what they have done, would give us a reason to be afraid and fearful.

Everyone should be aware that not everything portrayed in the media is the absolute truth. Yes, the events cited by the video might all be based on facts, but you could not judge the other 1 billion people just by the few hundreds that showed what is actually against our own religion as a matter of fact. Do a research on what is given to us on the news and analyze them intelligently. A very good example is to see how women are portrayed in the media. Women are often seen as being weak and passive, while men are always seen in masculine roles in an advertisement. Hence, will you judge that a women is incapable of doing tough jobs, while men are absolutely only masculine in character and could not show any weakness or tears? Of course you don't, and the same goes to all religions and race and gender, not just Islam alone.

Do not just accept what is given to us. Sometimes, it is not what they seem to be.

I could be criticizing a lot regarding the video; first off, the word jihad does not have a 'goal' of world domination. Go ahead and google it, and you will find that it literally means 'struggle'. The word jihad is not only applicable for war, but it could also be used when you are facing a 'struggle' to prevent yourself from committing sins or hurting others; I could say that I am in a 'jihad' if I am working very hard to get a good pay to put food on the table. I could also say that I am in a 'jihad' if I am trying my very best to get rid of a bad habit (even like smoking or drinking). Hence, you could quickly evaluate that the person who made the video did not really do much research about jihad or Islam itself rather.

It is true that Islam has been involved in many wars as the video has listed. But once again, you could not judge the rest of the people of that religion based on certain events that was committed by usually the extremists. I believe that if you were to search for the war histories of any country at all (wars do happen even without religion in play), you will also find a whole list of bad events. Hence, I do not think it is fair to simply depict to Americans (in this video) that Islam is a violent religion by showing all the bloodshed. Why is it that other religions and other countries who have also fought in a war not being questioned the same way Islam is put into trial?

For clarifications, it is true that there are verses in the Qur'an that some might say be 'promoting' war against 'infidels' or so they say. However, if you were to really analyze the Qur'anic verses, it only gave permission for one to go into war if one is in a state of oppression; hence war is actually forbidden for us to pursue unless lives are at stake and that is the very last option that we have. If you were to look back on Prophet Muhammad, he would definitely try to work things out peacefully with anyone at all, before finally residing to battle.

As a Muslim, I do feel sad that there are extremists out there willing to kill others (or what they may claim to be 'infidels') in the name of Islam, when what they are doing is against Islam itself. However, I am certain that there is a blessing in disguise. I do not support any act of terrorism, but I am optimistic that even from such bad events, it has opened the eyes of others, opened my own eyes as well. People are curious about who and what Islam is. Is it true that it is a terrorist religion? Is it a violent religion? Oppressing women by asking them to wear the headscarf?

Those who have really opened their eyes and hearts will be able to find out what Islam truly is. And unfortunately, there are still others out there who refuse to see beyond what is out in the media.

I sincerely would like to thank the commenters of this blog (at worldinconversation.org), as when I read your comments and your view of Islam even though you are non-muslims, I am very happy and glad to know that you guys are among those who do not judge others simply from what is portrayed in the media. :) Thank you, may God bless you. :)