The Misconception of Jihad

First of all let me start by saying Ramadan Mubarak to all of you and Inshala this Ramadan is filled with blessings for everyone of us. It is our chance to get closer to Allah and to reflect on our life and past year and reassess our life and the choices we make along the way.

I can imagine due to the Media and even our own reactions to the media there is a certain fear that comes to those in the west who are already Anti-Muslim. To them they are thinking "OH NO its the month where the moderate muslims can possibly get more religious and turn into the EXTREMIST Terrorist MUSLIMS!

 When i say our own reaction i'm talking about articles i've read with titles " Not all Muslims are JIHADISTS".. and that was supposed bring comfort to those who are concerned about Muslims and JIHAD. Actually an article like that will do more harm than good. WHY? Because it reinforces the conviction that "mujahedeen' or " jihad" means "terrorism". When in reality yes ALL MUSLIMS are and should be JIHADIST. And being a JIHADIST has nothing to do with terrorism or bombing yourself or others, or killing non -muslim! (side note : suicide and homicide are major sins in islam)

So True meaning of the word Jihad is an Arabic word that literally means to struggle or strive. Jihad is struggling or striving in the way or sake of Allah. Jihad takes a very important status in the fundamentals of Islam and is one of the basic duties for every Muslim.

It comes in many forms

• Jihad of the heart/soul (jihad bin nafs/qalb)
• Jihad by the tongue (jihad bil lisan)
• Jihad by the pen/knowledge (jihad bil qalam/ilm)
• Jihad by the hand (jihad bil yad)
• Jihad by the sword (jihad bis saif) 
  
  
  Jihad of the Heart which is referred to in Islam as “the greater Jihad” (al-jihad al-akbar).
  
  
  It is one’s constant inner struggle of good against evil; refraining oneself from the whispers of Shaitan (Satan). This process involves allowing Islam to transform one’s soul to achieving internal peace; and forgoing the hatred and anger.
  
  
  Jihad by the Tongue
  Jihad by the tongue; in Arabic: jihad bil lisan.
  It is defending Islam and spreading Islam by scholarly lectures, speeches
  and debates. It often overlaps with Da’awah (invitation to Islam, or spreading the message of Islam).
  
  
  Jihad by the sword
  
  
  Jihad by the sword; in Arabic: jihad bis saif. In contrary to Jihad of the
  heart/soul; this form of Jihad is referred as “the lesser jihad” (al-jihad alasghar).
  There are only two situations were Jihad by the sword is allowed to be
  undertaken.
  
  
  1) For self-defence. When someone attacks you or when your
  nation has been attacked. Engaging into combat due to self defence. Like any army in the world used weapons and to defend their country.
  
  
  2) Fighting against evil and unjust. It is also a sin if a Muslim sees unjust been done, capable of stopping it, yet not doing anything about it. But that does'nt mean go randomly killing innocent people in the name of islam when islam has nothing to do with your crimes.
  
  
  Jihad  by the sword is ONLY allowed when a certain condition is met and there are very strict rules about waging Jihad against a community.
  
  The basic rule about Jihad is that it is only allowed when non-Muslims initiate it. It is NOT to be initiated by the Muslims at all. Muslims are not allowed to raise their swords and start killing every non-Muslim in their community, whether in majority or minority, to force them to accept Islam. God says in the Quran: -
  
  "There is no compulsion in religion"
  
  
  The rules of JIHAD 
  
  
  1) They are not allowed to burn down property and houses
  2) Non-combatants, men, women and children may not be killed or attacked deliberately even in battle on a battlefield, and may not be deliberately targeted, nor weapons used which kill indiscriminately3) They have to respect places of worship (churches, monasteries etc.)
  4) They are not supposed to cut down trees or destroy the harvest
  5) They are not supposed to mutilate the bodies of their opponents
  6) When the enemy surrenders and is helpless they have to stop fighting
  7) When war prisoner are taken the treatment for prisoners of war is also clearly stated in the Quran. Prisoners of war under Muslim prisons are to eat, drink and dress the
  same Muslim soldiers eat, drink and dress. And even under the unfortunate event of shortage of food, it is the prisoners who are to eat first before the Muslim soldiers guarding them!
  
  
  ms are not extremists or fanatics and have no plans of terrorist attacks and just want to feel NORMAL instead of being constantly seen as terrorist or possible terrorists!
  
  Those who do not abide by these rules and follow their self-made rules by killing innocent people DO NOT follow Islam. The rules of Islam are what I have mentioned and anyone who disobeys, and does wrong things in the name of Islam, in fact spoils its name and causes other muslims aroudn the world to suffer from their ignorant acts! 
  
  
  Islam is a religion of peace. Muslims have to respect the rights of the non-Muslims in their community and respect their places of worship. Those who don't, do not follow Islam at all.
  
  
  We should stop linking being religious to being a terrorist. Know that the more religious a Muslim comes when following the RIGHT ISLAM they are more at peace with themselves and and with others around them . If they are true jihadist and fight thier temptations and the whipsers of shaytan they will be better people that spread peace and do more good. They will not back bite, they will not harm others, they will not lie, they will give charity, they will respect others and help others in need, they will seek knowledge, hold on to family ties & do things that will please Allah.
  
  
  When in the state i found myself giving out so many smiles that my cheeks hurt. Muslims are constantly trying to break these false stereotypes linked with ISLAM.
  
  
  Those who commit crimes in the name of ISLAM are condemned by Muslims all around the world and these crimes are individual acts and not acts of a RELIGION. 
  
  
  I consider myself a moderate muslim and im saying that to reassure anyone that im the better kind of muslim. i want to be more religious and that is my everyday jihad.. and inshala when i do become a better more religous muslim it will make me a better person and not something that is feared but respected and admired even.
  
  
   I make mistakes as does everyone. only when i make a mistake it will reflect on my religion. Which is why we always pray to Allah to guide us into the right path... and help us in this very tough journey..
  
  
  So I am a proud MUJAHIDA.. and if you are a muslim and you dont have any form of jihad in your life.. then you have a very big misconception of ISLAM because ISLAM is all about JIHAD AL NAFS... 
  
  
  The U.S. has a high crime rate and most of the crimes are committed by non-muslims. When the attacker or terrorist is non-muslim he is referred to as a gunman. There is no reference to that persons religion or ethnicity. If he was Arab or Muslim it will be all over the news as the MUSLIM terrorist. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sorry this post is long.. i had a lot to say .. to me the true terrorists are those bombing innocent palestinian civilians and taking kids and 5 year olds to prison ! ISRAEL 's crimes are the real terrorist acts that go on unspoken of.. Bombing schools, hospitals, homes of civilians. Coldblooded shooting kids and infants. Using inhumane  chemical weapons and bombs that are internationally illegal.
  
  
  i could post videos and photos but i hate to post graphic images that even i find very hard to see.. my heart aches for you palestine.. my heart aches for Islam that many continue to do crimes in its name.. my heart aches for Syria, Iraq, Egypt and all the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world. 
  
  
  Conclusion Ramadan is not the month moderate Muslims transform into terrorists it is the month muslims repent and reflect on thier lives and work on being better people.
  
  
          So was this post scary to you ? Because this post is also a form of Jihad..