The term 'Jihad' has been used loosely within the media for years, furthermore, it has been incorporated with the wrong definitions and the wrong people for a very long a time. However, it is our job as an Ummah to stand strong against the stereotypes and educate. I have decided to write this post as a response to the news story I have just watched on the so called 'Jihad' attack in Canada, therefore, today I shall answer the commonly asked question; what is Jihad?
Jihad literally means (translated from Arabic) 'struggle'. With this in mind, consider what it is that humanity should be struggling against, for example, oppression, injustice and ignorance.
Despite this, Jihad can refer to physical fighting. Islam recognises that there is no space for evil on this earth. Every nation has an army specially trained to protect that particular country against harm.
Jihad has been permitted to rid of evil in a similar way. Rewind back to a time during which Muslims were oppressed for accepting a view which differed from societies opinions, Jihad was permitted to prevent more death. In order to teach you how serious this oppression was I provide you with the example of the first woman to have died for Islam. Sumaya (RA) had a spear driven through her private part just because she accepted the faith she believed was true.
Developing on my previous point, every nation has it's 'protection', but there is no nation that has prohibited their army from harming women, children, the elderly and even trees, except Islam.
In conclusion, Jihad should not be integrated with 'Islamic extremism' because in reality, the 'Jihadi acts' which we watch on TV, have nothing to do with Islam, forget Islamic extremism. Such people should not be seen as the representatives of such a beautiful religion. Furthermore, if we are to think logically, no religion which preaches murder would be the belief of 23 percent of the world's population. What is happened in Canada is wrong...
and Islam is NOT encouraging it.
Asaalam U Alaikum.
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