ISLAM & JIHAD: The Common Misconception.

By: Hamzah Hameenah

Islam is much more than what we see the Muslims do and say. Islam is a divine religion from God and the religion simply means peace. It is made know to us in many areas the Holy book, Al Qur’an that the word ‘Islam’ means the total submission to will of Almighty Allah.

Al-Islam is an Abrahamic religion of the Moslems in which they worship in a monotheistic fashion of one God. With also the belief that Muhammed (SAW) is the prophet of God. They are many other prophets sent to different parts of the world to preach the word of God to the people, which is Islam.
These people are sent by their Lord (Allah) to shine the light of Islam on his people and not to force any individual to convert into Islam. As it is a doctrine that preaches peace.

However, a number of controversial issues have been raised against Islam, and in these past decades, Islam can be likened to a religion of war and killing because of the word ‘JIHAD’. This word has been corrupted and now misinterpreted by people.
Jihad (Arabic: جهاد) is an Arabic word which literally means striving or struggling, especially with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it can refer to almost any effort to make personal and social life conform to God’s guidance. Such as a struggle against one’s evil inclinations, proselytizing, or efforts toward the moral betterment of the community (Ummah), according to Wikipedia. This definition should be able to clear the misunderstanding among people that Jihad means struggling towards making the Muslim and Non-Muslim community a better place, the strive for a better society and a better world for all humans.
Jihad is divided into three parts and these are Jihad against yourself; Jihad against Satan which is known to be the greatest of jihad; And jihad against an OPEN ENEMY which is mostly referred to jihad by sword.
Jihad by the sword is what we all are getting wrong. This does not mean Muslims kill innocent souls to get a reward from their God. It means the jihad against our open enemy and who is our open enemy?
Our open enemies are the ISIS, Takfiri terrorist, Taliban, Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups who are using Islam to cover their misdeeds. These people are not Muslim because Allah said in Quran chapter 11 verse 111 that “And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing, …Save him on whom thy Lord hath me, and for that, He did create them.” This explains that Allah doesn’t permit anyone to kill anyone. Muslims have no right to kill the disbelieve all in the name of Islam. Islam does not permit any form of injustice not to talk of killing innocent people.

The Prophet (S.A.W) said, if any Muslim kills his brother, he has killed a whole nation and if he saves the life of his brother, he has saved a nation.
In short, Islam preaches unity, equality, peace and justice. There is no room for violence and injustice to fellow Muslims and non-believer. Therefore, Boko Haram, ISIS and other terrorist groups are not Muslims, but deluded extremist who are using the Islamic doctrine to promote their twisted gains. Thus, it is a misconception to say that Islam is a religion of blood