"Everything I need to know about Islam, I learned on 9/11"
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, some Americans associate Islam with evil and terrorism. The resentment towards the Muslim community is evident in everyday life. However, the Muslim community is not to blame for the attacks. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 were plotted and executed by members of Al-Qai'da, and extremist militant Islamist group.
Islam is actually closely related to Judaism and Christianity. The Qur'an acknowledges Christians and Jews as "people of the book", and just as Christianity evolved from Judaism, Islam evolved from Christianity. The three religions share common core beliefs. Like Christians, Muslims believe in one god, they believe Jesus was born from a virgin and they consider him a prophet, they also believe in the second coming of Jesus and in an eternal hell. The world Islam itself means "submission to god", "peace", and "way to peace"
The conflict arises from Jihad which is considered to be the "sixth pillar of Islam" by a minority of Sunni Muslims. Most Muslims including the Shi'a and Sufis separate Jihad into two categories, the "greater jihad" which is defined as a spiritual self-perfection and the "lesser jihad" which means defensive warfare. Almost all who believe in the "lesser jihad" believe in warfare as means of defense and as a way to protect from oppression. Groups like Al-Qai'da derive their belief from an extreme interpretation of the lesser jihad which calls for global conquest. By educating one self, one learns that not all Muslims are evil and out to kill Americans. One learns that they are a people who practice peace and good deeds as means of salvation much like Christians and Jews.
Stereotyping and generalizing all Muslims as terrorists is ignorant and incorrect.
No comments:
Post a Comment