"Islamic terrorism" a misleading term

[true blood]

I think a Muslim would be better equiped to define what Jihad means. From my understanding its to exert oneself to his utmost potential, like a battle against evil within a person for self-improvement, for the community and the world as a whole. There now seems to be a lesser-Jihad-meaning that means Muslims may defend themselves only for self-defense without any worldly gain. Personaly I think "holy war" is an oxymoron term. How can we have bloody wars and call them "holy"? And in our modern times, Jihad is being used by fighters who claim to be Muslims and often wage war through terrorist attacks on civilians. Muhammad would not be pleased, not at all. And I bet he would wage a war against those "terrorists" himself.

 

[_salam_]

I think a Muslim would be better equiped to define what Jihad means. From my understanding its to exert oneself to his utmost potential, like a battle against evil within a person for self-improvement, for the community and the world as a whole. There now seems to be a lesser-Jihad-meaning that means Muslims may defend themselves only for self-defense without any worldly gain. Personaly I think "holy war" is an oxymoron term. How can we have bloody wars and call them "holy"? And in our modern times, Jihad is being used by fighters who claim to be Muslims and often wage war through terrorist attacks on civilians. Muhammad would not be pleased, not at all. And I bet he would wage a war against those "terrorists" himself.

As a Muslim myself I would have to say you got the meaning of jihad perfect. I would completely agree with you on your idea of "holy war" and how the "muslims" who are supposedly preforming jihad are not truly Muslims. I would just like to add a couple of things about the rules of war in Islam. First of all, Muslims are only allowed to fight against other combatants, this means that we cannot harm the elderly, women, children, the sick and injured, or any innocent people. We are also not allowed to destroy personal property or any crops or livestock. Even POW's are granted rights and respect. There is a story of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which says that after one of the early Muslim battles, in which the Muslims had taken prisoners, Muhammad (pbuh) saw a prisoner with out a shirt on and the Prophet gave him the shirt off of his back.

 

[mahayana]

I would like to refer you all to the 1999 book "Bin Laden: the man who declared war on America" by Yossef Bodansky, Prima Publishing/Random House. The correct term is Islamist (not Islamic) militants. Part of the vision of the Islamist movement (which began in Egypt and influenced many Saudis educated there- including Bin Laden) is the restoration of the Ottoman Empire, Muslim control of every country which ever was under the flag of crescent moon and morning star, the exclusion of infidels from muslim lands, $200 a barrel oil, Taliban-style government, adherance to the 1998 fatwas calling for worldwide jihad against jews and crusaders.

Religion is indeed involved, on both sides, but the struggle is political.

 

[DontFearMe]

Well, this thread got way off topic in a way. Well, to the non muslim who wants to tell us muslims what jihad means, we already know better than you. Pah gave something to read. If you think you know everything, learning stops.

 

[mahayana]

DFM, I agree with your original post. Islam is not a threat. The confusion arises when militants, advancing a political cause, choose to invoke religion. Listen to this language:

"Crimes and sins committed by Americans are a clear declaration of war on Allah, his Messenger, and Muslims. Ulema have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the Jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys Muslim countries."

Some fatwas clearly call for the killing of Americans and their allies, as a religious duty.

But, again, Islam is no more to blame for violence than Christianity. Those that call for war, support war, justify war, are getting their way.

 

[oisin3]

In 1939 it was the Jews who were blamed. But the dogs on the streets know who is Really to blame.

 

[oisin3]

Why aren't the Muslim communities more active in defeating the "Islamic terrorist"?

The same could be said for the Irish people and the IRA.

 

[mahayana]

And the same kind of point can be made, oisin. It's not a war between Catholicism and Protestants. The occupation of Ireland by British troops created the IRA, whose political ideology has embraced terrorism as a tactic.