Islam is one of the most controversial topics nowadays with its association with terror, war, conflict, and radical thinking. But before you make any judgment about the religion itself, it is important to be educated regarding the true meaning of the faith, and the terms used within it. The term Jihad is the perfect example of a term with incorrect association that are spread through media, thus educating us falsely and passing judgement of Muslims where it is not warranted.
What comes to mind when we hear the word, Jihad?
I know that before I learned more about the religion of Islam, to me, Jihad had a bad connotation. When I heard that term, it was always in connection to terrorism, Al Qaeda, the military, and violence. I even thought the term was the name of a group itself, which is what I assume the media has taught most Americans to believe. The incorrect correlation of the word Jihad and terrorism must be replaced by an understanding of the truth.
What does Jihad actually mean?
Translated literally, it actually means “struggle” or “survive.” The word is seen in the Muslim Holy book, the Quran, stating that the struggle of Jihad is one between one’s self and God. Now, this struggle has two manifestations: the inner, spiritual, and individual struggle (known as the greater Jihad), or the outer struggle against the enemies of the religion (known as the lesser Jihad). It is an individual’s, or group’s, sense of purpose in life, or their way of serving God. This does in fact include the purpose of terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, making their Jihad to use violence to create a more Muslim world; however, it also includes the struggle peaceful Muslims have within themselves to maintain good faith, to remember the daily prayer, to obey the Quran in their daily lives, and many more peaceful and moral actions. The one that we hear about, however, is the lesser Jihad, the one of terrorists and radicals alike, cursing the usage of the word in a positive light. Yes, Jihad can be violent, yes it can be extreme, but it doesn’t have to be.
(Side note: News anchors and TV shows usually refer to it as “The” Jihad, when really they should refer to it as just Jihad, as it is not a singular group).
How can we change the way we talk about Jihad and Islam as a whole?
It all starts by educating yourself, not from the news or TV shows, but through real, reliable sources. Personally, I have read several memoirs concerning the Islamic faith and Islamic regimes. I would highly recommend Infidel, written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, And Then They Came for Me otherwise known as Rosewater by Maziar Bahari, or any other non-fiction reads or memoirs you can find.
But most importantly, we must talk with one another, discuss our views of the religion, educate each other, and piece by piece we can spread the truth, understanding, and appreciation of the Muslim people who love our country just as we do.
