Frightening Image Of » Islam

If Islam teaches these noble ideals, why is there such a frightening image of Islam in the West? The answer lies in one word: "jihad," and its misrepresentation and misinterpretation in the media. But Muslims are no less responsible for this frightening picture of jihad either. Tyrant Muslim regimes and terrorist organizations routinely invoke jihad, or holy war, to terrorize or kill innocent people to achieve their political agendas. The Arabic word "jihad" means struggle or exertion. There are many levels of jihad: struggling to remove poverty; fighting against material and moral corruption; struggling against social, political, and economic injustices; struggling to restore basic human rights, fighting against tyranny and oppression; constantly exerting to advance human knowledge; fighting against environmental pollution etc. And jihad in terms of war must be declared and must be for defensive purposes only. No covert operations are allowed in Islam. Above all jihad must be done for the good of humanity which in Islam is referred to as fighting for the cause of God. Under no circumstances, are they allowed to exploit the weak and the vulnerable. That is why Islam teaches Muslims to honor treaties and to do justice ­ even to their enemies. It teaches them to establish their system based upon free consultation, justice and equality. These are the teachings of the Quran. However, it is a sad reflection that Muslims seem to have turned away from the above teachings of Islam. American people who are striving for the above ideals are nearer to Islam than many Muslims. Islam is not the custodian of Muslims only. God says in the Quran that if Muslims were to turn away from its ideals and teachings, then He will raise another people to replace them. Whatever Muslims have done (and are doing) in the name of jihad that is contrary to the above teachings of their holy Book, the Quran, Islam is not responsible for. They are. And this is truly unfortunate. Because such a beautiful religion as Islam gets maligned in the world because of their terrorist acts.