Being Brave in Today's World

By : Idris Tawfiq
British Writer and Speaker

Most of us aren't going to have bombs dropped on our houses. Most of us won't have our salaries denied us for over a year because we voted for the wrong political party. Most of us indeed, will never required to lose our lives or the lives of those we love because we're Muslim. Let's be honest; this is what's happening to many Muslims in the world today. In the comfort of our own homes. we can thank Allah that our countries haven't been invaded and that our brothers and sisters haven't been detained with no explanation for months no end.

The Two Types of Jihad

One of the greatest misconceptions that exist about Islam concerns the word " jihad ''. Mention jihad in any gathering, and you will draw attention to yourself. Shout it out loud in the street, and you'll have passers-by fleeing for their lives.This one word, more than any other, has managed to create in people's minds an image of Islam and Muslims that is violent and uncompromising. No matter how mush we talk about peace, jihad is brought into the conversation by our non-Muslim friends,and we're left looking a bit defenseless, not knowing what to say. Even Pope Benedict XVI, who should have known better the consequences his words would have, used this image of Islam and the sword to create confusion in the world about the real nature of Islam

clipped from www.islamonline.net It's a pity even some of our Muslim brothers and sisters haven't fully understood the true meaning of the religious defensive war, which was highly significant during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) because Islam was constantly under attack from those who wished to destroy it. It's a pity, too, that many journalists and politicians don't take just a moment to inform themselves about the real nature of Islam. If they did, they would see that Islam goes far beyond what are normally the rules of warfare. Who heard of being required to stop fighting as soon as your enemy wants peace, especially if you're winning? As Muslims, we're called upon to exert our utmost efforts whenever we see injustice, and we're called upon to fight the jealousy, envy, and hatred that can lurk deep in our own soul.