There have been a lot of rave reviews on the treatment of Muslims after the 9/11 attack and many opinions took birth post the ghastly and grossly cruel act of the Al Qaida. After seeing an array of movies (New York, Kurbaan and My Name is Khan) on treatment of Muslims in US post 9/11, I wondered the tectonic events which have changed the perspectives of every world citizen on the topic of terrorism and its relation with Islam. I really don't know much about Jihad except the fact that I firmly believe that no religion can typify such archetypes of brutality. Jihad is a holy war and as usual my wikifying finger tips on the keyboard found the history behind the concept. The term has brought out various meanings which are violent as well non-violent.
The best part of the entire explanation given about Islam which I liked is:
"The goal of true jihad is to attain a harmony between Islam (submission), iman (faith), and ihsan (righteous living)."
No religion teaches violence for that matter, no religion will ever set rules to kill members of another belief in the name of protecting their own.
Jihad as Wikipedia quotes:
The term "Jihad" used without any qualifiers is generally understood in the West to be referring to holy war on behalf of Islam.
In broader usage and interpretation, the term has accrued both violent and non-violent meanings. It can simply mean striving to live a moral and virtuous life, spreading and defending Islam as well as fighting injustice and oppression, among other things. For India of course parties play with the religious feelings of the rabble as a part of their vote bank strategy. India has the second largest population of Muslims in the world.
This fact is quite astounding as the political leaders of the country usually have their vocal chords all set to the shout slogans for the minority in India.
I have always had very good Muslim friends; rather one of my best friends at school is follower of Islam. But the very fact that now I am writing this piece with this thought in mind is quite discriminating. I believe that every citizen of any country is very much a part of the country until they are made to feel that they are a meager minority. Also, very importantly, Muslims were not so much discriminated against in the US till the 9/11 attacks occurred. And truly any kind of discrimination is wrong.
Certain groups of Hindus have developed anti-Islam feelings within them just because they have been victims of some form of violence at some point of time. I know it is very natural to nurture such feelings in case you have been through really tough times.
During my childhood, my grandmother would always narrate stories about her wonderful days in Bangladesh before partition. How her house was just besides a Muslim family’s house. And the harmony was such that even broke the door in between so that they could exchange delicacies easily.
She also narrated an interesting story of how a Muslim male friend of hers had proposed to her with a rose hidden inside a handkerchief. She burst out laughing saying that the handkerchief smelled so good!!!!!
And the same girl had to run out of her last school examination, because of a riot! And her family migrated to India leaving all property behind and she could ever study again.
I really don’t blame Didu for her ill feelings she expresses sometimes but she knows having such a feeling for all followers of Islam is wrong.
I feel the same! Sometimes I feel because some people are fighting for a wrong cause, the entire community has to bear the brunt.
Of late I have seen so many movies on this issue that I wish to see no more….O Yeah…….Naseer has acted really well in the movie called Shoot Out at Sight! Guys watch it……..
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