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A bomb goes off in a marketplace in Jerusalem. A suicide bomber launches himself into a bus full of women and children in Tel Aviv. Foreign tourists are massacred at a holiday resort in Luxor, Egypt. Villages upon villages get annihilated in Algeria. The list of events worldwide which have come to symbolize the 'Islamic terror' are endless. In the 70's and 80's when Pan Am and TWA airplanes would be high jacked, to the mid 80's in war torn Lebanon where Americans and Europeans would be held as hostages for years; all such incidents have come to be identified with the religion of Islam. Such incidents from past and present have undoubtedly affected Muslims worldwide and more so in the West. Any Muslim, who wants to practice his/her religion and expresses the pious desire to live under the banner of Islam, is labeled a fundamentalist or extremist. Any Muslim man who walks down a busy street in London or Paris (and Paris more so) with a beard and a scarf on his head, is looked upon as being a terrorist who's probably got an AK-47 stashed somewhere on his person. Muslim women who are veiled can't go anywhere in the Western world without being taunted as being oppressed or being insane (for covering up). Are such beliefs and opinions about Islam really justified?

Exploding the myth

One of the many shortcomings that have arisen in the West is judging Islam by the conduct of a minority of its people. Segments of Western society have deliberately played off the desperate actions of some Muslims, and have given it the name of Islam. Such labeling is clearly not objective and seeks to distort the perception of Islam. Is it fair to characterize Christianity as a religion of homosexuals and pedophiles? Are Hindus nothing but looting violent vandals of mosques? This type of smearing should be beneath the standards of Western media, but they seem to be leading the charge. So what is the true picture of Islam?

The word jihad sends shivers down the spines of many Westerners. In their minds, the term is synonymous with violence and unbridled bloodthirsty aggression. But the mental pictures of pillage, rape and slaughter if anything, are better applied to Christianity and its adherents during the crusades.

In Islam, jihad is of many types, all of which hinge upon the utmost discipline and restraint. One type is the jihad, literally ‘struggle’, a person wages against his or her own inner desires. Another is the type in the battlefield. It is this physical or combative jihad that receives so much attention. In Islam, jihad can be waged for three reasons: in defense or retaliation against an invader or aggressor, against those who prevent the spread of the faith, and in aid to an oppressed people.

Pacifist theorists espouse non-violence while benefiting from orderly societies who have gained, maintain and ensure their continued existence in the world by armies and police. Islam teaches that God allows violence as the better of two evils, violence versus total anarchy and chaos.

"And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the Earth would be full of mischief. But Allah is full of bounty to the worlds" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:251).

Such would be the corruption on this Earth if there had never been a combative jihad that Allah says:

"For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is mentioned much, would surely have been pulled down. Indeed Allah will help those who help His (cause). Truly Allah is All strong, All mighty" (Surah Al-Hajj 22:40).

This combative jihad being both defensive and offensive, is something which is commanded by Allah upon the Muslims. Through this command the oppressed and weak are rescued from the tyranny of the world:

"And what is the matter with you that you do not fight in the cause of Allah and for those weak, ill treated and oppressed among men, women and children whose only cry is; 'Our Lord, rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors and raise for us from you one who will protect and raise for us from you one who will help"' (Surah An-Nisa 4:75).

When the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) went out for the offensive jihad against the Egyptians, the Persians and the Romans, we find that the people did not resist against them at all. Rather, they accepted and kept Islam on such a scale, that it is inconceivable that the jihad of Islam could be anything other then a liberation for these people; a liberation from centuries of tyranny. In fact, with the Byzantine Egyptians and the people of Spain, the Muslims were even beckoned to come and liberate these lands from the oppression of their kings.

Compare this with the brutal track record of warfare in the Western world over the centuries. From the crusades against the Muslims to the days of colonial warfare, the Western world has killed, destroyed and plundered everything that has stood in its way. Even today this merciless killing goes on by the Western nations. While touting world peace and security, Western nations make a living bombing, disenfranchising and starving the civilians of its enemy nations. The classic example of this is the recent bombings of Sudan and Afghanistan. Courageous American soldiers obliterated the main manufacturer of Sudanese pharmaceuticals from miles away. But,

"… when it is said to them; 'Make not mischief on the Earth', they say; 'We are only peace makers'. Indeed they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive it not" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:11-12)

The hypocrisy of the West is indeed astounding. Palestinian youths wielding stones and homemade explosives are labeled as ‘terrorists’ while the true terrorists complete their eleventh year of starving and infecting Iraqi kids.

An objective examination of the rules and regulations of Islamic warfare, it will be clear to any sincere person that this is indeed the religion of truth. When fighting an unjust enemy, no matter how unjust they are, it is forbidden by Islam that their retreating forces are mutilated, tortured or slaughtered. The treacherous violation of treaties and carrying out assassinations after a cease-fire, are also prohibited. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you. But do not transgress the limits. Truly Allah loves not the transgressors"

(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:190).

Not transgressing the limits means not to kill women or children. The Messenger of Allah (saws) "forbade the killing of women and children". Not transgressing the limits means that the elderly, the sick, monks, worshippers and hired laborers are not to be attacked. Not transgressing the limits means not killing animals intentionally, burning crops and vegetation, polluting waters and destroying homes, monasteries, churches and synagogues:

"Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion, nor drove you out of your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who deal with equity" (Surah Al-Mumtahinah 60:8).

After reading such passages from the Qur'an and knowing about what Islam commands and prohibits in jihad, the rules of warfare are given a new meaning; a meaning of justice. How sad it is then, that whilst Islam is condemned for striking terror into the hearts of the people, the likes of the Serbs, the Indian army in Kashmir and the Israeli soldiers in Palestine are left untarnished for the atrocities they have committed in the name of warfare.