It's quite unfortunate that the most beautiful religion in the world is now seen as a religion of terror. As in, an average non Muslim now see Muslims as the most dangerous terrorists in the World. This, unfortunately, is the image portrayed by the Western media houses who have one of the widest coverage in terms of news. But, thank God for such new media outlets like Aljazeera that has come to limelight to set the records straight. This had reduced a bit...at least, it's no longer taking the viral nature it once had. Alhamdulillah!
Why Are We Considered A People of Terror?
When you take a good look at what is happening in the Middle East, first between the Israel government and the Palestinians, you may want to agree with them. But ever since Aljazeera had come to the rescue, people have begun to see things in their true light. The same can be said about the activities of Taliban and AlQaeda of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Boko Haram saga is a little bit different just as the ISIS. These two have no noble mission at all. Unlike the Taliban and the AlQaeda who (were freedom fighters that broke out of the Soviet Union and) were tagged terrorists so as to get the masses to approve their annihilation, the Bokos and the ISIS have no basis for their activities. But, sadly, the suicide bombing tactics that all of them had adopted in war fare is TOTALLY PROHIBITED IN ISLAM. ISLAM FORBIDS SUICIDE!
The sheer terror they induce in people's hearts when they strike had rightly earned them the Terrorist tag. In as much as terrorism is alien to Islam and Muslims, the fact that these aforementioned groups are Muslims who are convinced that they are waging war in the Name of Islam and for Allah, had made all that are dressed in Arabian attire or are Islamically dressed seen as an active or potential terrorist.
But, How Can People Be This Gullible???
The Media. The Media which, until the Emergence of Aljazeera, was predominantly owned by Westerners, had successfully brain washed their audience all over the world to believing these fake stories. This was the case with Africa too. Africa was seen as a land that's full of poor, disease infested and hungry miserable people. This was the case until when international TV channels in Nigeria, South Africa among other African countries started telling the stories as they truly are.
Every time they had to talk about Islam or Muslims, it had to be a negative violent story. Here too, in Nigeria, if not till very recently, Nigerian media houses were also in the business of portraying Islam in negative light. Things got so bad that a Muslim who was dressed in a White Jalabia with a heavy beard was seen as a potential terrorist in a village in Akwa Ibom state that people that were having a chat in front of their home started scampering for safety on spotting the approaching man!
It was funny but, at the same time quite unfortunate and sad. This was a Corps member that was going to invite them to a public lecture about Islam. Before he approached them, they ran for their dear lives!
So, What Can We Do About It???
Firstly, we must stand FIRM in Religion. We must seek more knowledge about our religion and find out if truly, Islam is what it has been portrayed to be. Then, we find out the true nature of Islam and we must be ready to tell the world about the Beauty of Islam and why everyone should be a Muslim.
A second one on our 'MUST TO DO' list is to be ready to make sacrifices and practice our religion to the letter. From my little knowledge of Islam, it's true beauty is in the practice of the Religion not in preaching it. It's such a holistic way of life that enhance the unity and peaceful existence that the World desire today. As a matter of fact, I have found that Islam thrives a lot better when during the time of peace than during the time of war. Hence, the Bokos, AlQaedea, Taliban, ISIS and what have you are all wrong about Islam. In fact, I want to believe they are what they are out of ignorance!
We Must All Learn More and Practice Islam as Enshrined in the Kitaab Wassunnah
There's a verse in the Quran that stated clearly that there's no compulsion in Islam. Another verse went further by warning against taking all non-Muslims as enemies when it said that if God had wished, we would all be His obedient servants. One more verse, the verse says that no one can make anyone believe except God Almighty. When you read and meditate deeply on these verses, you'll understand vividly the difference between the principles of Islam and those of the aforementioned terrorist groups. Yes, they may be Muslims, but they do NOT represent the Muslims as their activities are in contradictory to Islamic Tenets and Beliefs.
As a Muslim, you need to know more about your religion and propagate its beauty as far as you can. Thank God for the Social Media, you don't need to spend heavily to get things done all you need do is write and publish a beautiful post about Islam everyday for your thousands of friends online. Everyone should do this even if you are not an Islamic scholar. The World need to understand that Muslims are not terrorists and by your character, they'll understand that Islam is a universal religion that everyone should adopt!
Salaam.
Why Are We Considered A People of Terror?
When you take a good look at what is happening in the Middle East, first between the Israel government and the Palestinians, you may want to agree with them. But ever since Aljazeera had come to the rescue, people have begun to see things in their true light. The same can be said about the activities of Taliban and AlQaeda of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Boko Haram saga is a little bit different just as the ISIS. These two have no noble mission at all. Unlike the Taliban and the AlQaeda who (were freedom fighters that broke out of the Soviet Union and) were tagged terrorists so as to get the masses to approve their annihilation, the Bokos and the ISIS have no basis for their activities. But, sadly, the suicide bombing tactics that all of them had adopted in war fare is TOTALLY PROHIBITED IN ISLAM. ISLAM FORBIDS SUICIDE!
The sheer terror they induce in people's hearts when they strike had rightly earned them the Terrorist tag. In as much as terrorism is alien to Islam and Muslims, the fact that these aforementioned groups are Muslims who are convinced that they are waging war in the Name of Islam and for Allah, had made all that are dressed in Arabian attire or are Islamically dressed seen as an active or potential terrorist.
But, How Can People Be This Gullible???
The Media. The Media which, until the Emergence of Aljazeera, was predominantly owned by Westerners, had successfully brain washed their audience all over the world to believing these fake stories. This was the case with Africa too. Africa was seen as a land that's full of poor, disease infested and hungry miserable people. This was the case until when international TV channels in Nigeria, South Africa among other African countries started telling the stories as they truly are.
Every time they had to talk about Islam or Muslims, it had to be a negative violent story. Here too, in Nigeria, if not till very recently, Nigerian media houses were also in the business of portraying Islam in negative light. Things got so bad that a Muslim who was dressed in a White Jalabia with a heavy beard was seen as a potential terrorist in a village in Akwa Ibom state that people that were having a chat in front of their home started scampering for safety on spotting the approaching man!
It was funny but, at the same time quite unfortunate and sad. This was a Corps member that was going to invite them to a public lecture about Islam. Before he approached them, they ran for their dear lives!
So, What Can We Do About It???
Firstly, we must stand FIRM in Religion. We must seek more knowledge about our religion and find out if truly, Islam is what it has been portrayed to be. Then, we find out the true nature of Islam and we must be ready to tell the world about the Beauty of Islam and why everyone should be a Muslim.
A second one on our 'MUST TO DO' list is to be ready to make sacrifices and practice our religion to the letter. From my little knowledge of Islam, it's true beauty is in the practice of the Religion not in preaching it. It's such a holistic way of life that enhance the unity and peaceful existence that the World desire today. As a matter of fact, I have found that Islam thrives a lot better when during the time of peace than during the time of war. Hence, the Bokos, AlQaedea, Taliban, ISIS and what have you are all wrong about Islam. In fact, I want to believe they are what they are out of ignorance!
We Must All Learn More and Practice Islam as Enshrined in the Kitaab Wassunnah
There's a verse in the Quran that stated clearly that there's no compulsion in Islam. Another verse went further by warning against taking all non-Muslims as enemies when it said that if God had wished, we would all be His obedient servants. One more verse, the verse says that no one can make anyone believe except God Almighty. When you read and meditate deeply on these verses, you'll understand vividly the difference between the principles of Islam and those of the aforementioned terrorist groups. Yes, they may be Muslims, but they do NOT represent the Muslims as their activities are in contradictory to Islamic Tenets and Beliefs.
As a Muslim, you need to know more about your religion and propagate its beauty as far as you can. Thank God for the Social Media, you don't need to spend heavily to get things done all you need do is write and publish a beautiful post about Islam everyday for your thousands of friends online. Everyone should do this even if you are not an Islamic scholar. The World need to understand that Muslims are not terrorists and by your character, they'll understand that Islam is a universal religion that everyone should adopt!
Salaam.
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