This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during any discussion on religion or world affairs. Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated in every form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation about Islam and Muslims. Infact, such misinformation and false propaganda often leads to discrimination and acts of violence against Muslims. A case in point is the anti- Muslim campaign in the American media following the Oklahoma bomb blast, where the press was quick to declare a ‘Middle Eastern conspiracy’ behind the attack. The culprit was later identified as a soldier from the American Armed Forces. Let us analyze this allegation of ‘fundamentalism’:

Definition of the word ‘fundamentalist’

A fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals of the doctrine or theory he is following. For a person to be a good doctor, he should know, follow, and practise the fundamentals of medicine. In other words, he should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine. For a person to be a good mathematician, he should know, follow and practise the fundamentals of mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of mathematics. For a person to be a good scientist, he should know, follow and practise the fundamentals of science. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of science.

Not all ‘fundamentalists’ are the same

One cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. One cannot categorize all fundamentalists as either good or bad. Such a categorization of any fundamentalist will depend upon the field or activity in which he is a fundamentalist. A fundamentalist robber or thief is a bad person since he causes harm to the society. A fundamentalist doctor, on the other hand, is a good person as he benefits the society.

I am proud to be a Muslim fundamentalist

I am a fundamentalist Muslim who, by the grace of Allah, knows, follows and strives to practise the fundamentals of Islam. A true Muslim does not shy away from being a fundamentalist. I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim because, I know that the fundamentals of Islam are beneficial to humanity and the whole world. There is not a single fundamental of Islam that causes harm or is against the interests of the human race as a whole. Many people have misconceptions about Islam and consider several teachings of Islam to be unfair or improper. This is due to misinformation and incorrect knowledge of Islam. Moreover, many observe the teachings of Islam only superficially or out of context. If one critically analyzes the teachings of Islam with an unbiased and open mind, one has to agree that Islam is the best way of life.

Dictionary meaning of the word ‘fundamentalism’

According to Webster’s dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ was a movement in American Protestanism that arose in the earlier part of the 20th century. It was a reaction to modernism, and stressed the infallibility of the Bible, not only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record. It stressed on belief in the Bible as the literal word of God. Thus fundamentalism was a word initially used for a group of Christians who believed that the Bible was the verbatim word of God without any errors and mistakes.

Definition of ‘fundamentalist’ according to Oxford Dictionary

When we read the Oxford dictionary, the Oxford dictionary says that, “‘fundamentalist’ is a person who strictly adheres to the ancient or fundamental doctrine of any religion.” But when we read the revised edition of the Oxford Dictionary, there’s a slight change, it says, “‘fundamentalist’ is a person who strictly adheres to the ancient scriptures or fundamentals of any religion, especially Islam” “Especially Islam” has been added in the revised edition of Oxford Dictionary. The moment you hear the word fundamentalist, immediately you start thinking of a Muslim.

Every Muslim should be an Extremist

Media says, “Muslims are Fundamentalists, Muslims are Extremists.” And we Muslims are becoming apologetic. No..no..no.. I’m not a fundamentalist. No..no..no.. I’m not an extremist. I say, I’m an extremist. I’m extremely honest, I’m extremely just, I’m extremely kind, I’m extremely merciful, I’m extremely loving. Can anyone tell me why being extremely just, extremely honest, extremely loving, extremely merciful, extremely kind is bad? What’s wrong in being an extremist?

The Qur’an says ‘Be an Extremist’

The Qur’an says you have to be extremely honest. You can’t be partly honest. When it benefits you, you’re honest, when it doesn’t benefit you, you’re dishonest. The Qur’an says you have to be extremely honest, extremely just. If you are a practicing Muslim you have to be extremely kind, extremely honest, extremely just. We have to be extremist in the correct direction. We should not be extremist in the wrong direction. But a Muslim should be extremist in following the Qur’an. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 208,

O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.

So why are the Muslims becoming apologetic? The Media is attacking Islam and unfortunately we Muslims are afraid. We have the best Deen, but why are we afraid? Why are we apologetic? It’s time that we turn the tables over.

Jihaad is not Holy War

Most of the Non-Muslims including many so called ‘Muslim Scholars’, they translate Jihaad as ‘Holy War’. If you translate ‘Holy War’ into Arabic it means ‘Harbum Muqaddasah’. If you read the Qur’an or the Hadith, there is neither a single Qur’anic verse nor a Hadith, which uses the word ‘Harbum Muqaddasah’. The word ‘Holy War’ neither exists in the Qur’an nor in the Hadith.

Qitaal

Jihaad as I mentioned basically means to strive and struggle. One type of Jihaad is also fighting in the way of Allah (swt), that is Qitaal in the way of Allah (swt). But Jihaad doesn’t basically mean a War. There are various types of Jihaad like Jihaad bin Nafs – striving and struggling against our own evil inclinations, also one type of Jihaad is fighting in self defense in the way of Allah (swt).

The word ‘Jihaad’ revealed multiple times in Makkah, but no war

in Makkah If we see the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the first thirteen years of his Prophethood that he lived in Makkah, there were many Qur’anic verses that were revealed in Makkah and many a time in these verses the word ‘Jihaad’ was used and never did the Muslims ever physically fight. Only when they migrated to Madinah did the War take place. But yet you find the word ‘Jihaad’ in several verses of the Qur’an, which were revealed in Makkah. For example the Qur’an says, Surah Al Ankaboot, Chapter No. 29, Ayah No. 69, that "..those who strive In Our (cause), - We will certainly guide them to Our paths, for Verily Allah is with those who do right." When this verse was revealed there was no war at that time. Qur’an says in Surah Al Furqaan, Chapter No. 25, Ayah No. 52, that, “Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness with the (Qur’an).” That means you do Jihaad with the Qur’an. Jihaad with the Qur’an means to strive to convey the message of Allah (swt). Do you think you are going to fight with the Qur’an?

Killing any innocent human being is prohibited in Islam

One verse of the Qur’an is sufficient to prove that killing any innocent human being is strictly prohibited in Islam. It’s mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an, Surah Al Maa’idah, Chapter 5 Ayah 32, Allah says, “…If any one killed a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed the whole of humanity: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole of humanity…” If you read the scriptures of the other religions, you will not find any verse similar or close to the above verse of the Qur’an, which says, “If you kill one innocent human being it is as if you have killed the whole of humanity and if you save one human being it is as if you have saved the whole of humanity.”

Media maligns, brainwashes and dictates minds of people

The misconception regarding this word ‘Jihaad’ is created by the Media. This word ‘Jihaad’ wasn’t a problem a couple of decades earlier. After 9/11 it came on top of the charts, Number one. Previously it wasn’t there. So depending upon how the Media portrays Islam, these misconceptions arise in the minds of the Non-Muslims.

Most misunderstood word – ‘Jihaad’

The first, number one misconception regarding Islam, the top of the charts is regarding Jihaad. Today Jihaad is the most misunderstood word regarding Islam. It is not only misunderstood by the Non-Muslims, it is even misunderstood by many of us Muslims. Non-Muslims and many Muslims think that Jihaad means any war fought by any Muslim for any reason, whether it be for power, whether it be for wealth, whether it be for land, whether it be for language, etc. Any war fought by any Muslim for any reason, is called as Jihaad. Jihaad does not mean any war fought by any Muslim for any reason, whether it be for money, whether it be for power, whether it be for land, whether it be for language, etc.

Meaning of Jihaad

‘Jihaad’ is an Arabic word which comes from the word ‘Jahada’ which means to strive, which means to struggle. So Jihaad basically means to strive and struggle. In the Islamic context, Jihaad means to strive and struggle against one’s own evil inclinations. Jihaad also means to strive and struggle to make the society better. Jihaad also means to fight against oppression. Jihaad also means to fight in self defense in the battlefield. So Jihaad basically means to strive and struggle. For example if a student is striving and struggling to pass in the examination, in Arabic we say the student is doing Jihaad. He’s striving and struggling.

Jihaad can also be done by Non-Muslims

Many people have a misconception and they think that Jihaad can only be done by a Muslim. There are no less than two verses in the Qur’an, which say that even Non-Muslims do Jihaad. Surah Luqmaan, Chapter No. 31, Ayah No. 14, “We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to their parents, in travail upon travail the mother bore them and in pain did she give them birth” Immediately after praising the parents, specially the mother, the verse continues… Surah Luqmaan, Chapter No. 31, Ayah No. 15, says that, “But if your parents (do Jihaad), strive and struggle to make you worship somebody else besides Allah (swt) of whom you have no knowledge then don’t obey them but yet live with them with love and compassion”. Here the Qur’an is talking about Non-Muslim parents, doing Jihaad, striving and struggling to make their children do Shirk, worship somebody else besides Allah (swt). A similar message is given in Surah Al Ankaboot, Chapter No. 29, Ayah No. 8, that “We have enjoined on human beings to be kind to the parents but if the parents (do Jihaad), strive and struggle to make them worship somebody else besides Allah (swt) don’t obey them. You all have to return to Me, and I will tell you (the truth) of all that you did.” So here the Qur’an is talking about Non-Muslim parents doing Jihaad.

Continued on second post