The Jihadi movement is one that really began out of the Quran with the well-known pillar of Jihad. What many don’t know is that there are two jihads one that is the battle to expand Islam and to fight against those who persecute it and the jihad around fighting against temptation or ill thoughts within yourself to assure that you are upholding the correct values. There has been a lot more media coverage of the lesser jihad and it has become known as the face of the jihadi movement often with extremist as the banner of this face. Sadly, this has misrepresented the way that the Jihadi movement has come to be known especially in recent generations with movements in the 70’s that advocated for less westernization and a rebel groups that wanted sharia law to be the prominent governing force over the countries they live in and see the need to have a jihad against the way the western countries have been able to influence their culture as well as the attacks and history they have had with hurting many of these cultures. Al Queada and ISIS are good examples of the understanding that currently goes along with the jihadi movement.
Sharia law is the foundations put in place in the Quran as the pillars of how to be a practicing Muslim. Rather than thinking of it like rules or laws it is more a set of values presented as the way to live a full Islamic life. Sharia law gives people a guide to the ways that day to day life is lived from the questions of marriage, divorce, rituals of life and how to deal with the problems. Though this is something that is usually practiced in Middle eastern countries that has not stopped many states from passing legislation that prohibits sharia law much of this shows that there is a lot of fear of Islam in the United States and also a lack of education about Islam and what sharia law truly is. When looking at population of Muslims in America this scare seems even more comical as the percentage of Muslims in America is very low. I think the biggest fear for people is due to misconceptions and sharia’s ties to extremist groups leaving people to believe that this will lead to women who are oppressed or having to lose foods they love, to become part of a terrorist organization. This is sadly because Islam has become misrepresented I the way that it is portrayed in media so therefore people see sharia as the thing that is pushing extremists to be extreme rather than thinking of them as a guiding book such as the ten commandments are for Christianity.
No, I do not agree with the statement that Islamic law is consumed with punishment it is filled with warnings and guides whether you follow them or not there is no direct punishment for you to fear. That was until man got involved much luck other religions once man bends the words to his will and decides what consequences will ensue, he can use religion as his cover. In the movie the stoning of Soraya M it discusses what injustices have happened due to people using Islam as a way to control their people. A woman was wrongly accused of cheating on her husband and when the community Iman was told her sentenced her to death by stoning. On the date marked for her stoning a lot of evidence was gathered to prove her innocence and her husband’s cheating but that did not stop the community members from stoning her to death. When people look to use religion to their advantage the punishments are often deadly but when looking at Islam itself it is a religion that promotes peace and harmony with your neighbors.
The Musawah organization is about working toward the equality for Muslim families and the ability to create strong communities. Having strong communities includes being able to create a community including people who aren’t Muslim as well or in big diverse cities and not facing discrimination as they are an international organization. Musawah is an Arabic term for equality and it is the basis for what this organization stands for. This organization is run and started by Muslim women that aims to create not only a unified space for Muslims but a safe space for all through creating an easy way to create events and make them well known. They have made it very accessible through making the signup very simple to be able to receive information about events.
Resources
“’The Movement Remains,’ Two Scholars Address the Future of Jihadi Culture.” National September 11 Memorial & Museum, https://www.911memorial.org/blog/movement-remains-two-scholars-address-future-jihadi-culture. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.
BBC – Religions – Islam: Jihad. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/beliefs/jihad_1.shtml. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.
CNN, Ralph Ellis and Tony Marco. “Anti-Sharia Groups, Counterprotesters Clash.” CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/10/us/protests-against-sharia-law/index.html. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.
“Home.” Musawah, http://www.musawah.org/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019. The Misrepresentation of Jihad –. 21 July 2015, https://www.connectfutures.org/the-misrepresentation-of-jihad/.
The Stoning of Soraya M.www.imdb.com, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1277737/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.
VICE News. This Is What Life Is Like Under Sharia Law | VICE on HBO. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SPkw-1_rb0. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.
What Is Sharia? 7 May 2014. http://www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-27307249.
Peace Studies 4810 