Paper Feedback

Feedbacks on Reading 1 - Michael Livingston

This paper focuses on true meanings of the word “Jihad”, which is very old term and in use since pre-Islamic Arabia. According to hadith and at different locations in the Quran this term means an armed action, which is not an individual action but a formal collaborative effort. If we translate it from Arabic context, then it means to struggle for faith, not by force but in a way that one staying true to his creator at all possible costs. Islamic jurists in the context of Jihad divide people among two categories people who believe on one god and people who do not. This may seem that the Islamic states are in the state continuous war states of other religions. To avoid the situation of continual warfare, Islamic jurists allow negotiations and peace treaties for non-Muslim states. It does not mean that Muslim want to destroy all other expect them as according to Quran they believe the fact “There is no compulsion in religion”. There also exists confusion about the need to bind all non-Muslim states to make a peace treaty. Apart from religion this term Jihad is also used politically. Jihad is used to protect state incase of attach by non-Muslims in which all Muslims participate to implement “sharia”, where they can perform the work and virtuous deed socially. However, this word Jihad has different meanings; some believe it means to fight with one to self control corruption of soul while others believe that to control others. According to Islamic scholars it has several levels to control within being the lowest while holy war being the highest. Through this concept, people fight against their body's desires and would not hesitate to against their desire to live for the greater benefit of Islam.

People think that Al Qaeda might be using term Jihad to justify their operations and believe that it is for the betterment of Islamic states. They believe that their lives should be sacrificed for the greater benefit while others consider it as baseless excuses. People tend to modify or recreate meaning of Jihad according to the situation and need which create overall wrong impression.

Feedback on Reading 2 - Nadonya Janca

This paper examines foundation and growth of Islam and nature of relationships and problems faced by Muslims with the rest of the world. It defines how Soviet Union and Nazis have helped Muslim indirectly despite their differences. It also describes the formation process of “Wahhabism”, its powers and governing jurisdictions. Main reason of its existence is purifying Islam from other modified versions of the religion which includes beliefs and practices which was backed by Jihad. Opposite side of this concept was also discussed, which includes problems caused by followers of this faith and how adversely they are effecting image of Muslim world in the eye of the western world. It also discusses that apart from noticeable contribution initially it is now causing greater damage to the overall Muslim ...