The World Changed

Popular narrative when the topic of terrorism and Jihad bil saif comes up, goes something like this, 'Islam is a religion of peace. Jihad bil saif is only allowed in self-defense.' It...is...not! You know nothing-like Jon Snow. Islam certainly does not support terrorism, you can't start up Jihad without state's sanction and a lengthy process of deliberation, so terrorists aren't engaged in Jihad within the Islamic sense, but Islam definitely supported imperialism. The rationale behind the imperialism was that even though the people aren't forced to accept Islam as religion, the leaders all over the world should be Muslims, the system Islamic. So the whole world could benefit from the best kind of system. So that the benevolent and superior people could bestow the laws and institutions of the greatest religion upon inferior civilizations. See the resemblance with American Imperialism?

When did that change to the contemporary chant of 'Islam is a religion of peace'? Muslims effectively lost the ability to engage in imperialism with the fall of Ottoman Empire. When you are weak you introduce Monroe Doctrines not Bush Doctrines. That might not be the only cause though, more importantly, the world itself changed after World War II. In the time of Muhammad (P.BU.H.) imperialism was acceptable, every other nation was like that, there was no media. Serious hurdles were created in propagation of beliefs by people very much like Muslims of today. So it was one of the ways to preach Islam. Now the powers use economy to subjugate others, and media to propagate their views. So now, Muslims changed. They had to change.

Starting from Christmas eve throughout the Christmas day I saw Muslims wishing our Christian friends Christmas but at the same time other people posting left and right of how it was a sin to wish people Christmas. There are no Islamic injunctions, as far as I know, stopping Muslims from such a thing. You have to bend, twist, convulse and contort sayings of Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) to interpret them that way. Personally I think if he could allow Christians and Jews to pray in his mosque. He certainly wouldn't stop us from being nice to them especially considering that we recognize Jesus (P.B.U.H.) as a prophet of God.

We tell anyone who would listen, 'Islam actually wanted to abolish slavery itself but couldn't do it because the time wasn't suitable in the era Muhammad (P.B.U.H.). After all Prophet was so kind to them and Islam exhorts believers to free them.' I believe that but if that was the case, wasn't the time not ripe for scads of other things as well? Weighing everything with religion runs the risk of being trapped in religious mumbo jumbo. Its just a few small steps. Don't be nice to them for their belief. Don't talk with them. Make their lives difficult, throw them out of your country and then? Kill them all. Isn't that what terrorists are already doing? Lets join them?!

The world has changed, so should we. Belated merry Christmas to you all.