a resolution after global trends

Though Westerners equate jihad with terrorism, Islam teaches Greater Jihad (struggle for personal sanctification) as normative and Lesser Jihad (armed warfare to protect, expand, and purify Islam) as an extreme recourse.

            In order to work toward harmony between the domineering West and hostile Islamic nations, a process of mutual education must take place. As CS Lewis wrote in reference to hostility and judgment between Christians and atheists, “We are usually not thinking about real people whom we know at all, but only about two vague ideas which we have got from novels and newspapers… Unless we come down to brass tacks… we shall only be wasting time.” In a similar way, Westerners and Muslims cannot begin to live in harmony and diplomacy until they take the time to get to know one another personally, ideologically, and religiously. A first step toward this goal could be a proper understanding of jihad as primarily a pursuit of holiness, not a death wish against ‘infidels’. Emphasizing this common desire for peace rather than violence by educating Westerners about the true teachings of Islam will further cooperation, erode hostility, decrease prejudice, and calm terror between the West and the Islamic peoples.

Having spent part of my childhood in Kosovo, I grew up amid the tensions of Kosovar Muslims embittered against Serbian Orthodox Christians after their barbarous agenda of ethnic cleansing during the war. Seeing firsthand that Christian and Muslim extremist “holy wars” have caused both religions to be perceived as fundamentally violent has instilled in me a desire to work toward reconciliation and understanding.

I want to have intentional discussions about prejudice and combating misperceptions from which prejudice results, but that must start with my own personal commitment to tackle my own misperceptions. Therefore, I commit to reading part of the Qur’an by the end of this semester.