IS IT ISLAM THAT KILLS?

Terrorism, in the 21st century, is something that has not only shaken up all parts of the world but also has it brought bad name to the Muslims. People all the world over abuse the religion for giving birth to people who spread terror and kill innocents. And on top of that a new radical Muslim group springs up every now and then. But let us think about it rationally. Does all these incidents actually make the religion or so to say the the Quran a piece of shit?

Consider a group of people forming a new radical group going about saying that their religion asks them to kill people, that their religion asks them to fight against the innocent. Does that mean we start believing that there is problem in the religious scripts of that religion? Anybody can claim anything, but we have been gifted with a mind which is supposed to be used rationally and not just follow arbitrary nincompoops.

It is also baffling to see that whenever a terrorist attack takes place the media all over uses the very word 'muslim' or 'Islamic' to prefix a radical group. Some might argue that the terrorist outfits itself use the name of Islam to spread terror. I would like to route them to my question which I asked before- Does that actually put the religion at fault? No religion advocates violence in direct sense. Yes, true, that the Quran in several verses have asked Muslims to fight. But it has never asked people to fight against innocents. What it has always asked is to do Jihad. Jihad means to thrive. In order to thrive against the evil you must fight it out and if necessary kill the evil. In going against one who is spreading mischief on Earth I find no wrong. Even Sri Krishna in the Gita had asked Arjuna to fight against his brothers as it was a battle against the wrong doers. Sri Krishna actually asked Arjuna to engage into Jihad. So do we start calling Hinduism a platform for terrorism? Certainly not. And in not doing so we must also appreciate that even Islam does not mean terrorism.

Some might counter me here by saying that in the eyes of the terrorists, what they are doing, is an attempt to eradicate evil from the face of the world. So, am I trying to say that the terrorist groups are actually doing good? And in saying so am I, in any way, trying to aid the so called Jihadists? No silly! Use your brain and debate rationally against the product of your unused gray matter.

I once faced an incident where a person half quoted 9:5 of Quran. Let me now show you how dangerous it was.

The person quotes:

But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)

And I got scared that how on Earth can a script ask his men to stay in ambush to kill. The person who quoted this actually wanted me to believe that the Quran advocates violence. I quickly referred to the particular verse and here's what I found:

But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

So this person had actually half quoted to suit his purpose. What followed in the next verse now came to my aid to counter this person. This is what Quran in 9:6 says:

And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not.

What I want to establish is that some people half quote or misquote the Quran and people start following that. But why not refer to the verses itself? I have also come across people who say that I talk like the Islamic websites who want people to believe in the words of Allah. I simply reply to them by saying that I follow no popular religion. My religion is not to follow the negative aspects of a religion or the negatives spread by the people in the name of some religion. I have also come across people who say that they have no wish to read the Quran and try to find out what the verses actually say. To them I say then please do not abuse the religion or the book. If you do not want to know what's inside and follow the people who wrongly use the name then brother I am sorry I would have to call you a forceful wisher of calling a religion bad for no particular reason.

My simple point is why tag a person by his religion only because he uses it's name to do wrong? Simply tag that person as a wrong doer. Now again someone might counter me here by saying that terrorists are Muslims. Yes my brother I accept that they are by birth Muslims, a true Muslim at birth but they who do not follow the Quran while growing up does not remain a Muslim even though he/she uses the name of Islam. If yet someone likes to counter me I would again find it my pleasure to route them to my question which I had asked before- Does that actually put the religion at fault?

Its my humble request to all, please do not tag a person by his religion. Tag him as good or bad. That serves the purpose enough. And if at all my words seem biased, please go through the verses of all the well known religions and see how similar all of them are.

May peace prevail all over the world.