Islam

Submitted by Imam Ahmed Syeed Ali Muhammed (United States), Apr 7, 2008 at 15:20

Thank you claire for the very interesting response. I do treasure my title, but not for power, I treasure it because I'm in the position where I can influence people, to do what is good, and help them to lead good lives.

I know what many Muslims think Jihad means, and I'm no fan of Osama Bin Laden. The way I describe Jihad, is the way I practice it. I may be the only Muslim who does, which I doubt, but it's what I believe. It's gotten me through alot in my personal life. What's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander. You might not find something good in Islam, and that's fine, it's as the Qur'an says 'Let those who believe, believe, and those who disbelieve, disbelieve.'

I'm not out to convert people. I'm just trying to get people to focus on how I, and Muslims who believe like me practise Islam. It's a war of two different faiths. The Islam I practice, and the Islam they (Terrorists) practice. Which would you rather? The Islam I practice says women should be respected, and treated equal to men, that they can do whatever they want provided it's pleasing to God. That Girls have the right to an education.

What did I see in Islam. I saw brotherly love. My first visit to a Mosque, was just out of curiosity, but the Muslims there didn't treat me like an outsider, some of them even invited me to thier homes. And There was no pressure to become Muslim. I wasn't automatically given the title Imam. That came much later, after I started a Muslim Newsletter here, I was going to go to school for Criminal Justice, but later changed it to a B.A. in Islamic Studies.

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