A few years ago, an extreme offshoot of al-Qaeda proclaimed itself a caliphate in the Middle East. Today, the entire world has witnessed ISIS commit brutal crimes against humanity, including beheadings and other horrific acts of violence as well as its unlawful seizure and destruction of public and private property in Iraq, Syria and beyond. Because of this, many people think that Islam requires fighting non-Muslims, killing, invading other lands, etc. All these thoughts about Islam are totally wrong.
Islam does not advocate any form of terrorism. Islam is not responsible for any terror operations done by any movements that relates itself to Islam. According to the text mentioned in the Holy Quran, killing a person is like killing all humankind, and saving a person is like saving all humankind. I wonder how could some people think that a religion that includes this text in its religious book is responsible for such crimes. The problem is not Islam itself, but the way people understand Islam and the way Muslims represent Islam. In fact, I think that many people should focus more on what’s the reason behind the spread of terrorism among Muslims, instead of focusing on the religion or country that produces these movements. In other words, they must realize tha...
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...otect themselves against those who try to attack Muslims. Unfortunately, many Islamic extremists all over the Islamic world, especially Saudi Arabia, misunderstand this concept or try to use this concept as a justification to their bad practices against civilians in other western countries. In fact, I would prefer discussing the Lesser Jihad in a separated blog post incorporating Al Qa’eda as a terror movement who interpret Jihad the way they want.
Works cited:
Cook, David. “The Greater Jihad and the Lesser Jihad.” Understanding Jihad. Berkeley and Los Angeles: The Regents of the University of California, 2005. 35-39. Print.
All the stories were very similar, in that they all end the same way. The message, in my opinion, that Atwood was attempting to tell was that there are many different ways to the end. The ideal route to the end that we all wish it is to "have a stimulating and challenging sex life and worthwhile friends... have hobbies which [we] find stimulating and challenging." and eventually die happy and together with the one we love and cherish the most. Most of us know that the odds of this ever happening are very slim, plus when telling a story this version has the potential to be quiet boring. Therefore Atwood analysis life and creates different variations that are presented to you which made you wonder, "What if...", and therefore gives you the reader, the opportunity to look at your life and ask yourself that same question.
... and Jihad According to Islam." HWeb. HWeb, 13 June 2006. Web. 05 Nov. 2013. .
Until the 1660's there weren't any theatres or drama companies left. With the restoration of Charles II, (who was exiled in 1642), in1660, England was brought into the modern age. People became more open and less conservative. The 17th century England questioned the supremacy of God and church. It shifted from heavenliness to earthliness.
The concept of Jihad was not widely known in the western world before the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Since then, the word has been woven into what our media and government feed us along with notions of Terrorism, Suicide Bombings, Hamas, Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, and now, Jihad. Our society hears exhortations resounding from the Middle East calling the people to rise up in Jihad and beat back the imperialist Americans. Yet, if we try to peel back all of these complex layers of information we can we attempt to find out what Jihad really means. Webster’s Dictionary defines Jihad as “a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty or a crusade for a principle or belief” (1). Often, media depicts Jihad in the same manner—as a vicious clash between two very different peoples, each of whom believes that righteousness, and in many cases God, is on their side. From this interpretation and our daily media intake, one may reasonably assume that Jihad refers to nothing more than violent acts, or “holy wars.”
...mbers have used the same words before they committed their suicidal actions. The connections between terrorism and Islam are pointed out clearly when the extremists say that they are waging a “holy war” against their enemies. Extremists have used Islam as a justification to attack churches, Hindu and Buddhist temples. Due to the fact that the terrorist who carried out such criminal and inhumane acts associate himself or herself with Muslim religion, the public comes to view Islam as a severe risk. In reality, only 15% of the 1 billion Muslims are extremists and out of that 15%, only a few engage in terrorist activities. However, most news stories do not focus on the places where things are going right, but on the places where things are going wrong. Due to all this, it is clear that the extremists play a large role in pinning the scarlet letter on Muslims in the US.
...years there has been a lot of nonsense written on the subject of jihad, both by Muslims who have intentionally sought to uphold a specific type of definition of jihad and by academics who are seeking to define Islam and Islamism. The term jihad is said to have derived from the Arabic verbal root jahada, which means to “strive,” to “struggle,” or to “exert oneself,” especially in the path of God. While is it that the the Qur’an makes a distinction between the Greater Jihad, that is a struggle against unbelievers, and the Lesser Jihad, a struggle against ----, many would argue that there are also several distinct categories of jihad that take these definitions a step further. While there are multiple meanings for the word jihad, the fact remains that in all definitions, the term normally refers to an armed struggle against an opposing force. In any event, despite
...s. If we review the story as a whole, we realize that the disquieting effect of the first sentence is heightened as we confront instances of agent disjunction and pronominalization, ambiguity, and diminution. Our positive feelings about Louise's self-assertion are qualified word by word. Although Louise struggles with a few moments of fearful anticipation, her progression toward self-assertion is predicated on "news" and "veiled hints," and she gives herself up to an undefined "something" without stopping to ask if it is or is not a "monstrous joy." As much as we would like to follow her, the route is closed to us. The cumulative experience of the text does not allow such simple complicity.
Unfortunately, her hope for long years and many beautiful spring days was abruptly ended in an ironic twist. Unbeknownst to herself and her company, Mr. Mallard had survived, and within an hour the promises of a bright future for Mrs. Mallard had both began and came to an end. Her grievous death was misconstrued as joy to the others: "they said she had died of heart disease-of joy that kills" (Chopin 471). This statement embodies the distorted misconception that a woman lives only for her man. The audience, in fact, sees just the opposite. To Louise her life was elongated at the news of her husband's death, not cut short. Throughout the story, one hopes Louise will gain her freedom. Ironically, she is granted freedom, but only in death.
Through the years the idea that Islam is an aggressive religion has been developed. This is mainly due to the fact that the word "jihad" -- a very important concept in Islamic faith -- is often misunderstood or its initial meaning is intentionally misrepresented. From the very beginning of Islamic invasion in Europe a sense of devotion to the religion was instilled in the Muslim soldiers and believers. Religion was a really important part of their lives. The soldiers were taught to die for Allah in their holy war against unbelievers -- this was the so-called jihad. However, if one examines thoroughly the Quran, the saint book for Muslims, he/she will find that jihad carries a completely different meaning -- this is an internal struggle with oneself for achievements in a certain filed or, simply, for self-improvement. Even though most Islamic believers know what jihad really is, there are zealots that still look for excuse for their appalling and inhumane deeds in the abovementioned word. Nowadays, this is still a major problem, especially concerning the...
At the beginning of the story, Josephine, Louise’s sister, attempts to break the news of her husband’s death to her “as gently as possible” so as to not cause heart failure (477). The main concern is that Louise will be so devastated over the loss of her husband, that it will cause a premature death, but a factor that many overlook or don’t expect is Louise’s sudden change of heart and her realization of all the freedom she will gain after Brently’s death.
From the beginning of “The Story of an Hour”, Louise seems to be portrayed as quite a frail woman. Though she is young, we find out that she already has “a heart trouble” which could correspond with some sort of problems in her marriage....
...rs that allows us, as Ian Gregor says, to `walk through' one of his novels. Where Hardy explores a story and we change and develop in our stance towards the characters and the plot as it unfolds before us, James is very much a story teller; we listen and are interested, but the fact that James was very concerned with the form and structure of his novels is significant. It seems to make his works more static and instead of `walking through' we `walk around' his work, rather as one might walk about a room admiring details of decoration. There is little movement or feeling of progress in James' novel and the work seems, to me as to Gregor, already complete. He encapsulates my reaction exactly; `we feel the work has already found its finest reader in the author, in Hardy the reading is still in process'; there is more to read into and more to appreciate with each perusal.
Edgar Allan Poe, John Greenleaf Whittier, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman were the prominent poets of the American Romantic Age. Emerson attitude to life and art was formed mainly from his readings of a variety of philosophical and religious texts. The major influences upon him were the religious thought of New England and related English works, Scottish realism, French and English skepticism, Neo-Platonism as interpreted by the English romantic poets and the German and French idealists, Oriental mystical writings and Yankee pragmatism. The English poets like Milton, Herbert and Donne influenced his use of words and symbols. These poets h...
“The Restoration Period lasted from 1660 to 1700.”(Naeemat). In 1660, old English ways would be replaced with the return of a new king.“The Restoration Period began when Charles II returned to the throne restoring monarchy in England.”(Naeemat). Charles return brought back the monarchy and wiped old rule out of England. Before the Restoation Charles I was beheaded and his son, Charles II, was exiled out of England.”(Naeemat). “Charles lived in France during his exile before returning.”(Naeemat). “When Charles did return, he brought back new values, morals, and a new way of life for the people of England.”(Naeemat). While he lived in France he picked up traits of their culture and introduced them to England under his rule. This sparks change in many different aspects of life among the people of England. Many of these changes are effective in new Restoration literature and theater.
The Restoration period is also known as the Age of Dryden, because Dryden was the dominating and most representative literary figure of the Age. During the restoration, King Charles II was restored to the throne, which marked the beginning of a new epoch in English literature.