Ad misrepresents the Muslim faith

This letter is a response to the paid advertisement on page 7 of the Feb. 1 Chronicle. Initially, it seemed to be a joke, but after visiting the advertised website, www.terrorismawareness.com, we realized that it was too elaborate to be considered thus. The ad certainly wasn't funny; in fact it was offensive and bordered on being blasphemous. We acknowledge the need for terrorism awareness, and if that was the sole purpose of the ad, then its cause should be fully supported. But the ad was an inaccurate depiction of Jihad and manifested a parochial view of Islam. The ad's interpretation of Jihad was that it is anti-American and aims to exterminate all non-Muslims. In quoting terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, the ad does not help to further Americans' understanding of Jihad or Islam. It ignores the real meaning of Jihad, which is the protection and defense of Muslims and Islam and a struggle to lead a moral, virtuous life. In fact, the latter meaning is considered to have been extolled more than any other meaning by Prophet Muhammad. Nowhere in the Qur'an or other holy Islamic literature is there indication that Jihad is a "war against Christians" or a "war against Jews."

There is no doubt that some extremist groups interpret Jihad as truly the extermination of non-Muslims, but this is a grave misconstruction on their part and by highlighting such misconceptions without actually acknowledging them as such, the advertisement has only managed to further perpetuate them. These extremist groups are in no way representative of Islam and the Muslim community at large.

The writers of this letter would like to clarify that they are non-Muslims and therefore have no personal stake in challenging the notion of Jihad as presented in this ad. However, both of us are from Muslim-majority countries and feel that we are able to provide non-partisan and accurate representations of Jihad and Islam in general.

Hwee Boon Goh

Pratt '10

Meera Satiani

Trinity '10