The document argues that contemporary jihadism misrepresents true Islam, which has historically promoted peace, and attributes the violent acts of extremists to pre-Islamic tribal customs rather than the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It emphasizes that real Islam denounces the killing of innocents and criticizes radical Islamists for claiming various acts of violence as jihad, even when the perpetrators are not Muslim. The author calls for a return to true Islamic principles that emphasize rational thought and common sense over barbaric traditions.

1. Barbarian Jihadism, the 21st Century disease growing on the body of
Islam!
For the past decade, we have heard the word Jihad endlessly recited by the media. If not for
9/11, created by Bin Laden and his ilk, Islam today would be perceived in the eyes of the world
as just as peaceful as it was for centuries.
However, something has changed in the minds of those who assume they know Islam
better than those of us who practice it in peace and preach what Prophet wanted us to
learn and teach.
The barbaric practices that people like Bin Laden proclaim as Islam existed long before
the Prophet Mohammad brought true Islam. It was not called Islam. It was simply the
barbaric traditions of nomads of the Arabian Peninsula, which included beheading,
cutting throats, killing innocent people because of tribal revenge, burying young women
alive and cutting off ears and noses. If you have not seen these images, let me remind you
of a recent example. Last year, a young Afghan woman whose nose was cut off because
she fled an abusive husband, became a Time magazine cover story.
In 2011, sixteen Pakistani men were shot and killed in revenge for what the Taliban
called “justice”; an eye-for-an-eye slaughter as retribution for the accidental killing of six
children.
In Norway, a psychotic Christian man, a lone wolf, killed more than eighty youth at their
camp and seven more in the Oslo bombing. The Jihadist site announced this as a victory
without even knowing whether it was related to Jihad. Radical Islamists considered this
as an act of Jihad while, in fact, it was an anti-Islamic act.
Interestingly enough, Jihadists in African countries do not allow foreign aid to reach
millions of people dying of famine and yet they claim the delusional act of a radical
Christian lone wolf a Jihad.
Such irrational acts can only be described as ignorant and barbaric. The perpetrators try
to justify ill chosen atrocities killing innocents as necessary to achieve some perceived
end. In real Islam, this is by no means a Jihad.
The deliberate killing of innocent children by anyone, Christian or Muslim, is murder,
pure and simple. Sixteen innocent Pakistani men are murdered and their deaths
broadcast as being no different than when barbaric Arabs hung the bodies of their
enemies at the gates of ancient cities as an example of their power and a warning to the
survivors. The executioners admitted there was no evidence their victims were involved
in the deaths of the six children, which, in the eyes of some, may have mitigated the
executions. They were instead random victims of opportunity in the wrong place at the
wrong time. There is no justice here. This is purely murder in the eyes of Islam. Those
who were killed are considered Martyrs and those who killed are considered murderers
by any standard of real Islam; not the fake Islam practiced by Al Qaeda and other radical
Islamists.

2. It is interesting that the jihadist site assumed the brutal act of a psychopathic lone wolf is
a Jihad; considering he is not a Muslim. Therefore, according to Islam, this is not
considered Jihad because Jihad can only be done by Muslims. And yet, when non-
Muslim aide workers try to help the poor and destitute starving in Africa, the Al-Quida
affiliated radical Islamic group, al-Shabab, denies the resulting incipient genocide and
says they can’t accept donations from non-Muslims.
Interestingly enough, every Sheikh and radical Islamist leader makes deals and money
exchanges with non-Muslims but, now that hungry Muslims need to be fed, this group
rejects help from “infidels.”
This type of behavior was common before Prophet Mohammed when the tribe leader
would prevent his tribe from accepting food or water from those tribes not in his favor.
The purpose of this article was for you to know that the behavior you now see portrayed
in every continent as Islam goes back to a pre-Islam era. It is tribal custom and behavior
which, according to true Islam, is decidedly un-Islamic. Muslims can’t put traditions
ahead of our faith. Unfortunately, at the current moment it is the other way around.
For better understanding, I present a parable: If you want to build a log cabin in the
mountains and employ a succession of axe man who are very good at cutting down trees
but do not know how to build a cabin, you will soon find yourself with no cabin and a
mountain barren of large trees with only small trees left standing. These axe men, acting
as the leaders of Islam, have been one of the deadliest diseases on the body of Islam.
They are destroying our faith and reverting to the barbarism of their ancestors before
Prophet put an end to their horrific behavior.
Your understanding of Islam must contain one important element. If those who call
themselves practicing Muslim do not follow common sense their Islam is questionable.
The very basic rules of Islam contain thinking and common sense, so much so it has been
said by Prophet: One minute of deep thinking has more value in the eyes of our Creator
than seventy years of prayer just to be a follower.
Ghazal Omid
A Practicing Muslim, Shi’a Islam Scholar…