ISIS is not a Muslim Terrorist group. They are just a cult of people who commit terroristic attacks in the name of, “Allah.” It is a shame that Islam, a religion whose followers are constantly judged as terrorists, is seen as a philosophy of violence and terror. Muslims do not deserve to be treated like detonating bombs in headscarves.

There is no question whether ISIS is a terrorist group or not, but the assumption that all Muslims are part of a Terrorist regime is a completely false, uneducated judgement.

The religion of Islam is founded by the teachings of Muhammad, who is known as the prophet of their god, Allah. Islam is the largest religion in the world, and those who practice Islam are called Muslims. The word Islam in Arabic means submission, as in being a servant to Allah as well as serving others, which follows many teachings of Muhammad.

Islamic practices are summarized by the Five Pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and alms.  In the Islamic holy book, the Quran, it mentions a, “Jihad” or a, “Holy War” which is where many Islamic extremists get confused.

The word Jihad  has two different roots that add to its meaning. The first is Jihad-e-akbar, meaning to have a war with one self’s sinful inclinations, or a purification of self. The other is, Jihad-e-asghar, meaning sword.

This is where many Islamic extremists take the meaning too literally as opposed to symbolically. A good example of this is in the Quran, passage 2:244,

Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

And again in passage 4:74,

Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward.

So it seems like the religion of Islam supports terrorism, right?

Wrong.

Those two verses were just simply taken out of context. This also appears in the Christian bible, take Proverbs 23:13-14 for example,

Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.  You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol. (New American Standard Bible)

This verse has been taken to limits where some Christian extremists actually beat their child with a rod, or piece of wood. The symbolic meaning of this passage is to instruct your children with the, “rod” of wisdom, and to not let your child live in ignorance, for it will save him from evil in the end.

When the Quran speaks of fighting for, “Allah”, it is referring to the times when Holy Wars were common. However, when it comes to taking in prisoners of war the Quran says to treat them as you would treat yourself, and when the battle is over to return them to their home, unscathed.

This is shown in a saying by Muhammad himself,

O men, you still have in your possession some prisoners of war. I advise you, therefore, to feed them and clothe them in the same way and style as you feed and clothe yourselves…. To give them pain or trouble can never be tolerated.

Doesn’t really sound like ISIS anymore, does it?

Exactly.

Many Muslims are angered by the tarnishment that their religion has gone through because of terrorists attacks. ISIS is simply a group of fanatical individuals who have Muslim names and claim to practice Islam.

Islam is a religion that exercises peace, hope, harmony, goodwill and brotherhood. It teaches about the high value of human life, whether it is Muslim or Non-Muslim, and forbids the unjust murdering of innocent people. In fact, if you really think about it the philosophy of Islam totally rejects the ideals and actions of terrorism.