Muslim Student Association event aims to eliminate misconception of jihad

As part of Islam Awareness Month, UCF's Muslim Student Association hosted the event "What is Jihad?" with keynote speaker Dr. Ali Shehata this Tuesday in the communications building.

"There are so many misconceptions about our religion, but by raising awareness about Islam through education and one another, we can reach a mutual benefit," said Abdullah Sabowi, an officer with MSA.

Shehata, an emergency room physician, teacher of Islamic studies at the AlMaghrib Institute and former president of MSA at UCF, said the meaning of jihad is one of the most misunderstood issues.

"The linguistic definition is to strive, to labor, to toil," said Shehata, "basically to make a big effort."

Shehata used Lance Armtstrong as an example of someone who would be considered a person who wages in jihad because he pushes himself to the limit in cycling.

"It is very important to understand that in the Arabic language, there is zero connotation for the word jihad to be used as an initiating event. It is always repelling and it is always defensive and responding to someone else in the Arabic language," said Shehata.

According to Shehata, Muslim and Christian neighbors in Egypt acted as human shields for one another last month after extremists bombed the Christian's church, and that event was an accurate portrayal of Muslim beliefs, contrary to the fearful myths adopted by those who do not understand Islam or bother to truly educate themselves.

Shehata said that examples that illuminate truths about Islam and defy misconceptions are rare to find on major news networks.

Shehata also said that real life actions, like protecting the Coptic Christians so they could attend mass on January 7, are in accordance with Islamic teachings, which instruct followers to never kill innocents or harm another because of their religion.

Sabowi said that it is critical for people to learn Islam from Muslims themselves and understand the difference between extremists and practicing Muslims.

Mohamed Abdulle, vice president of MSA at Valencia College, said that the two student groups work together to spread awareness and the biggest problem is that people don't bother to search for more information than what is television news.

"I came tonight to personally educate myself, too," said Abdulle.

Shehata said that terrorism has no religion, and people have used religion to justify murder and to manipulate and control others.

Despite that Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh identified himself as a Christian, along with Adolf Hitler, Shehata pointed out that neither of their identities were used to characterize the entire religion like Islamic extremists have been.

Shehata said the root of misconceptions about Islam stem from three things: incorrect use of source information, the use of unacceptable or rejected sources, and the lack of comprehensive knowledge.

According to Shehata, taking phrases out of the contextual background of which the Quran was written what helps breed false conclusions.

Scholars have studied the Quran and other religious texts for years to obtain a detailed understanding.

"I can't be a Christian scholar right now because I just read the Gospel of Matthew," said Shehata.