LAST WORD

Imam: The Imam or the leader of a group of Muslims in ritual prayer (Salah). Praying behind an imam teaches us a lesson that extends to other areas of life as well. It encourages us to wholeheartedly accept a secondary position by acknowledging the leader of the respective field ensuring that society may progress without any hindrance. Developing such thinking requires conscious nurturing and training. Jihad: Jihad means exerting oneself to the utmost to achieve one’s goal. Jihad is essentially a peaceful ideological struggle, striving one’s utmost in submission to God’s will and communicating God’s message to others. Haram and Ja’iz: Haraam refers to things that are forbidden in Islam. Ja’iz refers to those things that are permissible in Islam. Istishhaad: Seeking Martyrdom. Suicide bombing is unlawful in Islam, but the Muslim leaders have given it a good name—istishhaad (seeking martyrdom)— and thus, for their part, legitimized something that is forbidden in Islam. Kalima (Kalimatu ash-Shahadah): The word of testimony. This is the Islamic creed. The recitation of the Kalima of monotheism is to accept the oneness of God and accept Prophet Muhammad as God’s Messenger.