In defence of Islam

I am a Muslim and I read the article “Asra Nomani: I’m a Muslim and I voted for Trump” published in the Herald. I found it interesting and read it a couple of times. I agree with some of the contents and disagree with some.

There has been a term used in this article, “liberal Muslim”, which in my opinion is a term which is her personal choice but it indicates liberal Islam is something good or better than simple “Islam”. Then she goes on to say “extremist Islam”, which is offensive towards all Muslims; she could have said extremism or extremist Muslims.

In a nutshell, like any other Muslim I disagree with many aspects of this article but at the same time I agree with her reasons to vote for Donald Trump. If I was an American I would have most likely done the same despite the fact that I strongly disagree with Trump’s elections policies against Muslims. Policies like making a database for all American Muslims, banning Muslims from entering the US and so forth.

Why do we always hear “Islamic terrorists” or “Islamic extremists” did something, but extremists shooting students in a university are not defined according to their religion? War in Syria is a political rather than a religious problem, but it is always portrayed that it is because of Islam. I would term that as the interest of many countries in the Syrian and Iraqi oil.

The barbaric actions of these extremists are termed as Islamic by the world media and politicians to sell their interests and are an injustice to the peaceful religion of Islam.

I just want to quote one reference from the Koran and I would like it to be shared on the NZ Herald to show the real side of Islamic teachings. There is nothing so peaceful and loving as this: “Whoever kills a person [unjustly] . . . it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.” ( Koran, 5:32) The above verse clearly denies all the barbaric actions of these extremists in Syria, Iraq or anyone in this world.

I am one of the Muslims who believe in true Islam which represents over one fifth of the world’s population and I am a peaceful, loving citizen of this civilisation. I stand at the forefront to condemn any act of extremism.

Najam Ul Islam, Ellerslie.