Yogyakarta, (Antara) - India's Muslim scholar Zakir Naik expects all Muslims to become good agent for Islam and other religions.
"Whoever spreads peace and follows Islam properly is a Muslim agent," Naik said when giving a lecture at Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta, here, Monday.
At public lecture entitled "Religion As An Agent of Mercy and Peace", he said Islam today has shown a very rapid development compared to other religions.
"Islam derives from a word 'salaam', meaning a religion of peace, yet many people still misunderstand about Islam as they identify it as a religion of jihad and fundamentalism," he said.
According to Naik, people who use both words do not know the real meanings. He added the September 11, 2001 attack, Muslims in the United States are increasingly isolated, and Islam adheres to a fundamentalist religion and jihad.
He added that after the September 11, 2001 attack, Muslims in the United States are increasingly isolated, and Islam is attached to fundamentalism and jihad.
That image is often used by international media without knowing the true meaning of the terms.
"According to the Oxford dictionary, fundamentalists means strongly holding the teachings of religion, especially in understanding Islam. Anyone can be an Muslim fundamentalists, but do not be misguided," he said.
Besides fundamentalist, he said, the meaning of jihad is still regarded as something bad. Jihad is not war as it has often been interpreted, especially by the international media.
"Jihad derives from a word of 'jahadah' which means striving in earnest to be a good Muslim agents," he said.
According to Naik, jihad is not only carried out by Muslims alone, but it can also be done by non-Muslims as long as they are sincerely and striving to spread peace.
"It is a duty for all Muslims to discard misperception about Islam," Naik asserted.(*)
