Ask any sensible Muslim, and he too, will disagree with the rise of Islamic militancy, notorious for the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, carried out under the banner of jihad, or a holy war.

A jihad is to re-purify the Arab world, the Muslims' holy lands from the presence and influence of "Western infidels." Same goes with the suicide bombings in Palestine, waged by terrorist groups in the name of jihad, to oppose the Israeli occupation. So much bloodshed, so much pain, so much anguish, and definitely so much death.

Like many Malaysian Muslims, we too oppose some of the practices of the Western world, particularly the US and its pro-Israeli foreign policies. We too condemn the lack of sympathy to the plight of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, in Chechnya, in Bosnia, in Afghanistan and most recently in Iraq. While we may not necessarily agree with some of the modus operandi of our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in these countries, we sympathize and we understand.

But after reading this article Medical teams for Iraq when there is peace: Minister , and another, Internet Threat over Muslim Force for Iraq , I must say I am enraged to know that these Islamic militants now hate the Islamic state of Malaysia too, just for saying it would send a military medical unit to assist with humanitarian relief efforts in Iraq.

So much for jihad, then.

It is a well-known fact that the rise of Islamic insurgents and militancy in our world today can be attributed to the presence and influence of Western forces in the Middle East. Palestine-Israel remains an unsolved conflict and Iraq remains a hostile ground featuring the battles between Islamic militants and the occupying troops. As a Muslim myself, and if you too imagine yourself in these people's shoes, it is not impossible to understand why suicide bombings and vicious attacks on Western targets in the Middle East have become so common, especially in retaliation and response to the policy and political malpractices of the Western world.

Unfortunate turn of events

When there is too much despair, and all hope is lost, it is easy to succumb to the temptations of vengeance. Islamic terrorists today fight in response to all of the above troubling issues plaguing the Muslim world, using guerilla tactics and suicide bombings, illustrating the hate against "Western infidels" and justifying it under the pretext of jihad or holy war.

While the tears of the Muslim world have yet to dry from the Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed, we now grieve for the unfortunate turn of events that have enveloped the Muslim nation of Iraq. Death, many. Injured, too many. It has been a very sad few years for us now, and things don't look too good on the horizon either.

But when Islamic militants list Malaysia, my country, as one of their enemies for wanting to send a medical team to assist with humanitarian relief of our own Muslim brothers and sisters, I am very much enraged. For years now, the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Muslim nations have been lambasted for the lack of action towards the plight of Muslims in war-affected and hostile regions.

Yet, when we choose to play a more pro-active role in providing medical relief to needy Iraqis, and when Western involvement in such regions could be kept to a minimum, you hate us. When we choose to send in Muslim peacekeeping forces (eg. Pakistan), you kill us, your very own Muslim brothers. When we choose to be more active in rebuilding your country, another Muslim nation, you kidnap us and threaten to kill us; something I rightfully believe you are capable of doing.

Do you hate the "Western infidels"? Or are you out there to get anybody, even the Muslim nations rightfully concerned and sincere in providing humanitarian relief?

Jihad, I believe is a holy war, meant to be waged on the enemies of Islam. But when it is used as a pretext to kill even Muslims, on the basis of "co-operating with the infidels", it is no more jihad. It is no more a holy war. It is nothing more than a terrible crime, and simply amounts to terrorism.

It is in fact, murder.

To help Iraqis

Malaysia is not there to assist the Western world with what ever agenda it has in store for Iraq; it is there to help Iraqis who are in dire need of medical attention. It is there to extend a helping hand of one Muslim nation to another during a troubled period. It is there to ease the lives of many Iraqis that have been gravely affected by the war.

If a jihad is launched upon us, Malaysians and other Muslim nations who come to Iraq with much sincere goodwill to provide humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people, victims of the war, the Almighty God shall strike you with His mighty iron fist, for you just committed the sin of murdering a fellow Muslim.

This is not jihad, for it is unholy. The Muslim world should now understand that Islamic militancy and Islamic extremism are not icons of resistance against Western imperialists, nor it is a just cause worthy of our support. We Muslims believe that jihad is not merely fighting using an iron fist, a sword or even guns. Jihad also represents the intellectual, mental, and spiritual fight to empower Muslims and Muslims nations, and restoring the honor and dignity of Islam.

One should never fight fire with fire. Killing and more killing will never solve the problems Muslims face in these parts of the world; it would only worsen it.

Former Malaysian premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad once said, "Over the past 50 years of fighting in Palestine, we have not achieved any result. We have in fact worsened our situation."

So much for jihad, then.

HAFIDZ ISMAIL is a final year student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, USA.