STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO PRACTISE JIHAD

By Parastou Alizadeh

Westminster University’s Islamic society was recently told to practise Jihad - but that does not mean holy war.

A visiting lecturer from UCL, Ammar Nakhsh, told a mainly Muslim audience at the Cavendish Campus to look at ways to improve themselves, adding: “This is the meaning of the greater Jihad.”

Mr Nakhsh encouraged Westminster students to raise awareness for Muslims who suffer in war instead of going to fight with Iraq.

The prolific youth speaker said: "You can not just jump out onto the battlefield. You have to master yourself and look at ways to improve yourself spiritually.

"You have to look in the mirror and ask ‘what is wrong with me?’ It is not enough to pray five times a day and fast during Ramadan."

He then went on to criticise Muslim students who were more concerned about their cars, clothes and obtaining high degrees such as medicine rather than improving themselves. He said that if more Muslims were to study subjects such as journalism then they could raise awareness of important issues.