Comm406 Favorite Ad

 

#MyJihad is an ad campaign that first caught my attention because of my newfound interest in Indian culture, religion, and the disputes therein. An Indian cinema course I took last semester opened my eyes to the reality of Islam and the often wrong stereotypes surrounding the religion and those who practice it (Muslims). #MyJihad is aimed at "Taking Back Islam from Muslim and anti-Muslim extremists alike" through several different media types, their foremost being bus ads in major cities such as Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco. Those behind the campaign are also reaching out on Twitter by asking their followers to tweet and retweet their Jihads with the hashtag MyJihad. Their goal is to have their voices heard in order to educate those who believe that Jihad is something claimed and used by extremists only. #MyJihad can also be found on Facebook and YouTube. They also have live speaking events and other initiatives.

Jihad for a lot of uneducated people, particularly following the aftermath of September 11th, 2001, was seen as a negative word used by the terrorists, but for most Muslims, Jihad (translated: "struggling in the way of God") is a way of looking at life's struggles as something to overcome through peace, compassion, goodness, and passion. Muslims, like many who practice religion (and even those who don't), use Jihad as a reason to fight against the obstacles life gives them, whether they be loss, debt, injury, or relationships.

#MyJihad is being recognized by big leaders of the Muslim community, like Imam Mohamed Magid, the president of the Islamic Society of North America, the largest Muslim grassroots organization in North America. There are also many other Jihad-positive campaigns and organizations like #MyJihad, though #MyJihad is the first to really make a public statement through media, like the Grameen Foundation, Celebrate Mercy, and Sabeel Pantry.