Conservatives are lashing out at Muslim activist Linda Sarsour because they don't understand what the word "jihad" means.
In a speech before the Islamic Society of North America last weekend, Sarsour discussed standing up to President Donald Trump as a form of "jihad." according to Time. "Jihad" means "to struggle," not to declare war on.
After quoting Mohammad as saying that "a word of truth in front of a tyrant ruler or leader, that is the best form of jihad," Sarsour went on to argue, "I hope that when we stand up to those who oppress our communities, that Allah accepts from us that as a form of jihad."
She then added that socially conscious Muslims "are struggling against tyrants and rulers not only abroad in the Middle East or the other side of the world, but here in the United States of America, where you have fascists and white supremacists and Islamophobes reigning in the White House."
As a result of this speech, Sarsour has been attacked for promoting violence by publications like Conservative Review and Breitbart. In the latter, an article acknowledged that "the context of Sarsour’s remarks indicate that she meant a jihad using words" before drawing attention to how Islamist terrorists have used it with a more violent connotation.
Not surprisingly, Sarsour has taken to Twitter to speak out against the unfair characterization of her speech.
Sarsour made headlines earlier this year for criticizing Zionists. Her argument was that you cannot be both a Zionist and a feminist.
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