Name: Christine P.

Salimbagat BSN

1. Distinguish the following concepts:

A. Greater Jihad and Lesser Jihad

Upon learning in the discussion from the last meeting, there I found out that jihad, a very
unfamiliar term to me as a Roman Catholic even though surrounded with maranao
people, simply refers to literally “challenges” and “struggles” a certain muslim encounter
against a particular enemy of of the Islam, or even a sin within self, from what I have
personally understood. With further research, I found out that there are actually two
conceptss of Jihad—the lesser and greater Jihad. I discovered the different
interpretation other than the first one as “The Holy War”, here JavidGhamidi
emphasized the two meanings of Jihad—the greater jihad referring to “an inner spiritual
struggle, while the lesser jihad means “an outer physical struggle against the enemis of
islam”. Greater Jihad was said to be the constant struggle with your very own violence
that lies within. The environment or outside wolrd has nothing to do with the said jihad,
and that lesser jihad results to unending terrorism because of misinterpretation of the
actual jihad.

B. Islamic fundamentalism and extremism

These two concepts are actually showing complexion in meaning, personally as I have
researched, I was having a hard time in finding out and understanding the in-depth
definition of the two. But here, in simpler words, Islamic fundamentalism, according to
Author Karen Armstrong (2000:12) in The Battle for God defines fundamentalism as
embattled forms of spirituality, whic have emerge as a response to a perceived crisis,
namely the fear that modernity will erode or even eradicate their faith and morality.
While Jeffrey K. Hadden and Anson Shupe (1989: 109-122), offered the following
definition of fundamentalism: it s a proclamation of reclaimed authority over sacred
tradition, which is to be instated as an antidote for a society that has strayed from its
cultural moorings. Now for the extremism, I have learned that Islamic extremism as any
type/form of islam that opposed rule of law, democracy , individual freedom,
mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

C. Sunnis vs. Shiites (Shia)

These two concepts, Sunnis and Shiites, I remember well during the discussion, are the
two main subgroups of Islam. Now, upon research I have discovered that differences
they have with eacth other are not because of spiritual distinction but rather political
one. First occurance of division started when there was a challenge of choosing who to
lead the muslim nation following the death of Prophet Muhammad. For the Sunn, in
Arabic, refers to the word that means “one who follows the traditions of the prophet”.
Now, the Sunnis agreed to “electing” new leader after the death of Muhammad, and
Abu Bakr is an example, who became the first caliph. Now, for the Shiites or Shia, from
what I have understood personally, refers to muslims that believes that the next leader
would supposedly come from “within the family” of the prophet. I even found out that
shia muslims does not recognize the power given to “elected” muslim leaders.

D. Moro vs. Muslim

Now, Moro and Muslim are quite familiar words to Filipinos especially to mindanaoans.
From what have been discussed during the first meeting, Moro means the peoplee that
are living in the islands long prior the coming of Spanish colonialism, which are
indigenous population. They are even scattered all through out the Philippines already
as of now. But from the mapping activity we did, I discovered that Moros are actually
dominant in the region of Minsupala compromising the 13 islamized ethnolinguistic
groups. It was actually a Spanish name for anyone who was a muslim before. And
Spaniards in the Philippines refer the people in Minsupala as “Moro”, believing that they
belong to the islam faith. But eventually, this term was infused with “pirates” and
“savages”. For the “Muslim”, this simply means someone that is believing Islam and is
actually living in accordance with its rules.

2. Based on your understanding of our topic discussed, how do you think the
following institutions should help address stereotyping on the so-called "minority
groups"

A.Government

With the previous meeting, we have tackled about the several stereotypes we usually
encounter/witness within the minority groups like muslim/maranao, badjao, catholics,
lumad etc. There I acknowledged the significance of the government and laws we have.
It’s 2020 already and we have no time and energy for unnecessary struggles and wars
within different groups. Government was built to create harmony as well as having
certain laws, that is why I personally think government has a very big role in maintaining
this harmony. The government has actually the power to eradicate or minimize
stereotyping. Few of this power is the government’s authority to implement laws that are
against discrimination and inequality amongst the different groups living in a certain
community. The government can use this authority, for example, to have laws that
enables any person that belongs to any ethnic group to participate in school, work and
social activities. Which means, for instance that if a lumad college fresh graduate tries
to apply for a position in a local government unit agency, would be not hired/not hired in
accordance with their ethinicity.

B.Media

Millenials, Generation Z and even the older and younger people are already so inclined
with different kinds of media especially social media. In this way, information are
spreading faster. In this innovation, we could actually use this to eliminate stereotyping.
Promoting education within social medias are faster and easier to understand, which
creates enlightenment to different nature of certain groups. One example of this is
having to share posts containing posters, graphic infos and pictures that catches the
interest of the people to learn about the minority groups. On the other hand, this
medium could actually be harmful if used improperly. False information and hate
promotion could actually resurface, which also defeats the purpose.

D. Academic institutions

Another source of great information to eradicate stereotyping starts from the preschool
to universities. Most of us spends our time within the school and has a very big factor in
how we see the world. These academic institutions are very helpful in the understanding
minority groups by promoting exposure to the groups’ essential facts. One of the very
simple step of making this possible is for example to have a history subject focusing on
ethnic groups in the certain communities like here in the Philippines. And when I say
putting the subject in every curriculum, this covers the whole country’s schools. Not just
in Mindanao, but rather the whole Philippines. Stereotype and discrimination will forever
be existent if the academic institutions would continue to be very selective in handing
out facts and information of the different groups.

D.Communities

In a particular community, chances are, different groups are actually living there. And
that’s the reality everywhere. That is most likely why stereotyping and discrimination is
very rampant—because of the cultural differences. But community as one has the
power to change this. Right, the basic unit of community is the family. Thus, when we
change our very own self to develop understanding to other ethnic groups other than
ours, would be very helpful. Social activities and gathering in the barangay hall would be
very helpful to really know firsthand the nature of different groups within the community
you’re living in.