No Religion, Certainly Not Islam, Supports Terrorism, Then Why Blame Islam for Terrorist Violence?
By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
28 June
2023
Terrorism
Stems From Corrupt Minds and Behaviours, Not Religion
Main
Points:
1. Islamophobic
movies and dramas attempt to portray Islam as supporting terrorism.
2. Intelligence
professionals recognize religion doesn't fuel terrorism; it's caused by
depraved minds, corruption, and haughtiness.
3. The Quran
and Hadiths condemn oppression, stating it is destructive, offensive, and
prohibited, prohibiting persecution of non-Muslims under Muslim protection.
4. Islam
forbids discrimination against non-Muslim minorities, but political officials
frequently ignore Muslim persecution.
5. False
accusations can brainwash communities, lead to wars, and create tension and
hatred, which are detrimental to the nation.
------
No
religion, not even Islam, supports the practice of terrorism. Every religion
has historically had its share of followers who have used their beliefs to
support extremism and bloodshed, but no religion has ever been held accountable
for that. But why is Islam held accountable for the actions of a select few?
Today, there
are deliberate attempts to portray Islam as supporting terrorism through dramas
and films. As a result, the Islamophobic agenda is supported; non-Muslims
develop a negative opinion of Muslims, which inflames tensions between the two
groups. While chanting ‘Jihadis’, some of them frequently target ordinary
Muslims, many of whom do not even understand what jihad is.
This
situation is true despite the fact that intelligence professionals are well
aware that religion does not fuel terrorism. Terrorism is a result of depraved
minds, hardened hearts, and inflated egos as well as corruption, destruction,
and haughtiness. However, this can only be understood by individuals whose
hearts are in tune with the right humane thinking free from the clutches of
prejudice and hatred.
Islam
promotes tolerance and harmonious coexistence with all people, both as
individuals and as groups. Islam treats all people equally, regardless of their
faith, race, or skin tone.
Allah Most
High says, “Indeed, We honoured the progeny of Adam, and bore them across
land and sea and provided them with good things for their sustenance, and
exalted them above many of Our creatures.” [17:70].
For
interactions between Muslims and non-Muslims who coexist in the same community,
Islam has established the following rules:
Allah
does not forbid you from dealing kindly and fairly with those who have neither
fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are fair. [60:8]
In this
verse, God instructs us to treat non-Muslims kindly and not to hurt them. It's
as if God is ordering us to work with non-Muslims on all fronts for good and
stating that this is better.
Islamic
desire for world peace is known to everyone who fully understands Islam because
it makes peace one of its guiding principles. Al-Salam, the Arabic word
for "peace," is one of the names of God Most High and one of His
qualities. [59:23] Allah greeted His servants with the word "Salaam"
(peace) and commanded them to do likewise.
Muslims greet each other by saying "Assalam Alaikum"
(peace be upon you). They can be recognised in the mosque, school, factory, and
market thanks to the words of peace. The Quran contains several verses that
speak about peace, one of which refers to Paradise as the Abode of Peace
(6:127).
Since the
beginning of Islam to the present, peace has been the defining characteristic
of Muslims in both the East and the West. The phrase "Peace be upon
you" is used as a greeting between Muslims when they first meet and when
they separate ways. This tranquilly and safety is not simply available to
Muslims. Muslims hold that everyone has the right to live in peace and security
in Muslim-majority countries, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Islam
prevents Muslims from injuring or harbouring enmity towards those who are in
their care, either in words or deeds. Islam deems it crucial to protect
citizens against injustice within one's borders. Allah Almighty neither loves
nor gives guidance to oppressors; rather, He either exacts vengeance upon them
in this life or enables them to suffer double punishment in the Hereafter.
Numerous
verses of the Quran and Hadiths emphasise that oppression is destructive,
offensive, and prohibited in all forms. Several Ahadith expressly forbid
oppression or persecution of any non-Muslim who lives under Muslim protection
or with whom a peace pact has been signed.
The Prophet
said, "On the Day of Judgement, I am that person's enemy, who wrongs
someone with whom the Muslims have a treaty, denies them their rights, and
burdens them beyond what they can bear, or takes something from them against
their will."
Islam does
not remain mute when it comes to concerns of non-Muslim minority
discrimination, yet there are political leaders who do so even if they are
aware that Muslim minorities are subject to religious persecution. The current
state of affairs is so dire that anyone speaking out in defending rights of
minorities runs the possibility of being detained or having their voices
stifled.
But Islam's
lessons on patience and tolerance are what make it so beautiful. Islam teaches
us to be tolerant clearly. Islam has built a number of arguments for the growth
of tolerance and humanity that strive to instil in people a sense of treating
others with honesty and working for their benefit, as is seen from a study of
the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's hadiths.
The concept
of tolerance in Islam is that people with different views have equal rights.
Tolerance requires respecting others' feelings and abstaining from critiquing
them in a way that would offend those who hold divergent opinions. Never use
coercion to convince someone to give up their religious beliefs and practises
or to prevent them from doing so.
Tolerance
is a virtue with global implications that transcends national boundaries. If a country
promotes tolerance on a national level, it is simple to promote healthy
international and interreligious relations. This process not only improves
moral and human values but also rebuilds international trust and strengthens
the economy of the country.
Whether on
a local, regional, or global level, social behaviour that is characterised by a
spirit of tolerance does not encourage antagonism and resentment among
individuals but rather opens up new possibilities for societal prosperity and a
stable democratic system. Thus, from an Islamic viewpoint, tolerance is the
cornerstone of society, but when it is widely practised, it encourages a
culture of attachment and love among people, which is today the most urgent
need and desire.
Gustav Le
Bon, a well-known French scholar, stated: "We have seen from the Quranic
verses mentioned earlier that Muhammad's magnanimity towards Jews and
Christians was most great; something that was not said by the founders of the
religions that predated him like Judaism and Christianity in particular."
It is
incorrect and unreasonable to presume that Islam is to blame for terrorism just
because it is carried out by organisations that link themselves with Islam.
Let me give
an example here. We all know that Christianity promotes love. But its adherents
experienced oppression when they were vulnerable. Should we thus assume that
the persecution and torture of Muslims and Jews in Spain carried out by the
Church was a direct outcome of the teachings of Christianity? When Ibn Rushd's
thinking and philosophy gained popularity, particularly among Jews, the Church
took its ire out on both Jews and Muslims. The Church ruled that any Jews who
refused to submit to baptism would be banished from the nation. They could sell
their property if they so desired. They were not permitted to take any gold or
silver with them as they departed, though. So, individuals were forced to
accept trade items in exchange for their property. Jews fled Spain, abandoning
their valuables in order to escape with their lives, despite the fact that many
of them were overcome by hunger and the hardships of their journey because of
their poverty. In addition, the Church
decreed in 1052 CE that any Muslims who refused to submit to baptism would be
expelled from Spain and its neighbouring regions. When they left, they were
required to not take a road going to a Muslim country; anyone who disobeyed
this command was put to death.
In order to
avoid associating the Crusades with Christian teaching, we also attempt to make
a distinction between the Christians and the behaviour of some Christian
radicals and terrorists. Just as we distinguish between those who lynch someone
while chanting "Jai Shri Raam" and those who actually practise
Hinduism, we also need to distinguish between those who murder innocent
civilians while claiming to be Muslims and those who actually practise Islam۔ We vehemently denounce the
extremists and radical organisations, recognizing that their actions are
inconsistent with Islam and that their crimes of terrorism are the product of
warped minds, desolate hearts, and conceit.
If we wish
to promote tranquilly and peace on a national and international scale, we must
play a constructive role and adopt reality rather than making false
allegations. If one religion is falsely
accused of supporting terrorists on a regular basis, other communities will be
brainwashed by your words, a war between one community and another will break
out, and the nation will be filled with tension and hatred, neither of which
are beneficial to the nation in any way.
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Kaniz
Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/religion-terrorism-blame-islam/d/130093
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