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ISLAM AND TERRORISM
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BY
DR. ZAKIR NAIK
MUSLIMS ARE FUNDAMENTALISTS AND TERRORISTS
http://www.55a.net/firas/english/index.php?page=show_det&id=308
Question:
Why are most of the Muslims fundamentalists and terrorists?
Answer:
This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly,
during any discussion on religion or world affairs. Muslim stereotypes are
perpetuated in every form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation
about Islam and Muslims. In fact, such misinformation and false propaganda
often leads to discrimination and acts of violence against Muslims. A case
in point is the anti-Muslim campaign in the American media following the
Oklahoma bomb blast, where the press was quick to declare a ‘Middle
Eastern conspiracy’ behind the attack. The culprit was later identified as
a soldier from the American Armed Forces.
Let us analyze this allegation of ‘fundamentalism’ and ‘terrorism’:
1. Definition of the word ‘fundamentalist’
A fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals
of the doctrine or theory he is following. For a person to be a good
doctor, he should know, follow, and practise the fundamentals of medicine.
In other words, he should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine.
For a person to be a good mathematician, he should know, follow and
practise the fundamentals of mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in
the field of mathematics. For a person to be a good scientist, he should
know, follow and practise the fundamentals of science. He should be a
fundamentalist in the field of science.
2. Not all ‘fundamentalists’ are the same
One cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. One cannot
categorize all fundamentalists as either good or bad. Such a
categorization of any fund amentalist will depend upon the field or
activity in which he is a fundamentalist. A fundamentalist robber or thief
causes harm to society and is therefore undesirable. A fundamentalist
doctor, on the other hand, benefits society and earns much respect.
3. I am proud to be a Muslim fundamentalist
I am a fundamentalist Muslim who, by the grace of Allah, knows, follows
and strives to practice the fundamentals of Islam. A true Muslim does not
shy away from being a fundamentalist. I am proud to be a fundamentalist
Muslim because; I know that the fundamentals of Islam are beneficial to
humanity and the whole world. There is not a single fundamental of Islam
that causes harm or is against the interests of the human race as a whole.
Many people harbor misconceptions about Islam and consider several
teachings of Islam to be unfair or improper. This is due to insufficient
and incorrect knowledge of Islam. If one critically analyzes the teachings
of Islam with an open mind, one cannot escape the fact that Islam is full
of benefits both at the individual and collective levels.
4. Dictionary meaning of the word
‘fundamentalist’
According to Webster’s dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ was a movement in
American Protestantism that arose in the earlier part of the 20th century.
It was a reaction to modernism, and stressed the infallibility of the
Bible, not only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal
historical record. It stressed on belief in the Bible as the literal word
of God. Thus fundamentalism was a word initially used for a group of
Christians who believed that the Bible was the verbatim word of God
without any errors and mistakes.
According to the Oxford dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ means ‘strict
maintenance of ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion,
especially Islam’.
Today the moment a person uses the word fundamentalist he thinks of a
Muslim who is a terrorist.
5. Every Muslim should be a terrorist
Every Muslim should be a terrorist. A terrorist is a person who causes
terror. The moment a robber sees a policeman he is terrified. A policeman
is a terrorist for the robber. Similarly every Muslim should be a
terrorist for the antisocial elements of society, such as thieves, dacoits
and rapists. Whenever such an anti-social element sees a Muslim, he should
be terrified. It is true that the word ‘terrorist’ is generally used for a
person who causes terror among the common people. But a true Muslim should
only be a terrorist to selective people i.e. anti-social elements, and not
to the common innocent people. In fact a Muslim should be a source of
peace for innocent people.
6. Different labels given to the same individual for
the same action, i.e. ‘terrorist’ and ‘patriot’
Before India achieved independence from British rule, some freedom
fighters of India who did not subscribe to non-violence were labeled as
terrorists by the British government. The same individuals have been
lauded by Indians for the same activities and hailed as ‘patriots’. Thus
two different labels have been given to the same people for the same set
of actions. One is calling him a terrorist while the other is calling him
a patriot. Those who believed that Britain had a right to rule over India
called these people terrorists, while those who were of the view that
Britain had no right to rule India called them patriots and freedom
fighters.
It is therefore important that before a person is judged, he is given a
fair hearing. Both sides of the argument should be heard, the situation
should be analyzed, and the reason and the intention of the person should
be taken into account, and then the person can be judged accordingly.
7. Islam means peace
Islam is derived from the word ‘salaam’ which means peace. It is a
religion of peace whose fundamentals teach its followers to maintain and
promote peace throughout the world.
Thus every Muslim should be a fundamentalist i.e. he should follow the
fundamentals of the Religion of Peace: Islam. He should be a terrorist
only towards the antisocial elements in order to promote peace and justice
in the society.
WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?
Question:
How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the
sword?
Answer:
It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have
millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the
use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being
spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic
that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.
1. Islam means peace.
Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace. It also means
submitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace,
which is acquired by submitting one’s will to the will of the Supreme
Creator, Allah (swt).
2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain
peace.
Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining
peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own
vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is
precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against
criminals and anti-social elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam
promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight
where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times,
require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used to promote peace
and justice.
3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary.
The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is
given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book ’Islam at the
cross road’ (Page 8):
’History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims
sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword
upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that
historians have ever repeated.’
4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years.
Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used
the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders
came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in
Spain who could openly give the adhan, that is the call for prayers.
5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians.
Muslims were the lords of
Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few
years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years.
Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e.
Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there
would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.
6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India.
The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they
had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam.
Today more than 80% of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these
non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by
the sword.
7. Indonesia and Malaysia.
Indonesia is a country
that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of
people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, ’Which Muslim army went to
Indonesia and Malaysia?’
8. East Coast of Africa.
Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may
again ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, ’Which Muslim army went to
the East Coast of Africa?’
9. Thomas Carlyle.
The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book ’Heroes and Hero worship’,
refers to this misconception about the spread of Islam: ’The sword indeed,
but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is
precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells
as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man
against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that,
will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing
will propagate itself as it can.’
10. No compulsion in religion.
With which sword was
Islam spread? Even if Muslims had it they could not use it to spread Islam
because the Qur’an says in the following verse:
’Let there be no compulsion in religion:
Truth stands out clear from error’
[Al-Qur’an 2:256]
11. Sword of the Intellect.
It is the sword of
intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur’an
says in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse 125:
’Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord
with wisdom and beautiful preaching;
and argue with them in ways that are
best and most gracious.’
[Al-Qur’an 16:125]
12. Increase in the world religions from 1934
to 1984.
An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the
statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the
world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in
‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%,
and Christianity had increased only by 47%. May one ask, which war took
place in this century which converted millions of people to Islam?
13. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe.
Today the fastest growing
religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in
Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to accept Islam in such
large numbers?
14. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson.
Dr. Joseph
Adam Pearson rightly says, ’People who worry that nuclear weaponry will
one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic
bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born’