[Assam] People in Assam should be aware that verses like Al Baqara 2/193, Al Tawba 9/29, 9/5 and 9/123 totally negate occasional good ones like 5/32 in this article and research into the profound implications of an alien ideation from Arabia

[Bartta Bistar]

 Islamic terrorism: myth or reality
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/sep/16/islamic_terrorism_myth_or_reality.html

Posted September 17th, 2007 by Indian-Muslim

   - Articles <http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/articles>

By Mohd. Mohibul Haque

Terrorism has become a global scourge these days. It is a menace, which does
not distinguish between Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus or anyone. Hence,
it would be unrealistic to compartmentalize this global menace on the basis
of religion and geography. It is simply inhuman, cruel and barbaric which
must be condemned in all its forms and manifestations.

Terrorism as a subject of discussion and study requires a deeper
understanding and unbiased approach. Any presumptuous or reductionist
approach to study this problem may lead to dangerously wrong propositions.
Unfortunately, many scholars and mediamen have taken an over simplistic view
of this complex problem. Consequently they usually associate terrorism with
Islam. Hence, the term like 'Green menace', 'Green Peril', 'Islamic
militancy', 'Islamic terrorism', 'Islamic fascism' are often used in the
media and books. However, those who are using these terms so frequently
perhaps do not realize that they are not denouncing a menace but condemning
a particular religion. If a heinous act like terrorism is called 'Islamic'
it hurts the sentiments of millions of peace loving Muslim across the globe.
Moreover, by certifying crime against humanity, as Islamic they also
sanctify this act. Those who call terrorism of any group, nation or
individual as Islamic should know that terrorism goes against the very
teaching and spirit of Islam. Thus, an act of terror which involves the
killing of innocent people is contrary to the spirit of Quran and Islam
because the holy book itself declares that to kill one human life is to kill
entire humanity, and to save one human life is to save entire humanity.
(Holy Quran, 5:32).

Islamic militancy is a misnomer in another sense also. The so-called Islamic
militancy has killed more Muslims than any other community. In fact the
Muslims are the worst affected victim of terrorism. Algeria, Afghanistan,
Iraq, Chechnya, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia all are the
Muslim countries along with other countries like India, U.S.A., U.K. etc.
facing the menace of terrorism. When we delve deep into the phenomenon of
violence in these countries, we find that in most cases western powers are
responsible for the menace. The roots of the problem are to be searched in
global capitalism and its worst from i.e. imperialism.

The sudden upsurge of radical islamists or the Islamization of violence
should not be seen in isolation from the gross injustice and betrayal
against the Muslims by the international organisations and the major powers.
The major powers of the world fought Second World War 'to make world safe
for democracy' but they have been fighting against Islamists in Arab
countries to preserve worst kind of dictatorships. The popular voices
against authoritarian rules in Middle East have never found any support from
the international community. On the other hand, the hereditary dictatorial
monarchs enjoy the blessings of the western powers. Thus in the absence of
any democratic and political rights, the people in most of the Muslim
countries feel disgruntled and alienated. Also, the authoritarian regimes do
not leave any space for moderates or democratic groups. Hence, the lack
rather denial of political participation provides a fertile breeding ground
for violent activities. Thus the much needed and ever awaited
democratisation is a solution to rapidly growing terrorism.

There is no denying the fact that Islam is being used by many Muslim groups
for political indoctrination but Islam should not be blamed for this
phenomenon. In fact, there are many reasons for this and the reasons are
more political economic and cultural than religious. One should know that it
is not Islam which is guiding the people to fight or to resist but it is the
people who use Islam for sanctifying their movements or acts. In the absence
of any secular ideology of resistance to imperialism, foreign occupation or
political marginalisation in Muslim countries, the groups and individuals
are going back to Islam to provide justification to their movements of
resistance. And a neutral observer can argue that the means they have
adopted may be wrong as it involves the killing of innocent people, but the
goal the groups are pursing is not immoral.

Imperialist propagandists say that the Islamists are trying to force the
people of free nations to embrace their religion and culture. This
allegation is nothing but a propaganda, which needs to be scrutinized
carefully. In reality when one tries to analyse this allegation, finds that
the reverse is true. The imperialist forces have tried to impose their
culture and values on others. The 9/11 New York episode or the 7/7 London
bombings are cited as glaring example of aggressive terrorism and unprovoked
attacks. But the fact is that the Anglo-American imperialist alliance is
reaping up the fruits of its own deeds in the Muslim world. These attacks
deserve condemnation and the culprits must be brought to book. These attacks
of course qualify to be branded as terrorism because the innocent people or
non-combatants have been made the target of attack. But if only the loss of
life is made a parameter to judge an act of terror, the USA, Israel, Britain
and many other countries will qualify to be called as terrorist states.
Noted media critic Noam Chomsky has very clearly exposed the genocide
committed by America and its allies. From Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan,
USA is guilty of killing millions of innocent people and destroying valuable
properties. In fact, the need of the hour is that when we devise a
definition of terrorism we should include not only the acts of individuals
and groups but the nation states also. Unfortunately in the present
scenario, the nation states are considered to be above humanity and all
moral values. Hence, in our definition of terrorism the nation states
engaged in the acts of terror and imperialism do not fit in.

Thus, while levelling baseless charges against a great religion and its
followers, the scholars and journalists should know that terrorism is not a
monopoly of Islam and its followers. Of course Islam has a clear-cut
ideology of Jihad, which has been misunderstood by many including the
followers of Islam. In fact jihad is a constant struggle against evil within
or without. The Jihad may be peaceful, persuasive as well as violent or by
the sword/weapon. But the jihad is to be applied or adopted with utmost
care. In no case it should be against innocent people. The Holy Book Quran
has already mentioned that there shall not be any compulsion in religion.
Every one is free to choose and practise his/her own religion. So, suicide
bombing aimed at killing innocent people is not an act of jihad but an act
of terrorism, which is prohibited in Islam.

Thus jihad should not be taken as 'a holy war fought by Muslims, against
those who reject Islam' (as defined by the Oxford Advanced Dictionary). It
seems that this distorted version of jihad has been taken by many of the
followers of Islam and the opponents as well. Hence it can be concluded that
there is nothing like Islamic about terrorism. The act of terrorism is
un-Islamic.

lso, identifying Islam with violence and terrorism is highly unfair. In fact
when we try to analyse violence as a means adopted by the groups and
individuals, we find that it has got justification by all ideologies and by
all organised religions. No religion or ideology can claim that violence has
not been adopted and justified by his or her followers. For example the
followers of the Christianity sanctified violence and bloodshed in the name
of crusade. Even today many Christian groups across the globe are engaged in
terrorist activities. The Irish Republic Army, a predominantly catholic
Christian terrorist organisation has been active for almost a century. The
Lord's Salvation Army in Uganda, a Christian outfit is a notorious terrorist
organisation, which recruits children as fighters. The predominantly
Christian America and Britain (though they are nothing to do with
Christianity) are leading and supervising imperialists' crime in many parts
of the world.

Hinuism is full of stories of glorified violence – For example, Ramayana and
Mahabharta, two sacred books of Hindus have beautiful stories of wars/battle
between good and evil. Lord Rama representing good has been glorified
fighting Ravana who represented evil. Not only this but mythological Hanuman
is appreciated for burning Lanka. Hindu fanatics are known to have committed
many crimes, which qualify to be called as terrorism. The assassination of
Mahatma Gandhi by a Hindu fanatic, killing of Rajiv Gandhi by the members of
Tamil outfit, gruesome murder of the Australian Christina priest Graham
Staines and his two minor sons, genocide of Muslims in Gujarat by Hindu
chauvinists are a few examples which show that the followers of Hinduisms
have also engaged themselves in terrorist activities.

The involvement of the Sikh in terrorist activities in India is well known.
The Sikh terrorism even took away the life of Mrs. Indra Gandhi. There is a
history of Jewish terrorism in Palestine in the post World War-II. The
groups like Haganah, Irgun and stern gang were involved in dreaded terrorist
activities in Arab world. Many of the dreaded terrorists became celebrated
heroes of their community after the creation of Israel. Ironically one of
the terrorists of those days got a noble peace prize.

The Buddhist Japanese army committed worst kind of atrocities against
Chinese in Manchuria on the eve of Second World War. The intentions of Aum
Shinrikyo, a dangerous Buddhist cult are not hidden.

But for all then acts of people from different religious persuasions the
religions are not to be blamed because no religion teaches violence and
bloodshed. In fact all religions have given emphasis on love, sympathy,
compassion and brotherhood.

As far as secular ideologies are concerned, they too have brought untold
misery to mankind. The western liberal democrats are responsible for
economic exploitation of the Third World. The ideology of capitalism and
imperialism led by USA is accused of imposing war and sanctions on free
people of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Similarly the Soviet imperialism
has culminated into the worst kind of atrocities in the world.

Despite all these, it is ironical that Islam and its followers has become a
target of the imperialists' propagandists and media persons. It appears that
Islam has been singled out for demonising and condemning. The record of
cruelties of other dispensations are deliberately ignored or painted in a
different colour. But whenever any misguided group or individual belonging
to Islam is found in any crime, the group or the individual is not blamed
for it but his religion is made the target of attack. It is intellectual and
academic dishonesty to put Islam in the dock for what a handful of its
misguided followers do. It seems that the imperialist powers are trying to
find or invent a new enemy after the demise of Soviet Union. Thus the 'Red
danger' is being replaced by the perceived 'Green Peril'. But what is
unfortunate that the intelligentsia in Third World countries falls prey to
the propaganda of the imperialists and join the chorus with them.

Keeping in view the growing menace of terrorism and its transnational
character, it can be suggested that the scourge should be analysed and
understood properly. An unbiased and comprehensive approach may help us in
understanding the true nature of terrorism and its root causes. Thus the
intellectuals and scholars should try to demolish the myth of Islamic
terrorism and endeavour to expose the contradictions inherent in the
propaganda against Islam. It is a fact that the terrorist group targeting
the Western countries are mainly Muslim, but their activities are
un-Islamic. So, calling their activities as Islamic is tantamount to
sanctifying them and thus leaving no space for moderates among the Muslims
who are in a big majority.

Mohd. Mohibul Haque is Lecturer in Department of Political Science, A.M.U.,
Aligarh

Source: www.sabrang.com



*An exegesis on 'Jihad in Islam'*

*Syed Kamran Mirza <http://www.faithfreedom.org/Author/SKM.htm>*

*NYC, USA*

*Sye_mirza at hotmail.com *

http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/SKM/jihad.htm

*[Author's note: I apologize to the readers for writing such a lengthy essay
on Jihad. Jihad is extremely serious matter in the Islamic history. There is
abundance of valuable literatures depicting Islamic Jihad which I could not
include in order to keep the size within limit. However, I tried my best to
make it as plausible as possible by many important literatures dealing with
Jihad. Some Islamists are trying to fool the western readers by their
deceitful and elusive meanings of Jihad. I urge the readers to have patience
to read the entire article in order to learn about the true meaning of
Islamic Jihad.] *
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