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Until
recently, Islam has had a negative and violent image in the West,
but now the trend is to focus on Islam as religion of peace.
Since the World Trade Center attack, there has been a flood of
statements and articles making these assertions. A recent BBC2
series formed part of the trend, as did John Casey's article in
praise of Islam in this newspaper. These sentiments were echoed by
Tony Blair last week he said that (such acts of infamy and cruelty
are wholly contrary to Islamic faith.
We
are often told that the word Islam means peace we seem to have
gone from one extreme to the other. Now that Islam is no longer
demonized, it seems it can do no wrong Perhaps the truth is that
the two opposing strands need to be held together instead of
dismissing one or the other. The reality of Islam is more complex.
Islam actually means (submission) not quite the same as (peace)
many horrified acts have been, and continue to be,
perpetrated in the name of Islam, just as they have in the name of
Christianity. But, Unlike Islam, Christianity does not justify the
use of all forms of violence Islam does.
There have been reports that Muslims fear
revenge attacks in America and Britain, there have been stories of
Intimidation. Attacks on Muslims and on peace can never be
justified, but the answers are not to forfeit justice or ignore
the truth.
The contradictory reactions to the terrorist attacks. Official
condemnation at leadership level and support among many people.
Are an indication that Islam is not always (a religion of peace)
there are no many Muslims rejoicing at the tragic loss of American
lives and the humiliation of the American government that they
cannot be dismissed as a (few extremists)
Sura
9, verse 5 of the Koran reads, then fight and slay the pagans
wherever ye find them And seize them, beleaguer them, And lie in
wait for them, in every stratagem (of war the note that
accompanies this verse in the respected A Yusif Ali translation
states that (when war becomes inevitable it must be pursued with
vigor the fighting may take the form of slaughter, or capture, or
siege. or ambush and other stratagems”.
In
the Muslim faith the Koran is believed to be the very word of God,
applying to all people. In all times, in all places. It is the
source of the Muslim faith and the law that orders the Islamic way
of life. Killing is not totally forbidden in fact; it was through
conquest that Islam spread. In Indonesia today, non-muslims are
offered a choice of conversion to Islam or death. The argument
that the above verse was written to refer only to particular time
and people is not valid. The Koran is
Considered
immutable a fact that has been repeatedly employed to justify
verses that are discriminatory toward women. Such as the unequal
inheritance shares given to women in her with sura 4 verse 11
The
development of Shariah, Islamic law, created a society where
non-Muslims lived as second-class citizens subject to and
humiliated by humans laws. Those who converted from Islam to
another religion were killed, a practice that continues in
Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia Koran Sura 5 Verse 85, which
speaks of enmity between Muslims and non Muslims reads,
“strongest among men in enmity
to
the Believers with thou find the Jews and pagans”
The
world trade Center attack cannot be dismissed as merely the work
of small group of extremists. The Muslims celebrating the tragedy
in America are doubles recalling the words of Koran, urging
Muslims to “fight a mighty nation. fight them until they embrace
Islam” Sheikh Omar Barky Mohamed leader of the radical Islamic
organization Al Mahajiroun last week medicated that civilian
targets were wrong, but military and government targets are
legislate. The Kuwaiti paper Al- Watan argued in favor of the
Islamic justification for killing non-combatants retired
specifically to jews, but its argument could apply to any
non-combatants living in a democracy. Citizens vote for the
government and pay taxes to support it and so the argument goes
citizens can be considered as potential soldiers or as being
involved in complementary activities.
To
recognize that no culture on people is without fault and that all
should be subject to criticism is not racism, it is an honesty
that emphasizes our common humanity. The way to increase respect
between people of different faiths is not to gloss over our
problems but to admit them face up to them and together seek to
deal with them Violence occurs in all religious, but in most it is
not sanctioned and although there might gibe moderate elements
within Islam it is the extremist elements that have ended to
dominate the development of the religion. With often tragic
consequences.
Patrick sookhdeo is the
director of the institute for study of Islam and Christianity
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