Militancy in the name of Islam

Militancy in the name of Islam--
Zahid Zamir

Terrorism is a crime against humanity. It targets innocent people and its� aim is to spread fear in society by killing innocent people. Unfortunately we live in a time today where Violence, hostility, vandalism, Sabotage, unsympathetic outlook, greed have become common phenomena. Innocent people lives have become valueless in most cases. People are shedding blood due to a very small difference of opinion. Terrorism, to speak the truth has threatened peace and security in an individual�s life, societies as well countries around the globe. Different ideologies have resorted terrorism in the past. In 1794 Robespierre who carried out the French revolution first used the concept of terrorism by sending thousands of people to guillotines. From 1870 the racist KKK (Ku Klux Klan)in the United states ruthlessly used terrorism, violence, lynching and cross burning to oppress African Americans and other religious, social or ethnic groups. Racist�s terrorism came to Nazi Germany in 1930s. Nazi implemented a bloody policy of terror against all those who they saw opposed to their ideology beginning with Jews. Then came some organizations in the world that encouraged terrorism and saw this justified to draw strength for its political mission and thus ruthlessly killed thousands of people in different parts of the world. As a matter of fact the term terrorism came into wide usage only a few decades ago. One of the unfortunate results of this new terminology is that it limits the definition of terrorism to small groups or individuals. Terrorism, in fact, spans the entire world, and manifests itself in various forms. Its perpetrators do not fit any stereotype. An individual irrespective of his or her religious belief who blows himself or herself up on a civilian bus or in any other places habitated by civilians, has committed an act of terrorism. Likewise Carpet bombing of entire cities, and using the weapon of sanctions that starve tens of thousands of children to death, is also an act of terrorism. Albeit most of the electronic and print media level the activities of some marked groups or individuals as terrorism while completely ignoring others. It goes without saying that, some so called deviated Muslim individuals and groups have adopted the method of destruction just to achieve some political motives by using the great religion of Islam and blackened the name of Islam in the eyes of many people. Those who are perpetrating this heinous act might have Muslim identities but due to their Muslim identities, this dreadful act can not be labeled as Islamic terrorism just as it can not be called Jewish terrorism if the perpetrators are Jewish or Christian Terrorism if the perpetrators are Christian. That is because murdering innocent people in the name of religion is absolutely unacceptable. Religion commands love, peace and mercy while terrorism on the other hand is the opposite of religion-it is cruel, merciless and bring bloodshed as well as misery. The narrow definition of terrorism that implicates only individuals and groups, and the mass hysteria in the media, has caused Muslims to be associated with acts of destruction and terror, and as a result, to become victims of hate violence specially in the west. Sometime the religion of Islam is held responsible for the acts of a handful of Muslims. Could a faith that has 1.2 billion followers world wide actually advocate the killing and maiming of innocent people? Could Islam, whose name itself stands for �peace� and �submission to the will of God�, encourage its adherents to work for destruction? There is no room for terrorism in Islam as it is stated in the Holy Quran (3:140) � God does not love wrong doers�, in Another verse those who resort to terrorism that is causing corruption in the earth are referred to in this way (13:25) �As for those who cause corruption in the earth the curse will be upon them. They will have evil abode.� God commands all the Muslims to bring peace, harmony and brotherhood to the world. The word Islam came from the same Arabic root as the word peace. The fundamentals characteristics of Islamic morality are virtues such as love, compassion, sacrifice, tolerance, forgiveness and justice. In the Quran god commands Muslims to treat all people well and fairly. In Verse (41; 34) god commands Muslims to respond to evil with goodness. In Islam, life is considered to be very sacred. However, the sanctity of human life is accorded a special place. The first and the foremost basic right of a human being is the right to live. It has been stated in the holy Qur�an (Ch5, V.32) about the one who kills an innocent person �it would be as if he killed the whole of mankind and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of whole of mankind. The holy Qur�an prohibits murder in clear terms. Even in a state of war, Islam enjoins that one deals with the enemy kindly on the battlefield. Islam has drawn a clear line of distinction between the combatants and the non-combatants of the enemy country. As far as the non-combatant population is concerned such as women, children, the old and infirm, the instructions of the prophet are as follows: �Do not kill any old person, any child or any woman:, � Do not kill the monks in monasteries,� or � Do not kill the people who are sitting in places of worship�. Thus non-combatants are guaranteed security of life even when their state is at war. As Dr. Jamal Badawi writes �The Quran gives various reasons why each human being must be honored and dignified on account of being human and irrespective of his or her chosen beliefs. Such honor is symbolized by the way the Quran describes Allah�s creation of the human in the best of molds and commanding the angels to bow down in respect to Adam. No human is entitled to dehumanize or punish another on the sole ground that the later is following a different religion or no religion at all. Sanctity of human life is affirmed in the Quran (Sura 17 :33). Forcing people to believe in God runs against his free will, which includes the fact that some will reject Him. The essence of Islam and its Prophet�s mission is Mercy (Sura 2: 107). To remove any particularization of this mercy, the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explained that mercy is not being merciful to one�s companions but merciful to all. Prophet also explained that � He who is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully.� In fact, mercy applies as well to animals and other creatures of Allah. A logical fruit of this attitude of mercy is to love humankind as persons and fellow honored creatures of Allah�. Suicide bombings are contrary to Islam. A very famous scholar of Islam in the West Sheikh Uthymin when asked � What is the ruling regarding acts by means of suicide, such as attaching explosive to a car and storming the enemy, whereby he knows without a doubt that he shall die as result of his action?� His response was that � he (Suicide bomber) is regarded as one who has killed himself, and as a result he shall be punished in Hell, for it is authenticated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:� Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever�. Thus Islam enjoins upon its believer to strive in purifying themselves, as well as establishing peace and justice in the society. Terrorism in the name of Islam is not only unislamic and unholy , it is also foolish and unwise. It is foolish because those people who are committing this heinous act of terrorism in the name of religion to draw strength for their political purposes has turned out to be counter productive. Every time some so called Muslim individuals or groups commit this act of terrorism, they not only fail to achieve any political gain through this heinous act but they also put the life of millions of innocent Muslim individuals in danger and tarnish the very good image of the Great religion of Islam. So there is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism by targeting civilians� life and property. The condemnation of violence is deeply rooted in true Islamic values based on the Qur�anic instructions and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Regardless of how legitimate the cause may be, the Qur�an never condones killing of innocent people. Terrorizing defenseless civilians, and the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all detestable acts according to Islam. The misinterpretation of Islamic teachings has taken their toll on the Muslims and has strengthened a misplaced perception that Islam is symbol obscurantism, a religion of intolerance. A true follower of Islam must therefore stand up against all sort of terrorism, violence propagate Peace, mercy and forgiveness. * Zahid Zamir teaches at York College, City University of New York and is a research fellow of IERF. email,zahidzamir@yahoo.com - Zahid Zamir
Terrorism is a crime against humanity. It targets innocent people and its� aim is to spread fear in society by killing innocent people. Unfortunately we live in a time today where Violence, hostility, vandalism, Sabotage, unsympathetic outlook, greed have become common phenomena. Innocent people lives have become valueless in most cases. People are shedding blood due to a very small difference of opinion. Terrorism, to speak the truth has threatened peace and security in an individual�s life, societies as well countries around the globe. Different ideologies have resorted terrorism in the past. In 1794 Robespierre who carried out the French revolution first used the concept of terrorism by sending thousands of people to guillotines. From 1870 the racist KKK (Ku Klux Klan)in the United states ruthlessly used terrorism, violence, lynching and cross burning to oppress African Americans and other religious, social or ethnic groups. Racist�s terrorism came to Nazi Germany in 1930s. Nazi implemented a bloody policy of terror against all those who they saw opposed to their ideology beginning with Jews. Then came some organizations in the world that encouraged terrorism and saw this justified to draw strength for its political mission and thus ruthlessly killed thousands of people in different parts of the world. As a matter of fact the term terrorism came into wide usage only a few decades ago. One of the unfortunate results of this new terminology is that it limits the definition of terrorism to small groups or individuals. Terrorism, in fact, spans the entire world, and manifests itself in various forms. Its perpetrators do not fit any stereotype. An individual irrespective of his or her religious belief who blows himself or herself up on a civilian bus or in any other places habitated by civilians, has committed an act of terrorism. Likewise Carpet bombing of entire cities, and using the weapon of sanctions that starve tens of thousands of children to death, is also an act of terrorism. Albeit most of the electronic and print media level the activities of some marked groups or individuals as terrorism while completely ignoring others. It goes without saying that, some so called deviated Muslim individuals and groups have adopted the method of destruction just to achieve some political motives by using the great religion of Islam and blackened the name of Islam in the eyes of many people. Those who are perpetrating this heinous act might have Muslim identities but due to their Muslim identities, this dreadful act can not be labeled as Islamic terrorism just as it can not be called Jewish terrorism if the perpetrators are Jewish or Christian Terrorism if the perpetrators are Christian. That is because murdering innocent people in the name of religion is absolutely unacceptable. Religion commands love, peace and mercy while terrorism on the other hand is the opposite of religion-it is cruel, merciless and bring bloodshed as well as misery. The narrow definition of terrorism that implicates only individuals and groups, and the mass hysteria in the media, has caused Muslims to be associated with acts of destruction and terror, and as a result, to become victims of hate violence specially in the west. Sometime the religion of Islam is held responsible for the acts of a handful of Muslims. Could a faith that has 1.2 billion followers world wide actually advocate the killing and maiming of innocent people? Could Islam, whose name itself stands for �peace� and �submission to the will of God�, encourage its adherents to work for destruction? There is no room for terrorism in Islam as it is stated in the Holy Quran (3:140) � God does not love wrong doers�, in Another verse those who resort to terrorism that is causing corruption in the earth are referred to in this way (13:25) �As for those who cause corruption in the earth the curse will be upon them. They will have evil abode.� God commands all the Muslims to bring peace, harmony and brotherhood to the world. The word Islam came from the same Arabic root as the word peace. The fundamentals characteristics of Islamic morality are virtues such as love, compassion, sacrifice, tolerance, forgiveness and justice. In the Quran god commands Muslims to treat all people well and fairly. In Verse (41; 34) god commands Muslims to respond to evil with goodness. In Islam, life is considered to be very sacred. However, the sanctity of human life is accorded a special place. The first and the foremost basic right of a human being is the right to live. It has been stated in the holy Qur�an (Ch5, V.32) about the one who kills an innocent person �it would be as if he killed the whole of mankind and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of whole of mankind. The holy Qur�an prohibits murder in clear terms. Even in a state of war, Islam enjoins that one deals with the enemy kindly on the battlefield. Islam has drawn a clear line of distinction between the combatants and the non-combatants of the enemy country. As far as the non-combatant population is concerned such as women, children, the old and infirm, the instructions of the prophet are as follows: �Do not kill any old person, any child or any woman:, � Do not kill the monks in monasteries,� or � Do not kill the people who are sitting in places of worship�. Thus non-combatants are guaranteed security of life even when their state is at war. As Dr. Jamal Badawi writes �The Quran gives various reasons why each human being must be honored and dignified on account of being human and irrespective of his or her chosen beliefs. Such honor is symbolized by the way the Quran describes Allah�s creation of the human in the best of molds and commanding the angels to bow down in respect to Adam. No human is entitled to dehumanize or punish another on the sole ground that the later is following a different religion or no religion at all. Sanctity of human life is affirmed in the Quran (Sura 17 :33). Forcing people to believe in God runs against his free will, which includes the fact that some will reject Him. The essence of Islam and its Prophet�s mission is Mercy (Sura 2: 107). To remove any particularization of this mercy, the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explained that mercy is not being merciful to one�s companions but merciful to all. Prophet also explained that � He who is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully.� In fact, mercy applies as well to animals and other creatures of Allah. A logical fruit of this attitude of mercy is to love humankind as persons and fellow honored creatures of Allah�. Suicide bombings are contrary to Islam. A very famous scholar of Islam in the West Sheikh Uthymin when asked � What is the ruling regarding acts by means of suicide, such as attaching explosive to a car and storming the enemy, whereby he knows without a doubt that he shall die as result of his action?� His response was that � he (Suicide bomber) is regarded as one who has killed himself, and as a result he shall be punished in Hell, for it is authenticated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:� Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever�. Thus Islam enjoins upon its believer to strive in purifying themselves, as well as establishing peace and justice in the society. Terrorism in the name of Islam is not only unislamic and unholy , it is also foolish and unwise. It is foolish because those people who are committing this heinous act of terrorism in the name of religion to draw strength for their political purposes has turned out to be counter productive. Every time some so called Muslim individuals or groups commit this act of terrorism, they not only fail to achieve any political gain through this heinous act but they also put the life of millions of innocent Muslim individuals in danger and tarnish the very good image of the Great religion of Islam. So there is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism by targeting civilians� life and property. The condemnation of violence is deeply rooted in true Islamic values based on the Qur�anic instructions and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Regardless of how legitimate the cause may be, the Qur�an never condones killing of innocent people. Terrorizing defenseless civilians, and the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all detestable acts according to Islam. The misinterpretation of Islamic teachings has taken their toll on the Muslims and has strengthened a misplaced perception that Islam is symbol obscurantism, a religion of intolerance. A true follower of Islam must therefore stand up against all sort of terrorism, violence propagate Peace, mercy and forgiveness. * Zahid Zamir teaches at York College, City University of New York and is a research fellow of IERF. email,zahidzamir@yahoo.com