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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 practise 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 harbour
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 Protestanism 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.
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