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| India-Pakistan |
| A fresh narrative |
| 2015-06-19 |
| [DAWN] MILITANT groups, including the Taliban and the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not reallyMoslems.... , have unleashed unspeakable terror in the world. Yet they also attract Moslems in large numbers, driven by a desire to establish what they believe is Islam's supremacy and global power. This, to them, is the right of Islam that others have usurped. They also believe that Islam gives them the right to enforce their understanding of the Sharia on everyone, and carry out punishments which they consider to be divine instructions. They view democracy as anti-Islam and a Western concept. Not only do they believe that polytheism, blasphemy, apostasy and adultery deserve capital punishment, they also demand that non-Moslems either convert to Islam, pay the jizya, or face death. Combine these factors with strong hatred against other sects and lack of intellect-based debate on religious issues, and you have the fearsome environment that prevails, including in today's Pakistain. The narrative of the hard boyz has extensive support, underscored by the fact that few among the so-called Learned Elders of Islam have denounced it, or produced a counter-narrative. In fact, according to Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, the renowned exegete and scholar, all of them seem to agree with this ideology: they differ only with the strategy that has been adopted. When Ghamidi wrote a counter-narrative to that of the Taliban, there was a flood of criticism from religious quarters. Using extensive analysis and reasoning based on Koranic verses and authentic ahadith, he shows that all of the above are completely wrong interpretations of Islamic teachings. Specific verses meant for specific times and conditions are often taken out of context to validate political interests. God does not instruct Moslems to wage war at any time in order to rule the world. Jihad cannot be waged by non-state actors. There are strict conditions that must be followed. God does not require Islam's global power. According to scholars like Ghamidi, it was only the Arabian peninsula that was designated for Moslem rule. They believe the spread of Islam, during the time when the Prophet (PTUI!) was alive, was ordained on the basis that the Prophet had initially provided conclusive truth to all nations of the world. It is only during the lifetime of prophets that -- when their people consistently refuse to accept divine guidance -- God vanquishes them, either through divine punishment or at the hands of believers. When prophethood ended with Prophet Muhammad (PTUI!), such punishments, too, ended. Forced conversions are not allowed, and jizya is no longer valid. There is no coercion in Islam. Everyone, regardless of religious or tribal affiliation, has an equal status and should get equal justice. Moslems have reached such low levels of reasoning, ethics and morality today because of their own misdeeds and failure to follow Koranic guidance. They did not develop expertise in the sciences, nor did they ponder over the systems of the universe; they used the Koran merely as a book to be revered but not reflected upon and discussed freely, and they developed a complete disregard for moral training that is the real spirit of Islam. They allowed holy mans to control their minds and emotions. They are responsible for their downfall and, instead of plunging the world into chaos by fighting endless wars, they should pay attention to internal reform. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 MILITANT groups, including the Taliban and the Islamic State, have unleashed unspeakable terror in the world. Yet they also attract Moslems in large numbers. Inadequate people are always attracted to extremist causes---just look at "western" left. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2015-06-19 03:13 |