nobody
06-05-2001, 12:29 PM
What is
ISLAMIC
FUNDAMENTALISM?
by
S.M. BLEHER
"Muslim fundamentalism is fast becoming the chief threat to global peace and security as well as a cause of national and local disturbance through terrorism................ ".
(The New York Times/International Herald Tribune 919193)
Do you think this is true?
Please read on .....
According to the Reader's Digest Universal Dictionary "fundamental" means "having to do with the foundation; elemental; basic", and "fundamentalism" an "unswerving belief in a set of basic and unalterable principles of religious or philosophical nature". The term was traditionally used for Christians who believed the Bible to be the literal truth even when it was found in conflict with modern scientific discoveries.* "Fundamentalist" soon became a derogatory term. What purpose does the term serve when used in connection with Muslims?
Western science is built on the foundation of scientific discoveries of Muslim Spain before the inquisition, and unlike the Bible, the Qur'an has never yet been proven to contradict reality**. The Qur'an encourages scientific research. Somebody believing the Qur'an to be the fundamental or elemental and basic truth, can hardly be accused of being irrational. Nor can there be anything wrong with firmly holding on to "basic and unalterable principles". Modem secular society, for example, has agreed on a Universal Declaration of Human Rights to establish such "basic and unalterable principles". To try and frighten people of Muslim fundamentalism, therefore, makes little sense. Still it is being done every day.
Branding People for Political Gain
When democratic elections were cancelled in Algeria or when Muslim campaigners for democracy in Egypt were hung without proper trial, it was enough of a justification to brand them as Muslim fundamentalists. No further questions needed to be asked. Fundamentalists meant terrorist. Terrorist meant danger. Danger justified eliminating those responsible. On the other hand, when Israel bombed civilian areas in Lebanon or when Serb militia massacred innocent Muslim men, women and children in Bosnia, the term Jewish, or Christian fundamentalists was never used to refer to them.
In his book Pity the Nation on the long conflict in the Lebanon, Robert Fisk, one of the longest serving British Middle East correspondents, spells out how emotional and ambiguous this use of language is. He says: "But 'tefforism' no longer means terrorism. It is not a definition; it is a political contrivance. 'Terrorists' are those who use violence against the side that is using the word. The only terrorist whom Israel acknowledges are those who oppose Israel. The only terrorist, the United States acknowledges are those who oppose the United States or their allies. The only terrorists Palestinians acknowledge - for they too use the word - are those opposed to the Palestinians. To adopt the word means that we have taken a side in the Middle East, not between right and wrong, good and evil, David and Goliath, but with one set of combatants against another. For journalists in the Middle East, the use of the word 'terrorism' is akin to carrying a gun".
Yet, The Times he worked for, and The Independent he now writes for still happily "carry a gun" and shoot at "Muslim fundamentalists" or "Muslim terrorists" instead of objectively reporting the news. Prejudice against Islam is deep seated, because nobody bothers to find out what Islam really means and what code of conduct the Qur'an prescribes for Muslim.
The Fundamentals of Islam
Here, then, are some of the "fundamentals",
"basic and unalterable principles" of the Qur'an,
Muslims believe in:
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error. Whoever rejects idols and believes in Allah (Arabic name for the one and only God) has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things."
Surah 2 (al Baqarahl The Cow), verse 256.
"We bestowed (in the past) wisdom on Luqman: Show gratitude to Allah. Anyone who is grateful does so to the profit of his soul; but if anyone is ungrateful. verily Allah is free of all wants, worthy of all praise. Behold, Luqman said to his son admonishing him : 10 my son, join not in worship (others) with Allah; for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing'. And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents. In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in two years was his weaning. Show gratitude to Me and your parents; to Me is the final goal. But if they strive to make you join in worship with me things of which you have no knowledge, obey them not, yet bear their company in this life with justice, and follow the way of those who turn to Me. In the end the return of you all is to Me, and 1 will tell you all that you did. '0 my son', (said Luqman), if there be but the weight of a mustard seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth, for Allah is subtle and aware. O my son, establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong, and bear with patient constancy whatever afflicts you, for this is firmness in (the conduct) of affairs. And swell not your cheek (with pride) at men nor walk in insolence on the earth, for Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in your pace, and lower voice, for the hardest of voices is the braying of the ass."
Surah 31 (Luqman), verse 12-19.
ISLAMIC
FUNDAMENTALISM?
by
S.M. BLEHER
"Muslim fundamentalism is fast becoming the chief threat to global peace and security as well as a cause of national and local disturbance through terrorism................ ".
(The New York Times/International Herald Tribune 919193)
Do you think this is true?
Please read on .....
According to the Reader's Digest Universal Dictionary "fundamental" means "having to do with the foundation; elemental; basic", and "fundamentalism" an "unswerving belief in a set of basic and unalterable principles of religious or philosophical nature". The term was traditionally used for Christians who believed the Bible to be the literal truth even when it was found in conflict with modern scientific discoveries.* "Fundamentalist" soon became a derogatory term. What purpose does the term serve when used in connection with Muslims?
Western science is built on the foundation of scientific discoveries of Muslim Spain before the inquisition, and unlike the Bible, the Qur'an has never yet been proven to contradict reality**. The Qur'an encourages scientific research. Somebody believing the Qur'an to be the fundamental or elemental and basic truth, can hardly be accused of being irrational. Nor can there be anything wrong with firmly holding on to "basic and unalterable principles". Modem secular society, for example, has agreed on a Universal Declaration of Human Rights to establish such "basic and unalterable principles". To try and frighten people of Muslim fundamentalism, therefore, makes little sense. Still it is being done every day.
Branding People for Political Gain
When democratic elections were cancelled in Algeria or when Muslim campaigners for democracy in Egypt were hung without proper trial, it was enough of a justification to brand them as Muslim fundamentalists. No further questions needed to be asked. Fundamentalists meant terrorist. Terrorist meant danger. Danger justified eliminating those responsible. On the other hand, when Israel bombed civilian areas in Lebanon or when Serb militia massacred innocent Muslim men, women and children in Bosnia, the term Jewish, or Christian fundamentalists was never used to refer to them.
In his book Pity the Nation on the long conflict in the Lebanon, Robert Fisk, one of the longest serving British Middle East correspondents, spells out how emotional and ambiguous this use of language is. He says: "But 'tefforism' no longer means terrorism. It is not a definition; it is a political contrivance. 'Terrorists' are those who use violence against the side that is using the word. The only terrorist whom Israel acknowledges are those who oppose Israel. The only terrorist, the United States acknowledges are those who oppose the United States or their allies. The only terrorists Palestinians acknowledge - for they too use the word - are those opposed to the Palestinians. To adopt the word means that we have taken a side in the Middle East, not between right and wrong, good and evil, David and Goliath, but with one set of combatants against another. For journalists in the Middle East, the use of the word 'terrorism' is akin to carrying a gun".
Yet, The Times he worked for, and The Independent he now writes for still happily "carry a gun" and shoot at "Muslim fundamentalists" or "Muslim terrorists" instead of objectively reporting the news. Prejudice against Islam is deep seated, because nobody bothers to find out what Islam really means and what code of conduct the Qur'an prescribes for Muslim.
The Fundamentals of Islam
Here, then, are some of the "fundamentals",
"basic and unalterable principles" of the Qur'an,
Muslims believe in:
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error. Whoever rejects idols and believes in Allah (Arabic name for the one and only God) has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things."
Surah 2 (al Baqarahl The Cow), verse 256.
"We bestowed (in the past) wisdom on Luqman: Show gratitude to Allah. Anyone who is grateful does so to the profit of his soul; but if anyone is ungrateful. verily Allah is free of all wants, worthy of all praise. Behold, Luqman said to his son admonishing him : 10 my son, join not in worship (others) with Allah; for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing'. And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents. In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in two years was his weaning. Show gratitude to Me and your parents; to Me is the final goal. But if they strive to make you join in worship with me things of which you have no knowledge, obey them not, yet bear their company in this life with justice, and follow the way of those who turn to Me. In the end the return of you all is to Me, and 1 will tell you all that you did. '0 my son', (said Luqman), if there be but the weight of a mustard seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth, for Allah is subtle and aware. O my son, establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong, and bear with patient constancy whatever afflicts you, for this is firmness in (the conduct) of affairs. And swell not your cheek (with pride) at men nor walk in insolence on the earth, for Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in your pace, and lower voice, for the hardest of voices is the braying of the ass."
Surah 31 (Luqman), verse 12-19.