YES saysSusan Philips. NO says Syyed Siraj H Zaidi. Join the online debate @ www.ireland.com/head2head.
YESSusan Philips says Islamist terrorism is rooted, not in political conditions, but in the sacred texts of the religion.
On September 11th, 2001, as Mohammed Atta flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the World Trade Center, he screamed "Allahu akbar" (Allah is great). And when video tapes emerged after the July 2005 London bombings, Sidique Khan, in his Yorkshire accent, clearly stated "our words are dead until we give them life with our blood. Our religion is Islam, obedience to the one true Allah". These men had a deep religious conviction that they were carrying out their Quranic duty to extend the kingdom of Islam worldwide. No matter what moderates argue, countless suicide attacks by jihadis against the western infidel, as well as against fellow Muslims whose interpretations of their faith seem to vary from their own, are given a religious justification.
The rise of a radical element within Islam is undeniable. Islamists take issue with mainstream Islam, which they say fails to fully follow the seventh-century classical teachings of Muhammad. Many fundamental groupings such as Hamas, Hizbullah and Jamaat-I Islam base their inspiration on Muslim Brotherhood ideology, which emanated from Egypt during the second part of the 20th century.
Such influence was based on earlier writers who struggled to make sense of the demise of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of western colonial rule. Sayyid Qutb, the godfather of modern radical movements, blamed Muslim leaders such as Jamal Abdul Nasser for failing to establish pure Islamic states and for espousing a watered-down version of Islam. Their viewpoint was that incorrect interpretation had crept in, resulting in a downfall after many centuries of golden rule.
Qutb urged a return to seventh-century truths as the only solution for the bruised and humiliated ummah (world body of Muslims) and he set out a list of milestones for the onward passage of Islam, arguing that the creation of a truly Islamic government is a divine commandment for every Muslim. Modern radical groups may vary according to cultural norms, but central to their manifestos would be Qutb's interpretation that jihad was to be a proactive tool for forcing a return to the sovereignty of Allah. Nearer to home, and advocating similar ideology, we find Al-Muhaniroun, the party associated in Britain with Abu Hamza from the Finsbury Park mosque, whose seditious preaching influenced the London bombers.
It is true that certain Qur'an verses forbid suicide. However, to many Muslims, the word jihad (to struggle or to strive) refers to the means to trade this life for the life to come. Militant groupings often quote Muhammad Abd el Salem Farag who, taking his inspiration from Qutb, made the critical point that jihad in the form of violent confrontation had to be reinstated.
Quoting the so-called "sword verse", which directs followers to "slay the unbelievers wherever you find them, arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere for them", he concluded that "there can be no excuses, there can be no middle way, it is jihad and Islam or there is blasphemy". This allows Islamist leaders to argue that suicide bombing attacks are not suicide but acts of martyrdom, and therefore not punishable. Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi invoked this interpretation at the July 2003 meeting of the Dublin-based European Council for Fatwa and Research, when suicide attacks against Israel were deemed permissible.
Other verses from the Qur'an and hadith clearly advocate violence. To those who point to earlier and more peaceful suras, it is important to understand that the rule of abrogation places greater emphasis on later Medinan verses in situations where verses seem in contradiction to each other. Moderate Muslims may say that such an interpretation is incorrect. Radicals accuse them of not taking the Qur'an seriously. And where Islamists read "fight them until there is no more disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah, and every kind of worship is for Allah alone", they see this as referring to Islam ruling the world. Moderates have a difficult time explaining away verses that incite violence, because Islam teaches that the Qur'an was dictated by Allah.
Factors such as the existence of Israel and the occupation of Iraq by western armies may provide a focus for Islamists. But none of these so-called provocations existed in the seventh century when Islam spread like wildfire, mainly by the sword.
Many consider Islam to contain peaceful approaches, but within its literature, significant space exists to nurture a radical vanguard force, which is religiously driven and committed to world domination through a process of jihad. Unless Islam is understood in such terms and is held in check by world opinion, the power of western institutions or moderate Islamic elites, it will continue unchecked in its quest to establish a global caliphate.
Susan Philips is a political analyst and author of a recent study, The London Bombings.
NOSyyed Siraj H Zaidi says Islam and terrorism are contradict- ory terms. A terrorist cannot be a Muslim and a Muslim cannot be a terrorist.
The word Islam is derived from the word slim, which means reconciliation, peace, submission and deliverance. Before Islam, all previous revelations had been sent to particular nations. For the first time in human history, Islam came as the religion for all humanity and the Prophet Mohammad was the first to be honoured with a duty towards all humanity.
Islam - like all monotheist religions - is a religion of peace and tolerance. Prayers (salat), fasting, pilgrimage, alms giving and defending it from annihilation (jihad) are the main pillars of Islam. There over one billion Muslims in the world today - over 20 million in the EU - and 52 predominantly Muslim countries. Islam has 72 various sub-sects or schools of thought. However, all Muslims believe in the fundamental principles of Islam. The sole prerequisite for Islam is that one should "really" believe and live accordingly. It is the fastest growing way of life in the world today.
Islam is the religion of unity. That is to say in the field of faith, this is a religion based on believing only in one God. Its view of life and the social system all call for the unity of humanity, brother and sisterhood, equality in basic rights and the abolition of all discrimination based on colour or race. Islam has declared that all people have honour, with no socio-political, material, spiritual, racial or cultural discrimination. It is therefore categorically untrue to claim that terrorism is a principle of Islam.
If one looks into the history of Islam, one would find that this most sublime religion became the victim of extreme brutality and terrorism by so-called Muslims who did not follow the Prophet's instructions and teaching of Qur'an, immediately after his demise. Khilafat - a false so-called Islamic political system - was imposed upon Muslims in the sixth century of the Christian era at the expense of the correct and rightful system of Imamat. The same people have revived militarism to their twisted ideologies and erroneous understanding of Islam, and called it "Islamic ideology". They contradict what Islam is really about.
"Does Islam encourage terrorism?" The question directly points a finger at the religion as opposed to this specific sect which believes in terrorism, and implies that there is something inherently wrong with it. This absurd question shows a profound lack of knowledge of Islam. One cannot even juxtapose the word terrorism with Islam - they are contradictory terms. In true Islam, terror does not exist. In Islam, killing a human is an act equal in gravity to unbelief.
No person can kill a human. No one can touch an innocent person, even in times of war. No one can give fatwa - a legal pronouncement in Islam - in this matter. There is no such thing as a Muslim terrorist; a terrorist cannot be a Muslim; a Muslim cannot be a terrorist. Islamic criteria cannot justify or permit suicide attacks. Islam, always, in all circumstances, approbates peace. The Qur'an regards human life as being exalted and inviolate. Islam considers murder as one of the gravest sins and as a capital crime. In Islam, even in warfare, there are rules to be observed; even trees and crops have rights and non-combatant innocent people cannot be killed. Women and children are protected. Islam regards suicide attackers as heinous murders.
The Qur'an says that killing an innocent person is the same as killing all people: "If someone kills another person - unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the Earth - it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. The instructions came to them with clear signs, but even after that many of them committed outrages in the Earth." (Q. 5:32)
In this Quranic verse, Muslim morality is explained: "To be one of those who believe and urge each other to steadfastness and urge each other to compassion. Those are the companions of the right." (Q: 17-18)
Islam, as described in the Qur'an, is a modern, enlightened, progressive religion. A Muslim is above all a person of peace; he is tolerant, with a democratic spirit, cultured, enlightened, honest, and knowledgeable about art, science and civilisations.
A Muslim educated in the fine moral teaching of the Qur'an approaches everyone with the love that Islam expects. He shows respect for every idea and values art and aesthetics. He is conciliatory in the face of every event, diminishing tension and restoring amity.
In societies composed of such individuals, there has to be refined higher civilisation, a higher social morality, more joy, happiness, justice, security, abundance and blessings than in the world's most modern nations.
Syyed Siraj H Zaidi is an actor, film and TV producer and distributor and a founding member of the Three Faiths Forum of Ireland which brings together Muslims, Jews and Christians