Muslims, Islam and Terrorism

August 18,2010 10:00 pm

I am not much of an authority on Islam or on terrorism. But yes, the very mention of these 2 terms in the same sentence raises my shackles! Well, not because I believe all Muslims are peace-loving and harmless, but because those who call themselves Muslims and indulge in such derogatory and filthy acts are far removed from what the Holy Book, the Quran says or the religion 'Islam' preaches.

With my limited knowledge and understanding, I will refrain from quoting various sources and ayahs from the Quran. Rather the point I will try to make is that terrorists ... those who murder, plunder and kill without any valid rhyme or reason...do not belong to any religion, race or creed. Theirs is a twisted frame of mind, one that knows no logic or rationale...rather it is driven by thoughts of unnecessary hatred and intention to spread evil and chaos! To me, these terrorists are nothing but those individuals who are under the influence of Satan and love creating and sustaining an atmosphere of fear, hatred, violence, evil, suspicion, and discord. What the terrorists claim to do in the name of religion, has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with it!

Religion commands love, mercy and peace. Terror, on the other hand, is the opposite of religion; it is cruel, merciless and demands bloodshed, murder and misery. This being the case, the origins of a terrorist act should be sought in disbelief rather than in religiousness. The origins should be sought in fascist, communist, racist or materialist outlook on life. The name or the identity of the trigger-man/suicide-bomber is not important. If he can kill innocent people without blinking an eye, then he is an unbeliever, not a believer. He is a murderer with no fear of Allah, whose main ambition is to shed blood and to cause harm. For this reason, "Islamic terror" is an erroneous concept which contradicts Islam's message. The religion of Islam by no means countenances terror. On the contrary, terror (i.e. murders committed against innocent people) in Islam is a great crime and Muslims are responsible for preventing these acts and bringing peace and justice to the world.

To understand what moves these terrorists, what force propels them to act in the irrational and inhuman manner that they do, one needs to understand their thoughts and the factors that strongly induce such unrealistic and unacceptable behaviors in them! One of the most important characteristic of terrorists is that they act with a collective spirit. Within this spirit, individual ideas and personal choice are disregarded as everyone is directed toward one single goal. Those who act within this collective spirit may do things they would never do in their right mind and commit acts without using their own will and consciousness. In many countries of the world, terror groups composed of a few unintelligent and uneducated people get caught up in the emotional hysteria of mass meetings, slogans, and without even knowing what they are doing or why, they get involved in committing mass atrocities. In one moment, such people can turn into killers with blood on their hands, and even terrorists who are able to commit inhumane acts. A person may seem quiet and calm when he is alone, but when he becomes a part of a terrorist group, he may become capable of committing acts of arson and assault for no apparent reason. Such spells are cast over individuals that they are even willing to be killed for their cause. The majority of those who take part in acts of terror often have weak wills and consciences, and they become like a flock of sheep under the influence of mass psychology. Good sense and judgment are substituted by excessive and extravagant emotionalism and a tendency toward violence and aggression. Such people are easily provoked, intolerant and know no limitation set by any law. The error of this mass psychology is revealed in our Holy Book - the Qur'an where it says that human beings must act according to their own will and intelligence. And this is exactly what the terrorists don't do!

While Islamic morality envisions a life filled with peace, well-being, love and joy for all people, terrorism longs for a society where violence, fear, anxiety and chaos reign.

All believing Muslims the world over have unitedly condemned the 9/11 attacks in USA. But the tragedy remains that most of the Western World as well as countless others the world over, hardly let an opportunity go by without taunting and harassing innocent Muslims over 9/11 and numerous other bombing incidents. Islam denounces terrorism and so do its believers!

It's high time for the civilized world to wake up to this fact and accept it unconditionally that Islam is not terrorism and those who embark on this heinous path have nothing to do with the religion, its doctrines, its philosophy.

In loving memory of my Daddy

They are not dead,
Who leave us this great heritage of remembering joy.

They still live in our hearts,
In the happiness we knew, in the dreams we shared.

They still breathe,
In the lingering fragrance, windblown, from their favorite flowers.

They still smile in the moonlight’s silver,
And laugh in the sunlight’s sparking gold.

They still speak in the echoes of the words we’ve heard them say again and again.

They still move,
In the rhythm of waving grasses, in the dance of the tossing branches.

They are not dead;
Their memory is warm in our hearts, comfort in our sorrow.

They are not apart from us, but part of us,

For love is eternal,
And those we love shall be with us throughout all eternity

I love you Daddy and I miss you...we all miss you!

Daddy, now that you are no longer here with us...

Instead of shedding tears regretting that you are gone,
I choose to smile because you lived.
Though I close my eyes and pray that you somehow come back,
I have learnt to open my eyes and see all that you've left.

Instead of feeling empty within because I can no longer see you,
I choose to be full of the love that we shared.
Rather than turning my back on tomorrow and living for yesterday,
I choose to be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

I can't help but think of you and feel horribly sad that you are gone
But I will always cherish your memory and let it live on,
Though I often cry and want to close my mind, and turn my back (to the world),
I will do what you would have wanted me to ... smile, wipe my eyes, love and go on.

I miss you Daddy ♥ ...more than words can ever express...and I wish I could have you back...somehow, anyhow....