Handling Islamic terrorism
Apologies to anyone who has been wondering whether this blog has gone defunct. For anyone who doesn't care, skip to the next para and onto the actual post. The reason for inactivity is simple. I have moved from one place to another and it has taken a while to settle down. Nevertheless, this post has been long coming and it finally has.
"Islamic terrorism" is a buzzword around the world currently. Beyond the buzz, it is a worry for the future. To handle it, I felt we should first understand it rather than tackle it emotionally.
As I mentioned earlier, a prophet seeks to solve some problems and preaches what he thinks people should do. Sujai has a simplistic explanation, though I don't agree 100% with his assessment of Muhammad. But basically, Muhammad's task was to unite a set of war-mongering tribes and he did what he thought was necessary. He operated in the world he knew. Neither did USA exist nor was the world so small at that time.
Further, just as in Christianity or any other religion, the folks who take over after the prophet fight among each other, claiming their version is the correct one. This fighting continues over centuries and the original teachings get distorted. Tribal warfare was common in those parts of the world in the time of Muhammad and that was necessary for survival. If he asked people to fight, it was because that's what they thought was the best way out. Today, we are apparently more civilised and have other better ways of sorting out problems.
It's not as if only recently non-Muslims discovered that there are problems with the way Islam was being practised. Sufism is the example I know of. It was a kind of silent revolution and Sufi saints had to remain hiding fearing Islamic fundamentalists. A good sample of their thoughts is available through a recent pop hit by Rabbi. As I understand, God himself sings:
Nor am I the believer in mosque[Complete lyrics and translation]
Nor am I in the idol-worship
Nor am I in the pure or the impure...
Nor am I in the Vedas
Nor am I in intoxicants...
Nor am I Arabic nor from Lahore
Nor am I the Indian city of Nagaur
Nor a Hindu or a Peshawri Turk
Nor did I create the difference of faith
Nor did I create Adam-Eve
Nor did I name myself...
Essentially, I see today's Islamic terrorism as based on natural behaviour of that region and as an extension of distorted teachings. Those who quote the Quran, swear by Allah and claim to be part of a jihad are just using their religion as a convenient tool to further their interests. Among the rest of the Muslims, possibly, there are many who understand what's going on and most who are ignorant or don't care.
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I don't have a silver bullet of a solution. I don't have an easy way out. Gandhi's ahimsa comes to my mind. Again I have to only repeat. Whether it is the terrorists or ordinary Muslims, all of them have to be embraced as fellow humans. We need to have a conversation of words, not a trading of bullets and missiles.
There is no painless way to peace. But let us not engage in war and destroy any chance of an everlasting solution.
posted by randramble at 15:51
randramble at gmail dot com [all kinds of comments welcome]
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3 Comments:
But i'll not allow any other country to claim a piece of land from mine....
You may want to further examine the causes which led the Prophet to fight. It was not so much because that was the only way he and his people knew. He actually extended the hands of peace umpteen number of times that would put Kofi Annan and the modern world to shame. His ethics of war was of a standard which is not met by any state today. No trees were to be cut, no women , children, civilian, monks were to be touched or killed. No bodies were to be maimed. No crops were to be burnt. You will easily see that he was left with no option with the enemies of the fledging faith to defend the existence of muslims and the muslim state in the Arabian peninsula.
I think there would be always people who manipulate religion for their goals, ambitions, world order. Most of the fight in the name of religion is for resources, power and pride. Even the crusades were to capture the syrian port (acre,I think) which served as the conduit between Europe and Asia and also for the pride that comes with controlling Jerusalem.
The Key is general public should isolate them as much as possible and general public should understand that religion is always based on faith, which doesnt have
scientific truth. Though Faith doesnt have solid proof, it gives humans a direction, discipline and a kind of supernatural entity that they can look forward to when one can't solve one's issue.
Anil Ambani would pray to god to get power/control or success in his latest Corporate strategy. He wont Pray
to God to give him Money or for any basic needs. Whereas, an ordinary Man will pray to god for Money.
Bottom line, when one can't solve issues out of his own effort, he turns to God, if he doesnt get help from say, a local politician or a dada or through bribing.
I see Islamic terrorism in the same context, that day-to-day Muslims and the broader humanity should be like a swan in isolating Faith from Truth. And should marginalise people who uses religion to further their narrow goals.
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