Dr. Zakir Naik Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 11 | Size: 1 MB
MUSLIMS ARE FUNDAMENTALISTS AND TERRORISTS
Question: Why are most of the Muslims fundamentalists and terrorists?
Answer: This question is often hurled at
Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during any discussion on
religion or world affairs. Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated in every
form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation about Islam and
Muslims. In fact, such misinformation and false propaganda often leads
to discrimination and acts of violence against Muslims. A case in point
is the anti- Muslim campaign in the American media following the
Oklahoma bomb blast, where the press was quick to declare a ‘Middle
Eastern conspiracy’ behind the attack. The culprit was later identified
as a soldier from the American Armed Forces.
Let us analyze this allegation of ‘fundamentalism’ and ‘terrorism’:
1. Definition of the word ‘fundamentalist’
A fundamentalist is a person who follows
and adheres to the fundamentals of the doctrine or theory he is
following. For a person to be a good doctor, he should know, follow, and
practise the fundamentals of medicine. In other words, he should be a
fundamentalist in the field of medicine. For a person to be a good
mathematician, he should know, follow and practise the fundamentals of
mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of mathematics.
For a person to be a good scientist, he should know, follow and practise
the fundamentals of science. He should be a fundamentalist in the field
of science.
2. Not all ‘fundamentalists’ are the same
One cannot paint all fundamentalists with
the same brush. One cannot categorize all fundamentalists as either
good or bad. Such a categorization of any fund amentalist will depend
upon the field or activity in which he is a fundamentalist. A
fundamentalist robber or thief causes harm to society and is therefore
undesirable. A fundamentalist doctor, on the other hand, benefits
society and earns much respect.
3. I am proud to be a Muslim fundamentalist
I am a fundamentalist Muslim who, by the
grace of Allah, knows, follows and strives to practise the fundamentals
of Islam. A true Muslim does not shy away from being a fundamentalist. I
am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim because, I know that the
fundamentals of Islam are beneficial to humanity and the whole world.
There is not a single fundamental of Islam that causes harm or is
against the interests of the human race as a whole. Many people harbour
misconceptions about Islam and consider several teachings of Islam to be
unfair or improper. This is due to insufficient and incorrect knowledge
of Islam. If one critically analyzes the teachings of Islam with an
open mind, one cannot escape the fact that Islam is full of benefits
both at the individual and collective levels.
4. Dictionary meaning of the word ‘fundamentalist’
According to Webster’s dictionary
‘fundamentalism’ was a movement in American Protestanism that arose in
the earlier part of the 20th century. It was a reaction to modernism,
and stressed the infallibility of the Bible, not only in matters of
faith and morals but also as a literal historical record. It stressed on
belief in the Bible as the literal word of God. Thus fundamentalism was
a word initially used for a group of Christians who believed that the
Bible was the verbatim word of God without any errors and mistakes.
According to the Oxford dictionary
‘fundamentalism’ means ‘strict maintenance of ancient or fundamental
doctrines of any religion, especially Islam’.
Today the moment a person uses the word fundamentalist he thinks of a Muslim who is a terrorist.
5. Every Muslim should be a terrorist
Every Muslim should be a terrorist. A
terrorist is a person who causes terror. The moment a robber sees a
policeman he is terrified. A policeman is a terrorist for the robber.
Similarly every Muslim should be a terrorist for the antisocial elements
of society, such as thieves, dacoits and rapists. Whenever such an
anti-social element sees a Muslim, he should be terrified. It is true
that the word ‘terrorist’ is generally used for a person who causes
terror among the common people. But a true Muslim should only be a
terrorist to selective people i.e. antisocial elements, and not to the
common innocent people. In fact a Muslim should be a source of peace for
innocent people.
6. Different labels given to the same individual for the same action, i.e. ‘terrorist’ and ‘patriot’
Before India achieved independence from
British rule, some freedom fighters of India who did not subscribe to
non violence were labeled as terrorists by the British government. The
same individuals have been lauded by Indians for the same activities and
hailed as ‘patriots’. Thus two different labels have been given to the
same people for the same set of actions. One is calling him a terrorist
while the other is calling him a patriot. Those who believed that
Britain had a right to rule over India called these people terrorists,
while those who were of the view that Britain had no right to rule India
called them patriots and freedom fighters.
It is therefore important that before a
person is judged, he is given a fair hearing. Both sides of the argument
should be heard, the situation should be analyzed, and the reason and
the intention of the person should be taken into account, and then the
person can be judged accordingly.
7. Islam means peace
Islam is derived from the word ‘salaam’
which means peace. It is a religion of peace whose fundamentals teach
its followers to maintain and promote peace throughout the world.
Thus every Muslim should be a
fundamentalist i.e. he should follow the fundamentals of the Religion of
Peace: Islam. He should be a terrorist only towards the antisocial
elements in order to promote peace and justice in the society.
WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?
Question: How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword?
Answer: It is a common complaint among
some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all
over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force. The
following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the
sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was
responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.
1. Islam means peace.
Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’,
which means peace. It also means submitting one’s will to Allah (swt).
Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s
will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt).
2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace.
Each and every human being in this world
is not in favour of maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who
would disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to
be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we have
the police who use force against criminals and antisocial elements to
maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes peace. At the same time,
Islam exhorts it followers to fight where there is oppression. The fight
against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam
force can only be used to promote peace and justice.
3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary.
The best reply to the misconception that
Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy
O’Leary in the book ’Islam at the cross road’ (Page 8):
’History makes it clear however, that the
legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing
Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most
fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated.’
4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years.
Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years.
The Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the people to
convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the
Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give
the adhan, that is the call for prayers.
5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians.
Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400
years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the
French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years. Yet
today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e.
Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there
would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.
6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India.
The Muslims ruled India for about a
thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each
and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today more than 80% of the
population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are
bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the sword.
7. Indonesia and Malaysia.
Indonesia is a country that has the
maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in
Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, ’Which Muslim army went to Indonesia
and Malaysia?’
8. East Coast of Africa.
Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on
the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if Islam was spread by the
sword, ’Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?’
9. Thomas Carlyle.
The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in
his book ’Heroes and Hero worship’, refers to this misconception about
the spread of Islam: ’The sword indeed, but where will you get your
sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of
one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of
the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he
takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him.
You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as
it can.’
10. No compulsion in religion.
With which sword was Islam spread? Even
if Muslims had it they could not use it to spread Islam because the
Qur’an says in the following verse:
’Let there be no compulsion in religion:
Truth stands out clear from error’ [Al-Qur’an 2:256]
11. Sword of the Intellect.
It is the sword of intellect. The sword
that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur’an says in Surah
Nahl, chapter 16 verse 125: ’Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with
wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are
best and most gracious.’ [Al-Qur’an 16:125]
12. Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984.
An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’,
year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the
major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This
article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was
Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by
47%. May one ask, which war took place in this century which converted
millions of people to Islam?
13. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe.
Today the fastest growing religion in
America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in Islam. Which
sword is forcing people in the West to accept Islam in such large
numbers?
14. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson.
Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says,
’People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands
of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has been dropped
already, it fell the day MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born’.
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