Islam and terrorism
Uploaded by speed_freak8 on Sep 23, 2004
ýEver since the September 11 incident in 2001, the media has been constantly ýýportraying Islam of being synonymous with terrorism, though the truth is right in front ýýof everyone, Islam is not a religion of terrorism but the exact opposite. ý
ýThere is no exact definition of terrorism but there are general ideas of it. According to ýýPiceton University, terrorism is “The calculated use of violence against civilians in ýýorder to attain goals that are political or religious…” This means that terrorism is ýýmass violence to innocent people to gain goals that are political (Government wanting ýýpower), religious (Religion wanting followers).ý
ýIslam is a religion of peace, the word Islam itself means peace, and it is a religion of ýýmercy and does not tolerate terrorism. The prophet Mohammed, peace and blessings ýýbe upon him, used to forbid soldiers of killing women and children he would say: ýý{…Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child}(Narrated in ýýSaheeh Muslim, #1731). When presenting Islam it is not done as the Christians do and ýýsay “ accept this or you will not be saved”. Such as in the Crusade war of the Middle ýýAges when true Christians engaged in a “holy” war and brutally tortured and ýýslaughtered thousands of Muslims for there conquest of Jerusalem where Muslims, ýýJews and Christians lived under Islamic rule in peace until it became a of extensive ýýbloodshed. In Islam, the message is simply presented and then it is up to the others to ýýaccept it if they are convinced.ý
ýIn sociology, there are functions of religion that are to provide a basis for social ýýcontrol, a social cohesion role, and to help people develop a sense of meaning and ýýpurpose in their lives. Islam provides social control by informing us on what not to ýýeat, what to wear and how to speak, it also provides a meaning and purpose in life by ýýtelling us that there is an after life and the reward is heaven and that this life is a test.ý
ýThe West often gets some verses from the Qur’an and present them out of there ýýcontext that seem violent and connected that with terrorism, or take the example of ýýwhat they call “suicide” bombing. An example of a verse taken from the Qur’an is the ýýfollowing: {Soon shall we cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they ýýjoined companions with...