Author: RNP Singh
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: July 31, 2005
The escalated manifestation of Islamic
fundamentalism is a matter of deep concern for the entire world today.
It existed in the past too. But the powerful countries did not pay heed
to it as it was not having any bothering impact on them, hence they let
others bear with it. It was only after September 11, 2001 when the twin
towers of the World Trade Centre were torpedoed by Islamic fanatics, the
US realised the gravity of the situation and it, along with other countries,
waged a war against Islamic terrorism. However, series of bomb blasts in
London and Egypt in July 2005 is an open challenge by the Islamic terrorists
to all those who have stood up to contain Islamic fanatics.
India had been the worst victim
of Islamic fundamentalism, in the form of cross-border terrorism, since
last two decades. Till 2004, it had claimed thousands of innocent lives
in India and lakhs of people were forced to leave their homes due to intimidation
by Islamic terrorists. Threats to the democratic polity were clearly visible
in the attacks on Parliament, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, killing of a
large number of political activists, representatives of the media and intellectuals.
The root of Islamic jihad is contained
in the Holy Quran, which is the primary source of its inspiration. Islam
is derived from the Arabic word salam and depending on time and place of
presentation, it means "peace" or "surrender". In the nation where and
at a time when believers are not in power, salam signifies peace. But as
soon as they become dominant, it means surrender and that too at the point
of a sword. As per the tenets of Islam, surrender is supposed to be made
to Allah and the Prophet, the sole spokesperson for Allah. In effect, it
means surrender to mullahs who are the real interpreters of the Quran and
Hadith.
Those who believed Mohammad and
his words won acclaim by Him as momins, while those who rejected his mission
were denounced as kafirs. Momins were exhorted to unite into millat, completely
armed, ready to use force or deceit as per the demand of the situation.
This provision of the Quran inspired millat's swordsman to slaughter and
share kafir's property amongst themselves.
The Prophet of Islam had proclaimed
that Allah had assigned the whole earth to millat, without leaving a single
inch for kafir to live. He divided the whole world into two contending
spheres - Dar-ul Islam (zone of peace) and Dar-ul Harb (zone of war). The
believers of Dar-ul Islam were commanded to wage a relenting war upon Dar-ul
Harb till the latter was converted into Dar-ul Islam.
Quran is the only source of Islamic
ideology governing the Muslim mind all over the world. Its verses have
been exhorting the believers against non-Muslims (kafirs). That is why
the global phenomenon of communal conflicts and terrorist activities are
taken in the same breath as Islam.
The systematic brain washing which
Muslims are subjected to since childhood has a great bearing on their global
outlook. Their mind is repetitively indoctrinated by the Quranic Suras
in madarsas. The Quranic Suras which portray every non-Muslim in such a
way that the latter can never share a mutual trust with them, a pre-requisite
to peaceful co-existence. Intolerance, hatred, violence, fundamentalism
and ignorance become central to Islamic existence even before the child
is able to take decisions. There are a number of verses that condition
the Muslim mind and incite violence. For example: "When the forbidden months
are over, fight and slay the pagans, wherever you find them, arrest them,
besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere for them" (9:5). In such cases,
how can a Muslim schooled on the Quran and Hadis not applaud someone like
Osama bin Laden?
In view of the order of Allah, jihad
is not restricted to kill or to be killed. The politics of fundamentalists
and their role in international relations depend on jihad. The Quran directs
believers to establish the writ of Allah in the world. For them, any concession
to find remedy would be pseudo-remedy. Their anger is not triggered by
issues of any other kind. It is the result of indoctrination. Its root
does not lie in Jammu and Kashmir, Palestine or Chechnya, but in the lines
contained in the Quran.
However, in view of the looming
cloud of grave dangers on human lives and social order, debates on this
issue have also started among Muslim intellectuals over the escalated manifestation
of Islamic fanaticism. They claim that there is no such inflammatory call
in the Quran which incite violence. They interpret inflammatory verses
in a manner that call for peace and welfare of the human beings.
The effort is appreciated by one
and all, but the million-dollar question is whether they are acceptable
to Islamic clerics and jihadis? In the past too, such efforts were made
by Sufis but could it bring about any change in the jihadi mindset? Did
they agree to accept that jihad is the inner direction to struggle to purify
one's self?
(RNP Singh, Director Research India
First Foundation)
