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Islamist militants such as Usama Bin-ladin have created as Jessica Stern put it a “jihad culture” that feeds of the unemployed and uneducated people. In offering the notion of a glorious jihad on the west, the unemployed and poor are given the hope a better life and an almost fascist sense of pride in the “revival” of a supreme Islamic society, free from the evil grasp of the West.
“Extremist madrasahs preach jihad without understanding the concept: they equate jihad-which most Islamic scholars interpret as the striving for justice (and principally an inner striving to purify the self) –with guerilla warfare” (Stern 119). If the Islamist militants truly believed in and understand jihad and the religion and society they claim to be defending they would not resort to militarization in the first place, or claim jihad on the west. As Muhiyaddeen stated:
Do not shout, “Allaah Akbar! God is most great!” and then kill someone. Instead lead him to the good path, the straight path and say, “Allah Akbar.”True holy war means to kill the inner enemy, the enemy of truth. But instead people shout, “Jihad!”and go kill an external enemy. That is not holy war. We should not spread Islam through the sword; we must spread it through the Kalimah, through truth, faith, and love. We have to think of this. (85)
And if this is the case, then how can it be that to “kill Americans and their allies both civil and military” be “an individual duty of every Muslim”, as stated by Usama Bin-ladin in his “ Declaration of the World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and the Crusaders”. How can that be justified under Islam? The fact is that when Afghanistan was liberated from Russian occupation addicts of a jihad culture were born, and now irregulars who fought in Afghanistan started to fight in Kashmir and are looking for new “jihads” to fight even against Pakistan itself (Stern 120).
On human Nature
Under traditional Islam human nature is viewed as something that needs to be worked at, through the search for inner peace, and contentment. Generally people are seen to be equals and should be allowed freedom and diversity in their lifestyle as long as they practice inner patience and trust in God. However; under the Taliban and “fundamentalist ideology human nature is corrupted by western ideas and people need to be told what to do every step of the way. They view human nature in a nationalistic sense that Muslims should be isolated, and that Americans and Westerners are inherently evil and in partnership with Satan. These are two drastically contrasting views on human nature, the second view is held by a minority of extremists that are just using the guise of the Islamic religion to justify their nationalistic beliefs and international intensions.
Conclusion
In addressing the misconceptions of Islam, Taliban revivalism and the Islamist Jihad culture undermine the true teachings and traditional principles of Islamic society. They are both a new phenomenon in the Middle Eastern scene, and hold no bearings in true Islam. Taliban revivalism is nothing but the rule of a tyrant regime that oppresses its people though fear and propaganda. The Islamist militants and Jihad culture are a minority of extremists that advocate a perverse morality though their acts of terrorism. In seeing Muslim countries develop western ideas and government through the Islamic Liberalists, Islamists and nationalists took it upon themselves to expel all western influence and develop a purist Islamic society. This society fell to corruption and terrorism under the Taliban and groups of extremist factions.
Works Cited
1. Tolson, Jay. “Struggle of Islam” U.S. News and World Report.
V. 131 no. 15. October, 2001.
2. Zakaria, Fareed. “Why they hate us” Newsweek Magazine.
V. 138 no. 16. October, 2001.
3. Stern, Jessica. “Pakistan’s Jihad Culture” Foreign Affairs.
V. 79. no. 6. Nov/Dec, 2000.
4. Rashid, Ahmed. “Taliban’s Export Strategy” Foreign Affairs.
V. 78. no. 6. Nov/Dec, 1999.
5. Lewis, Bernard. “License To Kill” Foreign Affairs.
V. 77. no. 6. Nov/Dec, 1998.
6. Mazrui, Ali. “Islamic and Western Values” Foreign Affairs.
V. 76. no. 5. Sept/Oct, 1997.
7. Bullrat, Richard. “Islamic militants” Foreign Affairs.
V. 72. no. 5. Nov/Dec, 1993.
8. Salame, Ghaussan. “ Islam and the West” Foreign Policy.
no. 90. Spring, 1993.
9. Muhaiyaddeen, Bawa. Islam and World Peace. The Fellowship Press, 1987.
10. Newel, Richard. “Islam and the struggle for Afghan National Liberation.”
Pullapily 251-260.
11. Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. “Islam in the Islamic world today, an overview.”
Pullapily 3-14.
12. Danner, Victor. “Religious Revivalism in Islam.” Pullapily 21-28.
Pullapily, Cyria., ed. Islam in The Contemporary World. Cross Roads
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Comments
Well done! jane | Jun 1st, 2002
I totally agree with your article and hope that everyone reads it because it really opens your eyes. I've learnt a lot of new things, especially about the religion of Islam, and hope that people won't be so quick to judge the normal every day muslim who does not agree with everything that the Taliban does.
Perfect Asma Zia | Mar 23rd, 2005
I completely agree with you. People have severely misinterpreted the term jihad and what it actually means. I'm glad, at least someone knows what's right.
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