A magnificent article!!! The most recognizable face of political Islam today is neither a mullah nor a religious scholar. It is a militant. Until 2001, spell checks did not recognize the word Taliban and suggested changing it to tally bone”. Now it is recognized by all spellchecks. Names like al Qaeda and Boko Haram are also equally recognizable. Even the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which is a recent addition to the list of Muslim militant organizations, is known across the globe. Yet, a recent survey by Pew Research Center, Washington, shows that overwhelming majorities – 70 percent and more – in Muslim countries reject extremism. Why, then, has the militant become the symbol of Islam across the globe? The answer is simple: The methods they use — suicide bombings, mass killings, executions and hijacking — draw immediate attention. And since they do so in the name of Islam, they are seen as representing their faith even if 80 to 95 percent Muslims reject suicide bombing as haram. Muslim and Western scholars of Islam warn that it would be a mistake to equate the religion with violence, but many across the world find it difficult to appreciate the distinction between Islam and its militant version.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 10:34:49 +0000
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