By Kaleem Kawaja for Twocircles.net
In the last one year, there has been an upsurge in terrorism committed by a variety of terrorist groups from the Muslim community, on the largely non-Muslim population in North America, Europe and Africa. As a result, the image of Muslims all over the globe has been maligned much. Even though the perpetrators represent a miniscule number of Muslims, and the overwhelming majority of Muslims are constructive and law abiding people, the entire community is maligned, as the terrorists liberally use the name of Islam and a distorted interpretation of the noble concept of Jihad in committing these heinous acts.
Indeed, these Muslim terrorists have killed a record number of fellow Muslims themselves in the internecine inter-sect and inter-region aggressive wars. In all religious communities e.g. Christians, Hindus, Buddhists there are sharp differences between the sects and regional elements. But very few of them are trying to resolve them with gory violence, to the extent that the Muslims are doing presently.
ISIS, Al- Qaeda, Al-Shabab, Boko Haram are some of today’s leading Muslim terrorist groups who are busy committing terrorism against innocent civilians in at least three continents. Obviously the non-Muslim and western world is aghast at this rapidly spreading scourge.
Some analysts have pointed out to some aggressive and erroneous policies of western countries in Muslim countries in the last 25 years as the underlying reason for the recent upsurge of terrorism among Muslims. Yet it is not possible to become defensive and cite these policies as justification for the inhuman terror campaign of the Muslim terrorist groups. Indeed the actions of Muslim terrorists are greatly profaning the basics of Islam and the Islamic history of 1,400 years, as Islam categorically prohibits it. This is not to say that Muslims should stop lawfully defending their communities from the terrorism of others.
While the media does highlight all instances of terrorism committed by Muslims, this maligned image is not only because of the media. The frequent terrorist incidents and the failure of governments and society in Muslim countries to take effective steps to root out terrorists from their community is a significant factor. Responsibility also lies with the Muslim clerics and educational systems that do not act efficiently and aggressively to make the Muslim youth and educational institutions understand that acts of terror or coercion are the worst of the crimes and sins and are totally inexcusable in Islam.
To prevent the radicalisation of Muslim youth so that they are not influenced by the propaganda of the Muslim terrorist groups is the most critical and important necessity of our times for the Muslims as a whole. In western countries, this responsibility lies with the Islamic centres, schools, religious & social organisations and conferences. Instead of just delivering lectures on the subject they need to run intensive programs especially focused on the youth, as they are the most vulnerable to the distorted propaganda of the terror groups.
In the last few months as the above mentioned Muslim groups committed horrible acts of terrorism in the non-Muslim lands of US, UK, France, Nigeria, Kenya etc. a majority of Muslims across the globe condemned them. But unfortunately, within a few days some Muslim media outlets, activists, scholars and organisations started finding excuses and alibis for them or tried to minimize the extent of violence by citing old stories of western wars in Muslim countries. One Muslim scholar in US was unwise enough to suggest that the number of people killed by Muslim terrorists in US was so small compared to those killed in general violence in US, that it is insignificant. Also there are credible reports from several cities that some irrational Muslim speakers in public events have stated that in view of the human rights violations of Muslim minorities that is happening, it is not necessary for Muslims to apologise for the gory violence of Muslim terrorist groups. The net effect of such irrational acts on the Non-Muslim masses has been one of shock at the insensitivity of these Muslims.
Of course, many wise Muslim scholars have tried to correct the situation. Shaikh Hamza Yusuf, a prominent American Islamic scholar made the wisest suggestion to his community. He told Muslims that it was time for them to feel the pain of the non-Muslim communities who have been hurt by Muslim terrorism and redouble steps to stop that terrorism. It was not the time to cite past instances of some failed western policies that caused harm in Muslim countries, because that will paint the image of Muslims as insensitive brutes. A very large number of reputed Muslim organisations have expressed sympathies with the victims of Muslim terrorists and have tried to provide relief for them.