Islamic Terrosrism

Islamic Terrorism?

Everyday if you scan newspaper, you may read news regarding one Islamic terrorist organization killing number of people some place on the face of earth. Two planes hit World trade center in New York. A group of gunmen breaks through tight security to attack the parliament building in the Indian capital, New Delhi, Foreign tourists killed at a holiday resort in Luxor, Egypt. Interestingly attackers were Muslims in all the described events. The events worldwide symbolizing the 'Islamic terror' are endless. Such incidents from past and present undoubtedly associate Islam with terrorism. I have lived in predominant Muslim area almost all my life; I have two images of Islam. I always woke up with morning Ð''azaan', which always brought me peace of mind; another image is - of my house surrounded by hundreds of Muslims carrying swords in their hand crying Ð''Allah o Akbar' on December 1992. The words which I heard everyday in my life and sounded so peaceful, frightened me. The question which daunted me was Ð'- which is true face of Islam?

The name Islam comes from the Arabic root word 'salaama', which means peace. Islam means achieving peace through the submission to the will of Allah. If the religion is based on the notion of peace, then how is it that so many acts done by its adherents are contrary to peace? Is Islam as a religion is responsible for wide spread terrorism or is it misinterpretation of Muslims of their own religion. Despite of all recent events and my shocking experience on that unforgettable day of December 1992, I believe that Islam like every other religion teaches love and peace.

Are love, peace and compassion central to Islam? Many people think jihad is more central to it than compassion. Lets examine what Jihad is from religion's point of view. But this is not so. According to Mohammad "The best jihad is (by) the one who strives against his own self for Allah, The Mighty and Majestic". (Hadith (Quotation of the Prophet Muhammad).) 1 According to some passages in Quraan, Jihad is the intimate struggle to purify one's soul of evil influences -- both subtle and overt. It is the struggle to cleanse one's spirit of sin.

The most striking example of compassion within Islam is recitation of Bi Ism-i- Allah al-Rahman al-Rahim before every activity. A Muslim begins everything by reciting Bi Ism-i- Allah al-Rahman al-Rahim (i.e. begin in the name of Allah Who is Compassionate and Merciful). Thus a Muslim is supposed to invoke Allah the Compassionate and Merciful at every step. He does not invoke Allah's other names (Allah has 99 names according to the Islamic belief) as he invokes Him as Merciful and Compassionate. Thus compassion is more important aspect of Allah's virtues. It would be interesting to note that Muslims are required to care for Animals being slaughtered; that is why Muslims are not allowed to any other meat then Halal (meat produced after taking care of Animal with compassion) meat. Then what turns followers of religion based on compassion and love into terrorists.

Perhaps roots of so-called Islamic terrorism are more political and cultural then religious. Arab and Islamic hatred of the West is not new. It originates