After the multiple terrorist attacks in Paris on last Friday, people have started discussions on all possible issues, viz: (i) why France, (ii) how a recent Muslim refugee in France was one of the terrorists, (iii) what were the motives of IS, (iv) how Western world was responsible for all these terrorist attacks, (v) how safe other countries were and (vi) what could be done to control these attacks etc. etc..
The fact of the matter is that we are living through global Jihad. It is a war between Ideological State(s) and Nation States. May be this situation will lead to Third World War. The present ‘area of control’ of IS is restricted to parts of Iraq and Syria; but its ‘area of influence’ and ‘area of interest’ are huge. IS has infiltrated in to all major countries developed or not-so-developed. Its ‘area of influence’ covers all those countries (including Pakistan, India and Bangladesh). The IS is determined to converting the whole world in to one Islamic Caliphate which is its ‘area of interest’.
A major proportion of Muslim may say that it is a war against Western imperialism, its corrupt culture, society and hypocrisy in the name of democracy and freedom. On the other hand, a major proportion of non-Muslims may say that it is a clash between concept and practices of free 21st century and stagnant 7th century.
There is no reason to believe that Islam does not promote ‘imperialism’. It surely does, but sanctifies this imperialism through religious obligation. Present day IS is doing that and in the past also, Islamic imperialism expanded from a small town of Arabia to present day fifty plus Islamic/Muslim majority countries. Western imperialism is mainly political and economic in nature; but Islamic imperialism is all encompassing. The story from Egypt to Indonesia is same. In last fifty years, the demographic shift in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan and Bangladesh in favour of Muslims speaks of the same story in a different way.
Coming to alleged Western corrupt culture and society one can argue that Western world did not impose its culture and social mores to Islamic world. The Islamic world has all along been at liberty of accepting (as in Turkey and in Iran under Shah) or rejecting those (as in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bangladesh). Only the Muslims immigrants to Western countries during last seventy years were exposed to Western culture directly. But those Muslims migrated of their own volition and by the end of Second World War, the Western countries (including US, Canada & Australia) had become multicultural. The migrated Muslims could follow their faith and culture in the countries they adopted. It was only after the misuse of the liberty by some immigrant Muslims, that some restrictions on religious practices have been put on Muslims in countries like France.
To kindle the current Islamic terrorism, some Jihadists even refer to the bygone golden era of Islam. But almost all Muslim famous figures of the golden era were labeled as apostates during their prime time.
The aggressive self-righteousness, inability to change, monopoly of power hungry Ulema and love for violence towards anything un-Islamic (people, culture & mores) inherent with Islam has made it a perpetually restless, assertive and ruthless religion. IS is propagating this same philosophy and the Muslims who do not believe in this interpretation of Islam are today’s apostates only.
Sponge-head
Before defending Islam so desperately has it ever crossed your mind why all the terrorists belong to the same religion? You say that Islamic countries treat the minorities in the same manner they treat the Muslims. Seriously? If so then why don’t the Saudis don’t allow churches/temples to be built on their soil? And if the Muslims are so peace loving then why most of them keep silent whenever there’s an attack on the people of other faith? Can you suggest a single non-Islamic country where people kill each other in the name of religion or more so kill people of their own faith? When someone uses Islam as a barrier to justify his crimes you can’t say that it has nothing to do with it.
Sponge-head,
I had to transfer your last comment to ‘trash’ as the total number of words used in your two comments was 921 against 561 of my original article. So you can understand the degree and quantum of your anger which has blurred your comments. You also know “one who angers you conquers you”.
I never expressed satisfaction over the Palestine situation or that of Burma. I also responded that I was against fundamentalism of all religions. You did not like that and wanted to see my through your own tinted glass. You avoided my point and tried to justify the plight of minorities in Paki and Bang by cooking up your own logic of Palestine and Burma.
How could you expect me to respond to the blab la of each line of your jumbled up and unnecessarily tortuous comment? How did I pick and choose your comment in my response? You can write your comment point-wise like 1, 2, 3 & 4 etc., so that there is clarity and one can respond.
I am clear that you support the Islamist terrorist attacks by IS as plight of Muslims in Palestine and Burma is not getting proper media coverage. But you know that IS is not involved in terrorism for Palestine and Burma.
You can believe in whatever you feel like. But how can you except others to be like you? This regimentation of believes is unique in Islam. You will never come out of this.
Hi Sponge-head,
Before defending Islam so passionately contest the Qur’anic verses referred to in the last post of Dr A Rahman and related comments thereof. You are an angry defender of Islam who lives in Gulf and think that Gulf is the world. I don’t blame you. I condemn fundamentalism of all religions. Your limited knowledge of minorities’ position in Pakistan and Bangladesh has made you make some wishful statements about minorities’ rights in Islamic countries. If ISIS or Boko Haram does terrorist activities anywhere in the name of Islam should Christianity or Buddhism be blamed? If Islam is the religion of peace and 99.99999% Muslims are peace loving, why this 99.99999% are not coming out openly against ISIS & Boko Haram et al.?
First, I would like to correct the fact that’s been said about the bombers being Syrian refugees, well, you’re wrong, Abdelhamid Abaaoud (the ringleader) was a Belgian resident whereas the rest were French nationals. As A Rahman said about the liberty of non muslims in islamic countries, i absolutely disagree, i live in a gulf, I have friends here who are Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and atheists and they aren’t treated any different than I am. We have churches here too. When you’re referring to countries to countries that is in equal to people who are of other religions, that would only be Saudi Arabia and Iran, which I totally disagree with how they treat people. Anyywaayy, ISIS is following what Islam says it to? Blowing themselves up in the name of God? News flash! Suicide is a sin! I seriously have no problem with atheists but I do have problem with atheists who think it’s fun to trample on people’s faith like that. ISIS have bombed a mosque this year in Kuwait, where I live, what kind of Muslim bombs their own worshipping place? Thousands of people killed by ISIS in Syria are Muslims, because that’s why Islam says right? Kill Muslims too! *note the sarcasm in case you missed it*, ISIS is Islamic you say? Why aren’t they doing anything to defend Palestinians and Palestine, the holiest place for Muslims, if they claim to be such rightful Muslims? You people talk about the Paris attacks where about 150+ people have died and you ask questions. Yet 200+ died the previous day in Beirut, Lebanon and you haven’t thought about mentioning that, are some lives worth more than others? People like you should find something for a better cause, inequality of women in Bangladesh, child marriages, poverty, corruption of the government, yet you’re chasing after a lost cause, no matter what you say, it won’t matter to Muslims, your words fall on deaf ears. You believe why you choose to believe and let us follow what we believe. You are an atheist, fine, whatever, but insulting Islam or any faith isn’t going to earn you anything but insults and condemnation from people of those said faiths. The problem in Bangladesh is the cultural norm, nevermind Islam, Bangladeshis live as though they’re in 19th century, saying this from experience, some of the people who think that way aren’t even halfway religious! My comment or whatever is a mess, but I have way too much to write than I can. I sincerely say, you can practice atheism as much as you wish, but for your sake don’t make it your first priority to condemn others faith and find something better to do with yourself, because honeslty, Islam isn’t going away anytime soon..
Good day and God bless
It is very well written and concise write-up. The fundamental incongruence and, dare I say, fraudulence arise from the fact that those Muslims (particularly from the Middle East) who would demand religious freedom in the West would not offer the same in their home countries to other religions! The liberal West had been tolerating such fraudulent behaviour for far too long.
I am going to post a new write-up on “Root causes of grotesque Islamic violence” on this website soon.