By Tawfik Hamid
Since 9/11, the possibility of a clash of civilizations has become an unavoidable area of discussion among intellectuals as well as the general public. The inaction of Islamic scholars around the world to those who incorrectly interpret the religion's sacred texts to further the influence of extremism undoubtedly increases the likelihood of such a clash.
The war declared by jihadists on the free world has resulted in the killing and torturing of thousands of people. This has ranged from terror attacks and the murder of innocent victims in the name of Islam to paralyzing vital cities such as Mumbai. All such events share the common involvement of Islamic groups that are fueled by ideologies of hatred and violence.
The passive attitude of many Muslims and Islamic scholars has aggravated the problem because this passivity is interpreted by the jihadists — correctly or incorrectly — as a permission for terrorist activity. What message do these scholars convey when they issue a fatwa of apostasy against Salman Rushdie for writing a novel or when they issue other fatwas against many modern Islamic reformers without issuing a similar one against Osama Bin Laden and the terrorists? As an ex-jihadist, I believe that such a fatwa labeling terrorists as apostates can prevent many young Muslims from pursuing the path of terror. Read more ...
Since 9/11, the possibility of a clash of civilizations has become an unavoidable area of discussion among intellectuals as well as the general public. The inaction of Islamic scholars around the world to those who incorrectly interpret the religion's sacred texts to further the influence of extremism undoubtedly increases the likelihood of such a clash.
The war declared by jihadists on the free world has resulted in the killing and torturing of thousands of people. This has ranged from terror attacks and the murder of innocent victims in the name of Islam to paralyzing vital cities such as Mumbai. All such events share the common involvement of Islamic groups that are fueled by ideologies of hatred and violence.
The passive attitude of many Muslims and Islamic scholars has aggravated the problem because this passivity is interpreted by the jihadists — correctly or incorrectly — as a permission for terrorist activity. What message do these scholars convey when they issue a fatwa of apostasy against Salman Rushdie for writing a novel or when they issue other fatwas against many modern Islamic reformers without issuing a similar one against Osama Bin Laden and the terrorists? As an ex-jihadist, I believe that such a fatwa labeling terrorists as apostates can prevent many young Muslims from pursuing the path of terror. Read more ...
Source: NewsMax
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