Print Friendly, PDF & Email

{Written by Jerry E. Davis, 9-14-2013 as an adaptation of a Facebook discussion for considerReconsider}

English: A green version of http://commons.wik...

English: A green version of http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Allah-eser2.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Harun Yahya writes:

Religion commands love, mercy and peace. Terror, on the other hand, is the opposite of religion, it is cruel, merciless and demands bloodshed and misery. This being the case the origins of terrorist acts should be sought in disbelief rather than in religion. people with a fascist, communist , racist or materialist outlook on life should be suspected as potential perpetrators. The name or the identity of the triggerman is not important. If he can kill innocent people without blinking an eye, then he is a non believer. He is a murderer with no fear of God, whose main ambition is to shed blood and cause harm.

For this reason, “Islamic terror” is an erroneous concept which contradicts the message of Islam. The religion of Islam can by no means countenance terrorism. On the contrary, terror (i.e. murder of innocent people) in Islam is a great sin, and Muslims are responsible for preventing these acts and bringing peace and justice to the world.

This is a quote from a Muslim educational website. It is one that is built and supported by peaceful, loving and caring Muslims in Istanbul Turkey. Many people around the world including those that claim to be of Islamic faith see fit to try and “debunk” or even to destroy the credibility of those who speak out against violent acts in the name of Islam. 

Many people ask me every day, “how can you support Muslims, or Islam?” I will tell you, because what I have come to know and have learned over the last two years working closely with these people, working with others that are working with these people, including Jewish and Christians and even Atheist I have grown spiritually, morally and mentally towards being accepting of ALL faiths. 

Many people of all faiths and even those who claim no faith still have a conscience. They truly see the love and the hope of God and the peace that can be attained by living by the examples of Jesus, of the scriptures and words of their perspective faiths. They are awake, and they are aware of their consciousness, or as I refer to it, the voice of God within their hearts and their minds. 

I know many Muslims of Islamic faith, and have seen a lot that claim to be but only for the purpose of making what they are doing seem right. Those are the ones the media would have so many believe are representative of ALL Muslims. This simply is not the truth. It boggles the mind that so many, especially here in our own country of America, would follow along mostly blinded by hate and fear perpetuated by decades of being bombarded with propaganda and a seeming “witch hunt” towards Islam.

Many people will ascribe to the U.S. Constitution, to their religion, to their beliefs, and stand strongly that they are “only doing what is right and what they are taught”, This is a very dangerous stance. It is indeed the same mentality of those perpetuating these acts of hatred and violence against innocent people, not only Americans, but Muslims, Jews and all others even of their own religion. Islam does not “teach” violence; people perpetuate violence. 

Why Don’t the Peaceful Muslims Speak Out?

There are many people asking “why don’t any of the those peaceful Muslims speak out against the inhumane and violent acts of radical [[Islamists]]?” First, let us look at the term “radical”. This is not a term coined by religion. It is not a term coined by culture, or population. It is a term coined by media and by Governments and think tanks. There is no such thing as a “radical Islamist” – it is an oxymoron and when used is simply used to incite hate and fear into the hearts and minds of the world. 

There are many publications, people and events in which good, loving, caring and compassionate Muslims that do acknowledge and rebuke those who would use the name of Islam to justify their inhumane and terrorist actions. Many have spoken out against acts of terror in the name of Islam and have even apologized for those using Islam as a means to commit horrible acts. Many have apologized that would have no reason to apologize for others’ actions had it not been for the fear and propaganda used to demonize an entire race, an entire religion, in ways much the same as we used to demonize slaves, much the same that was used to propagate racism in America against our own brothers and sisters here – black, white, Asian, Japanese, the list goes on and on. 

Some people who say they are acting in the name of religion may misunderstand their religion or practice it wrongly. For this reason, it is a mistake to form any idea of that religion from the activities of these people. The best way to understand Islam is through its holy source.  – Harun Yahya {source}

There are many different avenues of discussion one can take here. Many people believe the Qur’an itself teaches hatred and contempt for unbelievers this is not true.

“But as for those who break God’s contract after it has been agreed and sever what God has commanded to be joined, and cause corruption in the earth, the curse will be upon them. They will have the Evil Abode.” (Surat ar-Ra’d: 25)

“Seek the abode of the hereafter with what God has given you, without forgetting your portion of the world. And do good as God has been good to you. And do not seek to cause mischief on earth. God does not love mischief makers.” (Surat al-Qasas: 77)

“As we can see, God has forbidden every kind of mischievous acts in the religion of Islam including terrorism and violence, and condemned those who commit such deeds. A Muslim lends beauty to the world and improves it.” – Harun Yahya

“There is no compulsion in religion. Right guidance has become clearly distinct from error. Anyone who rejects false gods and believes in God has grasped the Firmest Handhold, which will never give way. God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Surat al-Baqara: 256)

Many people assume that 9-11 was perpetuated by “Islam”. It was not. EVEN IF the fault was not of our own country (which I stand by the latter) those used to instigate the events of 9-11 were in no way representative of what Islam truly is.

It is time that we all start looking at the sources of mischief in this world, not just of condemning others of evil and violence perpetuated through religion, as religion. True religion and values of God and morality does not teach violence. It matters not WHAT religion it is, if it is of God it does not teach violence. Islam does not teach violence. People teach violence; idealisms teach violence. Religion is not violent, but people can be though. Many people would do well to take the time to actually talk to a few honest, caring and loving Muslims to see that most of what people have been shown, or what the media and others with a self misguided belief of what Islam is, have shown in a false light.

Tolerance, forgiveness, compassion, strength, faith, love, fellowship, all true hearts of God can see these, to condemn, to convict and to judge others without knowing truth, without using common sense and without letting ourselves be blinded with romantic notions of what is … and what is the truth is imperative.

Yes, there are many Peaceful Muslims, Many more than the bigots who lay claim to be “Islamic”.

These are just a few links to some of the former:

  • http://www.khalidzaheer.com/essays/others/islam_condemns_terrorism.html
  • http://www.islamdenouncesterrorism.com/
  • http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php
  • http://kurzman.unc.edu/islamic-statements-against-terrorism/
  • http://trueslant.com/jonathancuriel/2010/07/04/the-muslim-cleric-who-condemned-911-a-recollection-of-muhammad-hussein-fadlallah/
  • http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453468/posts
  • http://www.freemuslims.org/
  • http://www.buildingbridgestv.com/

A Personal Conclusion

I love all of my brothers and sisters in this world so much. It really does hurt my heart to see so much hate, so much racism and bias, so much intolerance and bigotry towards one another. It is our world; it is what we want to make it. Like Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in this world”. All of us have our shortcomings; we are all human it is a fact of life. We must overcome that part that wants to hate, that wants to blame and point fingers so easily. Whether one believes in God or not, we are born with a consciousness that is there to guide us. Listen to your heart and look past the propaganda, the Marxism and Darwinism, beyond the science, beyond the romanticism, look beyond yourself, and find love.

Enhanced by Zemanta