Long Beards, Red Lights

Fri, 15 May 2009 15:20:25 GMT

By Nada Alasmi

Oxford English Dictionary Defines a terrorist as, “a person who uses violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.” In the 1800’s the Ku Klux Klan roamed the United States with one aim - to destroy anyone of color. Despite the presence of the KKK, no one has ever come to see Christianity as a terrorist religion. Nor will it ever be seen as one, because one strange man does not change the face of humanity. In times past, the long beards of Muslim portrayed them as men who loved Allah and His Prophet Mohammad. Today however, this is not the case. Instead, these men’s long beards cast a dark red spotlight on them because these men are Muslims, and so are thought of as terrorists. Many people believe that a terrorist equals a Muslim, and that accordingly, Islam is a hate-preaching religion. However, in reality Islam has always been a peace-preaching religion. Not only does Islam condemn terror and violence, it is also against the random killing of people, and the spill of innocent blood, (which is what terrorism is all about.) As explained in the Quran: "We ordained … that if anyone slew a person―unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land― it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people." (Al-Ma'dah:32). This verse can be explained by A. Yusuf Ali, in book, The Holy Quran, Text, Translation and Commentary. "To kill or seek to kill an individual because he represents an ideal (random killing), is to kill all (who uphold the ideal.) On the other hand, to save an individual life in the same circumstances are to save a whole community. What could be a stronger condemnation of individual assassination and revenge?" It must be noted however, that Islam does not slam all forms of killing. Like all monotheist religions, and most governments, at times Islam mandates the killing of others. In these times however, the killing is not random act of whim, but instead an action taken by the Islamic court (controlled by the government) after a through analysis which finds that the accused person has committed a crime to which the punishment is death. An example of such a crime is the murder of innocents. Additionally, another case in which death is ‘permissible’ in Islam is death of soldiers (who are fighting) during a war. This war however, must be true war, in which two armies stand face to face, both armed and ready to fight. Muslims condemn terrorism and terrorists just as all people do. As Renowned Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, has said, "I categorically go against a committed Muslim's embarking on such attacks. Islam never allows a Muslim to kill the innocent and the helpless. Although there are many so called Muslim-terrorist groups, these groups will never gain support from mainstream Muslim society. The Keystone Connection has been viewed times since 18-OCT-2008.