Terrorism: The Politics of Hate

On "Islamic” Terrorism

Today, the so-called “Islamic” terrorism is on everyone’s lips. Some want nothing more than to satiate their visceral hatred of everything related to Islam. In Western countries nowadays, it is recurrent for them through their written and spoken media/ press to perpetually talk/ discuss on the subject of “Islamic” terrorism that is currently overtaking the world. There is not a day which passes by that this act (“Islamic” Terrorism) does not make the front page of the media and therefore raises debates within the Islamic community and elsewhere on the merits of this religious terrorism. By publishing it urbi et orbi, there is no doubt that some people want nothing more than to appease their visceral hatred of everything related to Islam and to discredit this faith in the eyes of those who do not profess it.

So far, a lot of conferences, debates and meetings have been organized worldwide so that common sense prevails between the protagonists. But in these dialogues of the deaf not a single glimmer of hope of peace, love and tolerance appeared on the horizon - those who vilify Islam continue to inject hatred and dream of a last crusade to end forever with the modern-day Saracens, i.e. the Muslims. On the other hand, the rebellious (among the Muslims – the extremists) do not give in - they organize themselves and make armaments speak. In all this folly, it is quite legitimate for one to know what the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam thinks about this so-called “Islamic” terrorism which is being projected from morning till night.

I really wonder what they mean by “Islamic” terrorism! Islam is to terrorism as light is to darkness, life to death or peace to war. Naturally they intersect each other but in diametrically opposed directions. We see them cling to each other but they never make the road happily together, hand in hand. However, it cannot be denied that on many occasions Muslims are involved in terrorist activities on behalf of a predominantly Muslim group or country. 

But aren’t there also other groups involved in terrorism and subversion around the world? Suppose that by using the same principle that gave rise to the term “Islamic terrorism”, would it be appropriate to label all other forms of terrorism as follows: Sikh terrorism, Hindu terrorism, Christian terrorism, Jewish terrorism, Atheist terrorism, Buddhist terrorism, Animistic terrorism and Pagan terrorism?

It is not easy to turn a blind eye to the various forms of terrorism that are unfortunately growing in every corner of the world; it is impossible in fact for an observer to be unaware of the persecution, bloodshed and murders perpetrated in the name of a so-called ideal or noble cause. Terrorism is a global problem that requires careful consideration in its broadest aspects.

Unless we understand the forces working behind the violence, we will be unable to understand why some Muslim groups and states are turning to terrorism to achieve certain goals. I am fully convinced that almost all the forms of communal violence that we see in the world today - whatever their nature or wherever they occur- are essentially of a political nature. It’s the power-hungry politicians, for their internal or external political interests who divide people and nations and religious denominations and create tensions and wars between them so that they remain divided and when they do that, they think they’re able to easily control the mass, and choose how to finish a faith or a group of people easily, without problem.

Take, for example, terrorism caused by racism - is it not essentially political in nature after all the analyzes made? There are other small manifestations of terrorism born of religion and hatred against social systems, and prevailing cultures, and they are generally regarded as acts of anarchists or lunatics. There is a type of special terrorism that is related to the mafia’s struggle for supremacy. This kind of terrorism is directed by some factions against others within the organization itself. 

Obviously this terrorism is nothing more than a struggle for power and of a political nature. When we examine the so-called “Islamic terrorism”, we discover political forces working behind a religious appearance. Quite often the real manipulations and exploiters are not themselves Muslims...'

---Extracts from the Friday Sermon of 15 March 2019~ 07 Rajab 1440 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.