Islam is religion of mercy, not violence

THE killing of innocent people in Paris by Islamic State must be condemned by the whole of humanity.

The Muslim faith does not turn men to terror. “Whosoever killeth a human being,” says the Holy Qur’an, in the 32nd verse of its fifth chapter, “it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whosoever saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of mankind”.

The process of violent radicalisation has little to do with religious practice. Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism.

In the Qur’an, God said: “God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers.” (Qur’an, 60-8).

In the light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenceless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women and children are forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and Muslims.

The term Islamic terrorism must be expunged from our vocabulary. It is a dangerous misconception, a myth that is rooted as much in ignorance as in prejudice.

Terrorism as a political concept or as an instrument of policy did not exist in the early days of Islam when its religious concepts were defined and crystallised for posterity. Hence there is no question of there being any support for the modern concept of terrorism in the Qur’an.

It is grossly unfair to speak of a phenomenon called Islamic terrorism, for it amounts to saying that Islam permits and promotes terrorism. Intensive studies do not lend any credence to such a notion.

History also does not support it. Islam has been around for centuries whereas terrorism is a much more recent deadly phenomenon.

The ignoramuses in the media and the security establishments, who have been using the term Islamic terrorism indiscriminately, must be reminded that Islam and the majority of the world’s Muslims do not support terrorism.

The illogicality of using the term Islamic terrorism is apparent to many scholars, but few have the intellectual integrity and moral courage to differ with the notions that prevail in the West. FAROUK ARAIE

Joburg

Picture: EPA French police forensics staff outside the Rue du Corbillon building in Saint-Denis, northern Paris after last week’s terrorist attacks. A reader points out that the Islamic State’s actions have no religious basis.

Eusebius McKaiser