A Peaceful Muslim's Point Of View On Islamic Extremism
The Fire With Fire Blog has had a Muslim reader comment to one of our blog posters comments. In turn I asked this person to please share his or her views with our blog readers on how peaceful Muslims consider all this talk about Muslim Extremism and here is their thoughtful response.
The Watcher: "I am very interested in your perspective on the external jihad that al Qaeda and other Muslim extremist organizations are constantly speaking about. Do you embrace these viewpoints?"
N.R.: "External Jihad - An inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith (Wikpedia). My interpretation and 99.9% of other Muslims."
The Watcher: "How do the leaders in your Mosque in Britain address the issues of violence against civilians both Muslim and non-Muslim? Do they speak about about them or are they silent. What kind of discipline is used when extremists share their views in the Mosque. Do you and other listen? Is there an undercurrent there that draws some of the faithful into these terrorist circles under the guise of practicing their faith more purely?"
N.R.: "Talks are conducted on peace and the true meaning of Islam. What kind of discipline is used when extremists share their views in the Mosque - Ah such arrogance, 99.9% of Muslims are not extreme thus I have never met an "extremist" who has shared their view."
The Watcher: "What is your point of view as one of the faithful on the role and responsibility of religious leadership to speak out about atrocities perpetrated both on the Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Iraq and worldwide by those claiming to be faithful to the Quaran? (al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah)."
N.R.: "None necessary, most Muslims are not terrorists, so such talks are not needed, instead the talks about peace, education sufficiently cover these topics."
The Watcher: "I would like to know why does it seem that Muslim leaders are not embracing peace. I am speaking particularly of the fatwa that was sent out by top clerics at the University of Muslim teaching in Egypt; the fatwa that stated that it was the duty of every good Muslims to fight the intrusion of Americans in Iraq with force."
N.R.: "A fatwa - How elaborate and eccentric! So what! A couple of people in Egypt expressed an opinion, who cares, does this suddenly represent the view of all Muslims. NO! They get reported because they are Muslim, otherwise everybody would be saying who cares."
The Watcher: "I totally agree that most teachings of the Quaran are peaceful and that mainstream Muslims want to practice their religion peacefully, but how do you then educate people like me and others who hear these other stronger messages of hatred of Israel, lack of tolerance for so called apostate Muslims who are Muslims just the same, talk of the re-establishment of the Muslim Caliphate at the expense of existing nation states, and see violent attacks against civilians all in the name of Allah from vocal extremists who are also practicing the Muslim faith in a devout fashion. Do you consider them a part of the faithful? "
N.R.: "Sensationalism. A book can be interpreted in many ways, the media report on the bad and ugly, the good always gets missed out. It is the outspoken who are heard, the rest, keep our heads down."
Thank you N.R. for taking the time to share your point of view.
The Watcher: "I am very interested in your perspective on the external jihad that al Qaeda and other Muslim extremist organizations are constantly speaking about. Do you embrace these viewpoints?"
N.R.: "External Jihad - An inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith (Wikpedia). My interpretation and 99.9% of other Muslims."
The Watcher: "How do the leaders in your Mosque in Britain address the issues of violence against civilians both Muslim and non-Muslim? Do they speak about about them or are they silent. What kind of discipline is used when extremists share their views in the Mosque. Do you and other listen? Is there an undercurrent there that draws some of the faithful into these terrorist circles under the guise of practicing their faith more purely?"
N.R.: "Talks are conducted on peace and the true meaning of Islam. What kind of discipline is used when extremists share their views in the Mosque - Ah such arrogance, 99.9% of Muslims are not extreme thus I have never met an "extremist" who has shared their view."
The Watcher: "What is your point of view as one of the faithful on the role and responsibility of religious leadership to speak out about atrocities perpetrated both on the Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Iraq and worldwide by those claiming to be faithful to the Quaran? (al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah)."
N.R.: "None necessary, most Muslims are not terrorists, so such talks are not needed, instead the talks about peace, education sufficiently cover these topics."
The Watcher: "I would like to know why does it seem that Muslim leaders are not embracing peace. I am speaking particularly of the fatwa that was sent out by top clerics at the University of Muslim teaching in Egypt; the fatwa that stated that it was the duty of every good Muslims to fight the intrusion of Americans in Iraq with force."
N.R.: "A fatwa - How elaborate and eccentric! So what! A couple of people in Egypt expressed an opinion, who cares, does this suddenly represent the view of all Muslims. NO! They get reported because they are Muslim, otherwise everybody would be saying who cares."
The Watcher: "I totally agree that most teachings of the Quaran are peaceful and that mainstream Muslims want to practice their religion peacefully, but how do you then educate people like me and others who hear these other stronger messages of hatred of Israel, lack of tolerance for so called apostate Muslims who are Muslims just the same, talk of the re-establishment of the Muslim Caliphate at the expense of existing nation states, and see violent attacks against civilians all in the name of Allah from vocal extremists who are also practicing the Muslim faith in a devout fashion. Do you consider them a part of the faithful? "
N.R.: "Sensationalism. A book can be interpreted in many ways, the media report on the bad and ugly, the good always gets missed out. It is the outspoken who are heard, the rest, keep our heads down."
Thank you N.R. for taking the time to share your point of view.
