documentary around which this document is based. Links are provided below:
Contents
Introduction
In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful.
On 02/04/2007, Fox News aired an hour long segment entitled "Radical Islam: Terror in Its
Own Words" by E.D. Hill. The documentary, despite appearing to be composed well, had many
flaws. For instance, it wrongly labeled Muslims as killers ("radical") and non-killers
("moderate.") In addition, it failed to point out that although suicide bombing does occur
by those who claim to be Muslim, suicide is forbidden in Islam. Lastly, the documentary
failed to give the so-called "Moderate Muslim" more than two minutes of airtime to explain
his response, while contributing roughly fifty-six minutes to the degradation of the name of
Islam by using the Middle East as its potent example.
In the documentary, Muslims were repeatedly accused of not speaking out. The Muslim who
was interviewed and who was asked to give his thoughts on the Middle East for two minutes
said exactly why this is so: Muslims are not getting airtime. This fact was made clear by
the documentary itself. Not only was the Muslim given no more than two minutes, the
interviewer was constantly arguing with him, preventing him from finishing what he had to
say. The specific flaws of the documentary will be discussed at their appropriate times;
however, you will first be acquainted with the documentary's definition of "radical" and
"moderate" Islam.Definitions
Moderate Islam
The documentary defines moderate Islam as Islam that teaches peace; an Islam that does not
enjoin killing, suicide bombing, or threats against the United States. Specifically,
Moderate Muslims are those living in the West.Radical Islam
The documentary defines Radical Muslims as those in the Middle East: the suicide bombers,
those who kill, and those who pose threats against the United States. A man towards the
beginning of the documentary states that the very ideology of Jihad promotes killing. This
is not true, as will be discussed later. In order to begin the discussion, you must be
acquainted with some of Islam's basic teachings.Flaws in the Documentary
As has been mentioned previously, several notions about Islam presented in the documentary
are false. Often times, one is told that suicide is condemned in Islam, but is not given
proof of this; one is told that killing is condemned in Islam, but is not given proof of
this. Mere words from one's mouth do not suffice to prove to the average opponent that Islam
does condemn suicide and killing; for this reason, explanations and relevant verses from the
Holy Quran have been provided to remove all doubt from your mind. Unfortunately, the
documentary lacked commentary on this aspect, effectively showing Islam as a religion of
terrorist activity, whether that Islam was radical or moderate becoming less significant as
the video progressed.Suicide
Recall the documentary's definition of Radical Islam: mere Islam, but an Islam which teaches
that suicide bombing is the way to Allah. This notion is false, and is the basis for many
misconceptions about Islam since September 11, 2001. Many use the martyrdom of Imam Hussein
(S.A.) of the Shiah sect as an example to back up the righteousness of suicide bombing,
claiming that Hussein (S.A.) committed suicide. In reality, he did not commit suicide; he
was killed. In addition, Hussein (S.A.) did not cause others to die with him; their deaths
were voluntary, and were not performed by themselves. When this argument is presented,
suicide bombing loses its ground in two ways:
- When a suicide bomber lights a bomb, he commits suicide, something which is highly
condemned time and again in the Quran. - When a suicide bomber blows himself up, he kills several people around him; many of whom
are innocent civilians.
you may now argue that the Quran does not condemn suicide. Consider, then, verse 2:195,
which reads as follows:
And spend in the way of Allah and cast not yourselves to perdition with your own
hands, and do good (to others); surely Allah loves the doers of good.
Verses 4:29-30 read as follows:
O you who believe! do not devour your property among yourselves falsely,
except that it be trading by your mutual consent; and do not kill your people; surely Allah
is Merciful to you.
And whoever does this aggressively and unjustly, We will soon cast him into fire; and this
is easy to Allah.
Take a look at verses 2:84-85
And when We made a covenant with you: You shall not shed your blood and you
shall not turn your people out of your cities; then you gave a promise
while you witnessed.
Yet you it is who slay your people and turn a party from among you out of their homes,
backing each other up against them unlawfully and exceeding
the limits; and if they should come to you, as captives you would ransom them-- while their
very turning out was unlawful for you. Do you then believe
in a part of the Book and disbelieve in the other? What then is the reward of such among you
as do this but disgrace in the life of this world, and on
the day of resurrection they shall be sent back to the most grievous chastisement, and Allah
is not at all heedless of what you do.
Consider what verses 2:84-85 tell the believers. (A) The shedding of blood of other human
beings is not lawful; (B) People should not be driven out of cities if they are your own
people (viz. Muslims should not expel Muslims); and (C) Do not believe in one part of the
Quran while ignoring the rest of it. By the three verses mentioned, the Islamic standpoint
on the killing of others during a suicide bomb becomes quite clear: it is condemned greatly.
Focus will now be shifted briefly to a flaw in the documentary which does not have to do
with the misunderstanding of Islam, but rather with the way one of the interviews was
handled.Not Enough Airtime
Towards the end of the documentary, Hill interviews who she calls a "Moderate Muslim." She
asks him for his views on the situation in the Middle East. From the beginning of the
interview, the viewer can easily tell that Hill is looking for an argument. Not only does
she give the interviewee roughly two minutes to share his views, she does not let him finish
his thought: she is constantly arguing with him. Whether Hill meant for the argument between
her and the interviewee to communicate the message that Hill had a specific goal--a goal to
point a finger at Islam, one may never know unless they ask her directly; however, this did
appear to be her purpose by her attitude. The Imam made an excellent point when he stated
that Muslims are not getting the airtime they deserve; this was one of those examples. If
anything, Hill should have let him explain what he was going to say instead of interrupting
him half way through his sentences and handing him several videos to watch.
Through all the cut offs by Hill, the average viewer may have failed to notice a fine
point made by the interviewee, one which Hill skillfully ignored. He stated that the suicide
bombing is purely a political act, and has nothing to do with Islam. To understand the
interviewee's comment, one must consider the attack on the United States, which is believed
by many to have started the uproar experienced today.
A common belief is that Iraq was involved in 9/11/2001; however, this is not true.
Although Al-Qaeda may have been involved, Iraq had no political gain. Instead, it was more
likely the people from Palestine; several sources point in different directions, so there is
still much speculation. Nonetheless, if indeed Palestine played a role, one must understand
Palestine's position for this possibility to bare any significance on the political nature
of the assault.
Israel was given to the Jews by the United States after the Holocaust. Since then, Israel
invaded Palestine; and the destruction continues till today, according to
href="http://electronicintifada.net/bytopic/442.shtml">ei: Israel invades Gaza: "Operation
Summer Rain". Naturally, Palestine would be angry at the United States because the US is
allies with Israel, Palestine's enemy. Because of this, Palestine decides to take revenge on
the US for giving Israel its firepower and continuing to support the country even though it
went outside of its boundaries. Considering this, Palestine's action was purely political,
as the interviewee in Hill's interview stated.
Considering all of the information given above, you will now be presented with the actual
definition of Islam.Actual Islam
The documentary, although shining light on the roots of terrorism, failed to point out that
Islam had no factor in suicide bombing, or the killing of US soldiers. Instead, Islam was
divided in to two categories: moderate and radical. These categories, however, are illogical
and do not follow the Islamic trend in the least.
A Muslim who follows Islam to its fullest--from the five daily prayers to fasting to
being mindful with whom he or she converses on account of whether that person is lawful for
him or her--is a "extreme Muslim." Notice that the word "radical" was not used. This is
because there is no definition of "radical Islam." Radical means beyond the normal
guidelines, and Islam beyond the normal guidelines is in fact not Islam at all. Here,
"beyond the normal guidelines" refers to suicide bombing, and killing other people
mercilessly, two acts which are condemned and looked down upon by the teachings of Islam, as
has been shown to you above. Every Muslim's goal is to become an extreme (or true) Muslim,
because at that point they are following the Quran to its fullest. Recall verse 2:85:
"… Do you then believe
in a part of the Book and disbelieve in the other? …" This verse clearly is a wake up call
to Muslims.
Owing to verse 2:85, the term "moderate Muslim" is a label that Muslims do not wish to
carry--that is, true Muslims do not wish to carry. A moderate Muslim is one who does just
what verse 2:85 condemns: he attends the Mosque but does not pray; he consumes alcohol but
still counts himself up righteous; and he turns his back on helping people by stating "If
only I won the lottery…" yet he counts himself good-hearted because he recites the Quran at
the Mosque. Chapter 107 of the Quran declares:
So woe to the praying ones,(4-7).
Who are unmindful of their prayers,
Who do (good) to be seen,
And withhold the necessaries of life.
Considering the verses presented above, moderate Muslims would fall under the category of
false Muslims, those that cannot be called Muslims at all. Therefore, there still remains
two types of Muslims, but not in the sense in which Hill sees them (as radical and
moderate.)
- Striving Muslims: These are those who pray in good faith; who give to the poor without
wishing they won the lottery; who do not consume alcohol; and who avoid sin where ever they
can. In essence, these are the Muslims who are still striving to be spiritually successful.
Although they do not follow every teaching of the Quran, they are still Muslims because they
are attempting to reach the goal of ultimate success. - True Muslims: These are those who have fully accepted the will of Allah (God); who are
free from sin; who do not eat unless their neighbors have eaten. These are the Muslims to
whom the former type look up to as role models.
Notice that there was no mention of suicide bombing or killing. No matter how extremely one
follows Islam, he or she is not permitted to kill another (except in self-defense), or
commit suicide. As soon as he or she does this, he or she is no longer a Muslim, according
to verse 2:195, which has been quoted elsewhere. Suicide cannot even be labeled as Jihad.
Jihad
Towards the beginning of Hill's documentary, a man stated that the very ideology of Jihad is
to kill those who do not follow Islam. There are several problems with this belief.
Firstly, one must establish the meaning of Jihad. Jihad means a struggle (not holy war).
There are two types of this struggle:
- The war against one's self: This type of Jihad refers to one's struggle against his or
her own desires for unlawful things. Spiritually inclined persons practice Jihad every day,
whether they realize it or not (viz. resisting gambling, resisting alcohol, Etc.)
(Philosophy Of Islam 143). - Holy War: This type of Jihad is the physical Jihad performed with weapons; it is this
Jihad that has been used as an excuse for suicide bombing. There are strict guidelines by
which this Jihad is performed, however, and none of them are left standing when one blows
himself up in a crowded area. The most important of these guidelines is Muslims are only
permitted to fight when "… they [the non-Muslims] start fighting first, when they violate
the privacy of Muslims, expel them from their homes, or hinder them from conveying the
message of Islam"
href="http://www.islamonline.net/english/Contemporary/2003/10/article02_a.shtml">
[IslamOnline - Contemporary Section].
Al-Qaeda flew planes in to the United States World Trade Center when they had no reason to,
except anger. The US did not wage war upon them, and did not prevent them from spreading the
word of Islam; therefore, the claim that the attack on the Twin Towers was an act of Jihad
is void.
False Islam
you have been shown that Islam condemns suicide, and also the killing of others; yet, these
acts occur quite frequently in the Middle East. In fact, suicide bombing is branded as
martyrdom. Considering all of the verses and information presented above, one can now see
why many Muslims do not support those claims: suicide bombing is not martyrdom because it
violates one of the basic principles of Islam; and killing other human beings is also
unlawful (except in self-defense). With all these facts in mind, the arguments of the Middle
East fall short of solid ground on which they may stand.
Final Remarks
Therefore, Ms. Hill, I urge you to carefully rethink your documentary, and maybe talking to
someone who grew up in the West and studies the religion for what it really is may be
beneficial to you. You will fight us, so we will fight you, and in the middle we will clash.
In the end, surely Islam will prevail over the ones who are sensoring it because they are
uncomfortable that Christianity is losing its footing; even though we can all agree that
"Missionary work is performed mostly in exchange for financial and material remuneration"
(Philosophy Of Islam 27). This is all a ploy by the Pope and his Catholic friends.
You are now being seen right through because your political-religious wavering did not help
humanity. Today, society is looking for answers, and getting it through Islam (Philosophy
Of Islam 28). Where is the mention of your crusades when you talk about "radical
islamists" blowing up buildings? Where is your discussion of Timathy Mcvay's destruction of
a government building in the 90s? You seem to be so sure of yourselves, but yet you have
become so institutionalized that the Pope is an untouchable--you are to talk to his bishops.
Did Christianity come with Jesus (peace be upon him) or after Jesus?
Your pope lives in splendor while Moses and Aaron went to visit Farrow with only pieces of
woolen clothes on their bodies and wooden sticks (Philosophy Of Islam 143-44). You
will ignore the pitfalls of your own religion by focusing on debasing Islam (which helps
humanity because it tells the man and woman that you "must live respectfully and must not be
humiliated or dominated" (Philosophy Of Islam 11)); and you are teling me Jesus died
for my sins. Wrong--we are dying for each other's sins. You use this great sacrifice as an
excuse to not participate in prescribed rituals such as prayer and fasting because "Jesus
died so I don't have to do that anymore. Isn't he wonderful? Let's go drinking. Praise
Jesus!"
References
Behishti, Ayatullah Dr. Muhammad Hosayni, and Hujjatul-Islam Dr. Javad Bahonar.
Philosophy of Islam. Salt Lake City: Islamic Publications, 1982.
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