CHULBUL PANDEY
Dec 10, 2008, 01:53 PM
Muslims are Fundamentalists and Terrorists
Question:
Why are most of the Muslims fundamentalists and terrorists?
Answer:
This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during any discussion on religion or world affairs.
Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated in every form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation about Islam and
Muslims. In fact, such misinformation and false propaganda often leads to discrimination and acts of violence against
Muslims. A case in point is the anti-Muslim campaign in the American media following the Oklahoma bomb blast, where
the press was quick to declare a ‘Middle Eastern conspiracy’ behind the attack. The culprit was later
identified as a soldier from the American Armed Forces.
Let us analyze this allegation of ‘fundamentalism’ and ‘terrorism’:
1. Definition of the word ‘fundamentalist’
A fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals of the doctrine or theory he is following. For
a person to be a good doctor, he should know, follow, and practise the fundamentals of medicine. In other words, he
should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine. For a person to be a good mathematician, he should know, follow
and practise the fundamentals of mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of mathematics. For a person
to be a good scientist, he should know, follow and practise the fundamentals of science. He should be a fundamentalist
in the field of science.
2. Not all ‘fundamentalists’ are the same
One cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. One cannot categorize all fundamentalists as either good or
bad. Such a categorization of any fund amentalist will depend upon the field or activity in which he is a fundamentalist.
A fundamentalist robber or thief causes harm to society and is therefore undesirable. A fundamentalist doctor, on the
other hand, benefits society and earns much respect.
3. I am proud to be a Muslim fundamentalist
I am a fundamentalist Muslim who, by the grace of Allah, knows, follows and strives to practise the fundamentals of
Islam. A true Muslim does not shy away from being a fundamentalist. I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim
because, I know that the fundamentals of Islam are beneficial to humanity and the whole world. There is not a single
fundamental of Islam that causes harm or is against the interests of the human race as a whole. Many people harbour
misconceptions about Islam and consider several teachings of Islam to be unfair or improper. This is due to insufficient
and incorrect knowledge of Islam. If one critically analyzes the teachings of Islam with an open mind, one cannot
escape the fact that Islam is full of benefits both at the individual and collective levels.
4. Dictionary meaning of the word ‘fundamentalist’
According to Webster’s dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ was a movement in American Protestanism
that arose in the earlier part of the 20th century. It was a reaction to modernism, and stressed the infallibility of the Bible,
not only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record. It stressed on belief in the Bible as the literal
word of God. Thus fundamentalism was a word initially used for a group of Christians who believed that the Bible was
the verbatim word of God without any errors and mistakes. According to the Oxford dictionary
‘fundamentalism’ means ‘strict maintenance of ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion,
especially Islam’. Today the moment a person uses the word fundamentalist he thinks of a Muslim who is a
terrorist.
5. Every Muslim should be a terrorist
Question:
Why are most of the Muslims fundamentalists and terrorists?
Answer:
This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during any discussion on religion or world affairs.
Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated in every form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation about Islam and
Muslims. In fact, such misinformation and false propaganda often leads to discrimination and acts of violence against
Muslims. A case in point is the anti-Muslim campaign in the American media following the Oklahoma bomb blast, where
the press was quick to declare a ‘Middle Eastern conspiracy’ behind the attack. The culprit was later
identified as a soldier from the American Armed Forces.
Let us analyze this allegation of ‘fundamentalism’ and ‘terrorism’:
1. Definition of the word ‘fundamentalist’
A fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals of the doctrine or theory he is following. For
a person to be a good doctor, he should know, follow, and practise the fundamentals of medicine. In other words, he
should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine. For a person to be a good mathematician, he should know, follow
and practise the fundamentals of mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of mathematics. For a person
to be a good scientist, he should know, follow and practise the fundamentals of science. He should be a fundamentalist
in the field of science.
2. Not all ‘fundamentalists’ are the same
One cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. One cannot categorize all fundamentalists as either good or
bad. Such a categorization of any fund amentalist will depend upon the field or activity in which he is a fundamentalist.
A fundamentalist robber or thief causes harm to society and is therefore undesirable. A fundamentalist doctor, on the
other hand, benefits society and earns much respect.
3. I am proud to be a Muslim fundamentalist
I am a fundamentalist Muslim who, by the grace of Allah, knows, follows and strives to practise the fundamentals of
Islam. A true Muslim does not shy away from being a fundamentalist. I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim
because, I know that the fundamentals of Islam are beneficial to humanity and the whole world. There is not a single
fundamental of Islam that causes harm or is against the interests of the human race as a whole. Many people harbour
misconceptions about Islam and consider several teachings of Islam to be unfair or improper. This is due to insufficient
and incorrect knowledge of Islam. If one critically analyzes the teachings of Islam with an open mind, one cannot
escape the fact that Islam is full of benefits both at the individual and collective levels.
4. Dictionary meaning of the word ‘fundamentalist’
According to Webster’s dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ was a movement in American Protestanism
that arose in the earlier part of the 20th century. It was a reaction to modernism, and stressed the infallibility of the Bible,
not only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record. It stressed on belief in the Bible as the literal
word of God. Thus fundamentalism was a word initially used for a group of Christians who believed that the Bible was
the verbatim word of God without any errors and mistakes. According to the Oxford dictionary
‘fundamentalism’ means ‘strict maintenance of ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion,
especially Islam’. Today the moment a person uses the word fundamentalist he thinks of a Muslim who is a
terrorist.
5. Every Muslim should be a terrorist