Terrorism as a Violent Act - Coursework Example

Terrorism Introduction Terrorism is defined as violent acts that are intended to cause and create fear and are perpetrated for a religious or ideological goal that has a target. This term has been criticized for its reference to Islamism or jihadist that ignores non- Islamic organization or individuals. This essay will look at Wahhabism in relation to Islamic fundamentalist while looking at its history and its relationship with Jihad. The paper will also look at the impact on today’s terrorism and in the future. Overview Wahhabism is a religious sect, movement, or form of Sunni Islam. Wahhabism was named after a scholar and preacher known as Muhammad Ibn Abd Al-Wahhab in the 18th century where he began a revivalist movement in Najd, which was a sparsely populated region. He condemned various acts that were widespread among Muslims stating that these acts were idolatrous and was impurities in Islam. Some of these acts included shrine and tomb visitation and popular cult of saints. In order to deal with these impurities’ as he referred to them he formed a pact with Muhammad bin Saud a local leader where he offered him political obedience and promised that propagation and protection of the Wahhabi movement meant power and glory, as well as, rule of land and men. This movement was then centered on the principle of Tawhid or the unity and uniqueness of God. The ideologies that were being implemented by Wahhab were for the benefit of the Islamic religion, but after his death Wahhabism become more violent and also an instrument of state of terror. The development of Wahhabism in many parts of the Islamic world took different forms of violence. During the 18th century, many revivalist movements sprang up in most parts of the Islamic world because the Muslim imperial powers no longer had control over the peripheral territories. For example, when Abd al-Aziz Ibn Muhammad the son to Ibn Saud as he sought to establish his kingdom he used the takfir to justify the reason he choose to slaughter a wholesale population of people who resisted his rulings. This instilled fear and panic among the people making them to surrender to the Saudi leader. Today the Wahhabi supporters have taken up a progressively confrontational standpoint where they are trying to impose their ideology in other regions in the world. This is because they have been mentally asserted that the only way to reform Islam is by way of sword. This has allowed the movement to manifest itself through armed insurrections throughout the world, especially in areas where the governments are weak and are unable to resist aggression effectively. According to Berti (2010), ordinary Muslims usually seek to live in peace with everyone. The Quran forbids suicide and war against children, the innocent and women. Wahhabism condemns all Muslims since it cites that Quran describes war as against the unbelievers in the first century and justifies unceasing demand for war to Muslims who are less observant. The war against infidels is known as Jihad that is a moral obligation to all true Muslims. The Wahhabis insist on a proper understanding of jihad that other Muslims have failed to do so. Jihad is divided into two types the Greater Jihad and the Lessor Jihad. The Lessor Jihad is the jihad of blood, death, and war. The Greater Jihad is the inner struggle of pious Muslims who are willing to come closer to their God through charity, self-denial, and moral life. The Wahhbaism has two models the preaching and ideological Wahhabism. The preaching Wahhabism focuses on its doctrinal aspects and religious terms and concepts and the ideological concept is interpreted in interactions of the Saudi Arabian states experience in decades of political and economic exchanges and intellectual developments. Jihadism is a modern expression of the standards, perceptions, and methods that were proposed by the original Wahhabism. Jihads are committed to fundamentals of the Wahhabi mission in all areas. The radical belief of jihadist seek to restore all preaching models to its origins where they believe they posses true and pure Islam. (Heck, 2009, p. 22) Ibn Abd al-Wahhab was a religious reformer and not a political ideologist on the other hand the most influential apologist of modern Jihadist terrorism was an intellectual from Egypt who was a member of the Militant Muslim Brotherhood Sayyid Qurb. His advocacy of holy war against enemies of Islam has had a major influence on present day followers of Jihadi terrorists There are Wahhabis who adhere and encourage contemporary Jihadist but their methods and hostility do not emanate from the teachings and doctrines of the religious reformist Ibn al-Wahhabi .However many Jihadist are not adherents of the Wahhabists therefore the two are not synonymous. It is clear that Jihadism does not violate or deny Wahhabism since it is a practical attempt of imposing even by force all connotations and concepts on the modern social, cultural reality and political whenever and wherever it can. Ibn Abd al- Wahhab beliefs are a major source of controversy within the western non- Islamic and to the Islam world. The name Wahhabism itself is controversial since his enemies called themselves Muwahiddun who are believers in unity .His actions and scriptures are susceptible to multiple interpretations. Wahhabism is a strict and uncompromising nature sine it entails conformity among its people and observance of ancient customs. It also has a very strict interpretation of the Quran that is unforgiving. However, it also glorifies the struggle against Jihadist. Islahi, 2008, p. 23 supported this view. Allen (2009) explains that studies of Wahhabi seek to indoctrinate most young children with extremism at early stages of their life. It is controversial since it views most Muslims as infidels and supports violent struggles against such infidels where children are indoctrinated with such beliefs. This culture teaches children that whoever is not a Wahhabi is a Jihadi and they are to be hated and prosecuted. This is why so many terrorists groups are able to get fresh recruits easily as they are brainwashed. Wahhabism allows a child to grow in an environment where it allows no option that to accept conformity to extremism. The children raised in such environment have no other alternatives and Wahhabism becomes the only way of life. They are taught to watch their neighbors for any sign of unholy behaviors and are in constant state of proving themselves in devouring manners. It is clear that Wahhabism has a huge influence on people who live in such societies since they have no choice but to be extremists of the teaching. Their culture does not allow its followers to listen to music, drink alcohol, dancing, or use paintings. Their women are treated poorly and forced to dress from head to toe and speak only when spoken to. This culture is truly controversial in the sense that it strips people of their individual ownership With reference to the attacks in US in September 11 2001, it is clear the culture of Wahhabism has had a great influence where it has indoctrinated hundreds of people into violence and hate. The doctrines where it is now permissible to slaughter and behead their enemies murder and sexually violate non-believers. Wahhabi Islam has influenced a lot of change in principles of war. (Berger, 2009, p. 33) In today’s world, the Wahhabi doctrines and beliefs are inimical to values and interest of most Muslims in the world. Non -Wahhabi Muslims are considered illegitimate. The Wahhbis continue to preach violence and has become an ideology of many extremist terrorist groups. Terrorism is increasing due to extreme ideologies and increased empowerment of their beliefs and doctrines of the Wahhabi teachings. The movement has both material support and ideological inspiration that are provided globally. They have funding charities and religious institutions that have seminars, maddrassas, and more exchanges in businesses that always lands in the hands of Jihadists groups and organizations. Wahhabbi campaigns have had a great impact on terrorism in today’s world since they have waged war against other moderate Muslims where they demolished their houses and slaughtered entire villages of Muslims who were not extremists. This has an effect in today’s world since the same extreme ideologies are behind the same destructions of mosques and shrines and violence against the minority. Wahhabism does not advocate for violence but it emphasizes on anti interacting with non-Muslims and excommunicating Muslims who do not subscribe to their culture and ideologies. It lays a good foundation for jihadist and encourages terrorism. When youths are radicalized and funded by wealthy Wahhabis who further their ideologies it creates a sense of cult movement that adheres to killing and maiming Muslims. It has had an impact on terrorism today in the sense that most Muslims are always considered as terrorist even innocent ones. It has also contributed to domestic terrorism where even non-Muslims are becoming Muslims and fighting together with Jihads .Terrorism, itself brings about devastating results to both individuals and the country at large. There are physiological effects, economic defaults, and political violence increases. In the future, it will have an impact with accelerated globalization where Middle East countries will respond economically. In the future, there will tend to be more unemployed and frustrated religious educated youth and they may pull into terrorist’s activities. Most terrorist’s attacks are rooted in early post 9/11 attacks in USA. These attacks shed light on economical power of terrorist attacks. Most attacks in the future will tend to be economic where they will target energy infrastructure and most may be in modernizing countries. These terrorist groups will tend to use low-tech weapons of destruction against soft targets for purposes of panic and use large conventional bombes for large targets. Conclusion It is essential to note that Islam is a worldwide religion not just in Arab countries. Its foundations are in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Islamists always seek to establish their ideologies to further their struggles. They go ahead and distort Islamic teachings to be able to define common enemies. Their enemies always portrayed as democracy, capitalism, and individualism. References Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Allen, C. (2009). God's Terrorists: The Wahhabi Cult and the Hidden Roots of Modern Jihad. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. Berger, L. G. (2009). Iran and the Arab world: A view from Riyadh. Middle East Review of International Affairs, 13(3), 24-33. Berti, B. (2010). The “Rebirth” of Hizbollah: Analyzing the 2009 Manifesto. Strategic Assessment, 12(12). Heck, P. L. (2009). Common Ground: Islam, Christianity, and Religious Pluralism. Washington: Georgetown University Press. Islahi, A. A. (2008). Ibn Abd al-Wahhab and his economic ideas. Read More