Islamic Studies and Political - Thesis Example

The current state of research about takfir and its relationship to Islamic terrorism is increasingly scarce. Given the growing ideological complexity of the Islamic world and the role which jihad and takfir play in the spreading of terrorism, the time has come when takfir must be analyzed in more detail.The closest word equivalent of takfiris “ex-communication” (Skelly 2010). The synonym, however, does not transcend the full meaning of the word takfir. It would be fair to say that the meaning of takfir in the Islamic world is closely related to the English word “disbelief”.

However, while disbelief implies the acts which individuals perform against certain (e.g. religious) principles, takfir goes further and means the act of passing the punishment or the verdict on those whose acts or utterances manifest such disbelief (Skelly 2010). It should be noted, that takfir is well-known for its complex and profound ideological, religious, and social implications. Takfiris also associated with serious legal, ethical, and ethnic considerations. More often than not, Islamic organizations apply to takfir to pronounce an individual, a group of individuals, or whole states who have professed the Islamic faith to be non-Muslims (Skelly 2010).

In this sense, takfir is currently used in literature and Islamic studies. Needless to say, in the history of the Islamic religion and in the postmodern world, takfir has proved to be a cruel reality. Takfiris fairly regarded as one of the most dreadful and the least understood Islamic practices. Takfiris often called cancer that permeates the whole Islamic world (Skelly 2010). Today, it is takfired that it is responsible for the atrocities caused by numerous terrorist acts in different countries of the world.

It is due to takfir that fundamentalist Islamic organizations can readily justify their actions against all non-Muslims.