Muslims are Not Terrorists - Research Paper Example

Muslims are not terrorists Thesis: A terrorist could be Muslim but not all Muslims are terrorists Outline: I. Introduction II. Real Muslims Cannot Be Terrorists III. A terrorist could be Muslim but not all Muslims are terrorists IV. Taliban and Al-Qaeda V. Conclusion VI. Work Cited Muslims are not terrorists Introduction Over the past years, there has been an increasing tendency to title Muslims as terrorists. “Terrorist” by definition is a very harsh and negative word. Terrorist acts imply violent actions taken to create fear among certain individuals or groups of individuals. The word terrorist, as defined in the online dictionary, is “any person who frightens or terrorizes others.” On the other hand: the oxford dictionary defines it as “any person who makes use of terrorism to achieve political gains.” Today Muslims are labeled terrorist; however, this is a very stereotype statement as the actions of some cannot be used to represent the actions of all. This is in itself an illogical method. Real Muslims Cannot Be Terrorists Islam literally means, surrendering and therefore a Muslim is one who submits his will to God. Recent terrorist activities primarily covering the suicidal bombings and killing of innocent people are a way of persecution. On the contrary, Islam does not favor persecution therefore Muslims, those who are real and genuine, cannot be terrorists. As Islam considers persecution worse than normal killing, how can then any real Muslim, one who has already submitted his will to God, engage in any activity that upshots persecution? Muslims believe in sanctity and virtues of peace, they follow the teachings of great Prophets who taught them to fight those who torture and kill innocents. This in Islamic terminology is called Jihad i.e. fight in the way of God. So, how can those who are rooted with peaceful teachings, can ever, promote terrorism? How can Muslims ever be categorized as terrorists? A terrorist could be Muslim but not all Muslims are terrorists Islam is a religion of peace and its followers are the followers of peace. If any such system whose core values reside in peace and safety gets associated with terrorism, this unveils how illogical the accusers blames is. To get to know the true teachings and values of any religion and its followers it is important for the finder to consult the religion’s sacred books. One cannot take a representation by certain number of individuals as a representation by all; this is even against the laws of Statistics. In statistics by reason of wider population size a sample size is used to carry out any survey or any study. However, if the sample size taken doesn’t truly or nearly represent the population size then the outcome of the study carried out cannot be identified as reliable. Additionally, if the sample size is not true representative of the population then the study fails and requisite a repetition. Just as equally, the acts of certain extremist individuals (who have tempered the true meaning of Islam) hold no reliable justification for representing Muslims worldwide. The representation could be valid representation only if those same (extremists) had followed the true teachings of Islam, according to the teachings prescribed in the sacred books of Islamic Religion. In Greek Literature, such method is called Stereotyping. Stereotyping is when actions of some are thought/represent to be the actions of all. Calling all Muslims terrorists just fits the ground criterion of stereotype. Islam should be sought through its own sources and through its own true representatives. The truth is that there is no harshness or bigotry in Islam. Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and forgiveness. Anyone studying Islamic history could surely find figures that truly represent the true Islam and the true Muslims and how they lived with and promoting peace. As a result this manifestly portrays a terrorist could be Muslim but not all Muslims are terrorists. Taliban and Al-Qaeda Al-Qaeda is a militant group that came into being in August 1988. It is a radical movement with objective of calling individuals to global Jihad. It has attacked military and civilian targets in various countries the most evident is the September 11 incident that took place in New York City in 2001. In response to the Al-Qaeda 9/11 attacks, US government started war onon terror. Al-Qaeda has continued its existence and growth since 2001 with objectives to establish Islamic Defined Law worldwide. Their activities and techniques include suicidal attacks and continuous bombings of targeted area. Al-Qaeda carries out its activities as part of pledge of loyalty to its head Osama bin Laden. These individuals have undergone severe training to carry out these attacks and became terrorists. Taliban is an organization founded by Mullah Mohammad Omar. Initially the organization believed in utmost Defined Islamic Law and consisted of religious students who were very practicing and conservative. However, after the tragic incident of September 9, 2001 the organization became participants of war on terror later termed as the “terrorist”. Muslims are Called Terrorists in US. Today we see people calling Muslims as terrorist; leading from the front in this group are the citizens of United States. If any person has an eastern identity, he is then labeled terrorist. This is the result of a few misguided youths; who have spoiled the true spirit of Islam. Their activities have caused disturbance in the Muslim norms, created havoc in the world and revoked the laws of the land. Such individualists have marginalized the fundamental teachings of Holy Book of Muslims, The Glorious Holy Quran. These are in short some extremists who have tempered the true meaning of Jihad (struggle in the way of Almighty God) and have started waging war against innocent people. They fail to understand that through such activities they have tarnished the Islamic sanctity all over the world. The consequences of such have caused fear among Non-Muslims, who then label any eastern Muslim a terrorist. Despite of this all, anyone who studies Islam would find that true Muslims believe in peace, brother-hood and love for all. They would know that those who have sunk in the true spirit of Islamic teachings would never engage in massacres, unwanted bloodshed and terrorist activity to effect supremacy of Islam. Conclusion The Glorious Holy Quran clearly states that the believers (Real Muslims) should defend themselves but also never kill or persecute the innocents. Though, the submission call for Islam requires its followers to be strong. However, this call is just for increasing Muslims strength for effecting peace, providing freedom for the people and the country but never for indulging in aggression unless one is aggressed. Therefore, the true Muslims are God-fearing and followers of real Islamic teachings. Furthermore, as the Islamic teachings are based on nothing but peace for whole humanity as a result the actual blame lies with the terrorists and not the religion that they claim to adhere. Great Quote "The Western have won the universe however not by the superiority of their ideas or by their religion or values but rather by their superiority in applying an organized and managed violence. Westerners might not remember this fact, however non-Westerners would never forget." - Samuel. Huntington Work Cited: Huntington, Samuel, from http://www.mediamonitors.net/muhammadali1.html Press [2010] “All Muslims Are Not Terrorists” from http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2010/09/all_muslims_are_not_terrorists.html. Terrorist [2011] from www.dictionary.com Read More