Islamic Fundamentalism

The South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) should be commended for their courage of placing an advert in the Sunday Times exposing the true nature of Hamas. Islamic fundamentalism has made the world a dangerous place and we can no longer keep our heads in the sand and wish that this ideology of submission will go away. It will not.

We should seriously take note of what is happening in the Middle East. It is not only Jews in Israel that are threatened by Islamic radicalism, but Christians as well. It is time to call a spade a spade and expose the real causes of this radicalism, and I am aware that I will be called Islamaphobic by some.

It is not my intention to incite or to offend anybody, but to open-mindedly look at the root causes of this phenomenon which is causing mayhem in the world at the moment. I realise the best way to make a proper analysis would be to look at the matter holistically and also to consult what the holy book of Islam, the Koran prescribed. The reason for choosing to consult the Koran is that the vast majority of terrorist acts perpetrated in the world today are undoubtedly Islamic orientated.

Therefore, we need to investigate why people and even children are moved to attack and kill people who do not share the same religion as them. Incitement to kill by religious leaders does not fall out of thin air. Sadly, but true, It can be found in the precepts of their faith.

Statements made by Islamic religious leaders while teaching their followers are a direct cause of incitement and such incitement puts the conflict beyond a mere dispute over a piece of land.

“The day will come when we will rule America. The day will come when we will rule Britain and the entire world….” (Sheik Ibrahim Mudeiris at a Friday sermon on official Palestinian Authority TV)

“When the Jews are wiped out … the sun of peace [will] begin to rise on the entire world.” – Pirzada Muhammad Raza Saqib Mustafai, Pakistani religious leader.

A recent example of how Palestinian government TV continues to educate the younger generation to grow up hating the Jews occurred on the popular children’s show The Best Home. A young girl appearing in the episode recited a poem that referred to the Jews (not just Israelis, but all Jews) as “barbaric monkeys” and “the most evil among creations.”

Another example that it is not only about the so-called Israel-Palestinian conflict can be found in the words of Iraqi Ayatollah Ahmad Husseini al-Baghdadi: “We (Muslims) will conquer the world, so that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah will be triumphant over the domes of Moscow, Washington and Paris….. We will annihilate America.”

I would like to emphasize that the intention of this article is not to criticize a specific religion and in this case Islam, but to find answers to the intended or unintended results of the basic tenets of the religion. It is important because it is impacting the world in many ways and on so many levels.

When I read comments such as the above and correlate it with some of the Islamic texts, I realize that jihad or holy war is forced upon every Muslim and it is especially directed at Jews and Christians.

Allah’s apostle said, “I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’….” (Hadith 4:196 Narrated Abu Huraira).

The fans of intolerance are further flamed by claiming that Islam is the only acceptable religion:

“The Jews call Uzayr a son of Allah and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouths; (in this) they but imitate what the Unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!” (Sura 9:30)

Unfortunately, the Koran contradicts the notion that Islam is a religion of peace. It cannot be more clearly stated as it is written in Sura 5:51: “O you who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians as Auliya (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Auliya of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Auliya), then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers and unjust).”

Now I also understand the thought-processes of ISIS. The men who execute people in the most barbaric way were most likely taught to hate anyone other than their own religion since childhood.

“Now when you meet those who disbelieve, smite their necks until when you have slain them greatly, then make fast the bonds; then, thereafter let them off either freely or by ransom, until the war lay down its burdens.” (Sura 47:4)

We are in the middle of a religious war and Israel is, for historic reasons, chosen as the centre point for this war which will eventually have a global reach. We will not escape and we should seriously take note of these threats. It is time for the world to realise that Israel is a bulwark against these threats. The constant demonization and de-legitimization of Israel is a well-planned strategy to demolish Israel and to implement the ultimate goal of Islam, namely world domination.

“Oh Muslims everywhere, I call on you to fight and become martyrs in the war against the Zionists (Jews) and the Crusaders (Christians)… It is a jihad for God’s sake and will last until (our) religion prevails.” (al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri).

It is often said that not all Muslims think like the radicalised fundamentalists. The question should be asked, why they are they silent when Jews and Christians are murdered in the most brutal way – and the answer is fear.

“And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers and merciful among themselves.” (Sura 48:29). “Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.” (Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 9:57).

In our anger we condemn the people behind the grave atrocities, and yes, we cannot tolerate such behaviour. What we actually should condemn, is the radicalization of people by their particular brand of religion.

All of us are born as innocent loving human beings with a purpose to serve each other and to make this world a better place. It is therefore sad to see how the precepts of a religion can change people into dysfunctional humans stripped from love and joy.