ISLAM AND TERRORISM

Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

BY

DR. ZAKIR NAIK

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

1 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

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 practice 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 harbor 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 Protestantism 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

2 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

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
Every Muslim should be a terrorist. A terrorist is a person who causes
terror. The moment a robber sees a policeman he is terrified. A
policeman is a terrorist for the robber. Similarly every Muslim should be
a terrorist for the antisocial elements of society, such as thieves, dacoits
and rapists. Whenever such an anti-social element sees a Muslim, he
should be terrified. It is true that the word ‘terrorist’ is generally used for
a person who causes terror among the common people. But a true
Muslim should only be a terrorist to selective people i.e. anti-social
elements, and not to the common innocent people. In fact a Muslim
should be a source of peace for innocent people.
6. Different labels given to the same individual for the same
action, i.e. ‘terrorist’ and ‘patriot’
Before India achieved independence from British rule, some freedom
fighters of India who did not subscribe to non-violence were labeled as
terrorists by the British government. The same individuals have been
lauded by Indians for the same activities and hailed as ‘patriots’. Thus
two different labels have been given to the same people for the same
set of actions. One is calling him a terrorist while the other is calling him
a patriot. Those who believed that Britain had a right to rule over India
called these people terrorists, while those who were of the view that
Britain had no right to rule India called them patriots and freedom
fighters.
It is therefore important that before a person is judged, he is given a
fair hearing. Both sides of the argument should be heard, the situation
should be analyzed, and the reason and the intention of the person
should be taken into account, and then the person can be judged
accordingly.
7. Islam means peaceIslam is derived from the word ‘salaam’ which
means peace. It is a religion of peace whose fundamentals teach its

3 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

followers to maintain and promote peace throughout the world.

Thus every Muslim should be a fundamentalist i.e. he should

follow the fundamentals of the Religion of Peace: Islam. He
should be a terrorist only towards the antisocial elements in
order to promote peace and justice in the society.
WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?
Question:
How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was
spread by the sword?
Answer:
It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam
would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had
not been spread by the use of force. The following points will
make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was
the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was
responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.
1. Islam means peace.
Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace.
It also means submitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is
a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s will to
the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt).
2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace.
Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of
maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who would
disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to
be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we
have the police who use force against criminals and anti-social
elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes
peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight

4 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at

times, require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used
to promote peace and justice.

3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary.

The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by
the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the
book ’Islam at the cross road’ (Page 8):

’History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical

Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the
point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most
fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated.’

4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years.

Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain
never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the
Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims.
There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give
the adhan, that is the call for prayers.

5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians.

Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a
few years the British ruled, and for a few years the
French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400
years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are
Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the
Muslims had used the sword there would not have been
a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.

5 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India.

The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand
years. If they wanted, they had the power of
converting each and every non-Muslim of India to
Islam. Today more than 80% of the population of
India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim
Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was
not spread by the sword.

7. Indonesia and Malaysia.

Indonesia is a country that has the maximum
number of Muslims in the world. The majority of
people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask,
’Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and
Malaysia?’

8. East Coast of Africa.

Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the
East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if
Islam was spread by the sword, ’Which
Muslim army went to the East Coast of
Africa?’

6 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

9. Thomas Carlyle.
The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in
his book ’Heroes and Hero worship’, refers
to this misconception about the spread of
Islam: ’The sword indeed, but where will
you get your sword? Every new opinion, at
its starting is precisely in a minority of one.
In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as
yet. One man alone of the whole world
believes it, there is one man against all
men. That he takes a sword and try to
propagate with that, will do little for him. You
must get your sword! On the whole, a thing
will propagate itself as it can.’
10. No compulsion in religion.
With which sword was Islam spread?
Even if Muslims had it they could not use
it to spread Islam because the Qur’an
says in the following verse:
’Let there be no compulsion in religion:

7 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

Truth stands out clear from error’

[Al-Qur’an 2:256]
11. Sword of the Intellect.
It is the sword of intellect. The sword
that conquers the hearts and minds of
people. The Qur’an says in Surah Nahl,
chapter 16 verse 125:
’Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord
with wisdom and beautiful preaching;
and argue with them in ways that are
best and most gracious.’
[Al-Qur’an 16:125]
12. Increase in the world religions
from 1934 to 1984.
An article in Reader’s Digest
‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the
statistics of the increase of
percentage of the major religions of
the world in half a century from 1934

8 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

to 1984. This article also appeared in

‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top
was Islam, which increased by 235%,
and Christianity had increased only by
47%. May one ask, which war took
place in this century which converted
millions of people to Islam?
13. Islam is the fastest growing
religion in America and Europe.
Today the fastest growing religion
in America is Islam. The fastest
growing religion in Europe in Islam.
Which sword is forcing people in
the West to accept Islam in such
large numbers?
14. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson.
Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson rightly

9 / 10
ISLAM AND TERRORISM
Thursday, 11 June 2009 13:00 -

says, ’People who worry that

nuclear weaponry will one day fall
in the hands of the Arabs, fail to
realize that the Islamic bomb has
been dropped already, it fell the day
MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born’

10 / 10