Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin

War on Terror

03 May 2011, NewAgeIslam.Com

Political Islam-Supremacism should be defeated by the followers of Islam itself
	Finally, after nearly a decade, the fountainhead of global terror has been cut off by US forces. In a dramatic announcement, President Obama said, “The most significant battle against terrorism has been won; justice has been served.” Yes, the icon of terror has been obliterated — but the war will only be won when the deviant ideology of political Islamist supremacy that Osama bin Laden and his fellow ideologues fulminated ad nauseum is defeated by the followers of Islam itself. Justice may have been served for the victims and families of 9/11, but its use as justification for a US presence in Iraq and Afghanistan will continue to divide global opinion. -- Aijaz Ilmi

Political Islam-Supremacism should be defeated by the followers of Islam itself

By Aijaz Ilmi May 03 2011 Finally, after nearly a decade, the fountainhead of global terror has been cut off by US forces. In a dramatic announcement, President Obama said, “The most significant battle against terrorism has been won; justice has been served.” Yes, the icon of terror has been obliterated — but the war will only be won when the deviant ideology of political Islamist supremacy that Osama bin Laden and his fellow ideologues fulminated ad nauseum is defeated by the followers of Islam itself. Justice may have been served for the victims and families of 9/11, but its use as justification for a US presence in Iraq and Afghanistan will continue to divide global opinion. Now, the battle within the beleaguered Muslim community, the battle of minds and hearts, could well tilt towards the silent majority that has shunned the un-Islamic acts of terror and suicide bombings of innocents — acts inspired largely by bin Laden’s version of divine sanction under Islamic law. The maximum damage that Osama bin Laden inflicted was about 3,000 deaths nearly a decade ago. But that one heinous crime jeopardised the dignity and existence of over a billion Muslims globally. Taunted, vilified as sympathisers, and racially profiled as vile, predatory, terror-mongers, many Muslims “retreated” into a shell of hurt and ignominy. The sullen followers of Islam who retreated into this cocoon of insularity should question: why was the “first Muslim nation” — Pakistan — hiding bin Laden for so long? Despite repeated denials parroted by Pakistani authorities over the years, the truth had to emerge. And will the US now reward Pakistan with more largesse — both monetary and perhaps advanced weaponry — as a reward for finally “delivering” Osama to US forces? Such benevolence has and continues to be directed against India and its citizens. Will we ever know the role of the ISI and other rogue elements in first protecting and then selling out Osama? Threatening jihad and claiming divine justification, al-Qaeda and its clones in the Af-Pak region are, in reality, subjecting us to heinous, wilful misrepresentation — aimed at usurping power and starting a new religion, which can never be the Islam preached 1,400 years ago. Islam says: “The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr,” but the ignoramuses revel in bombing schools and closing down centres of knowledge. The Prophet beseeched the community to embrace and seek knowledge but these people live in and seek darkness for the believers. The silver lining for the second-largest Muslim population worldwide, the 180 million-strong Indian Muslim communities: despite being “suspect”, not one Indian Muslim was ever known to be a member of al-Qaeda. Every second Indian Muslim is below the poverty line; and recruiters who preyed on the poor to further their jihadist desires tried their damnedest — but failed. Preying on poverty, pushing the concept of glory in the afterlife, these terror jingoists would forgo the importance that Islam gives to present-day life, and brainwash their recruits into believing in martyrdom and heaven, both of which are not possible for killing innocent people. India’s Muslim communities have largely been free of this virus, and abhor connectivity with Pakistan. In fact, for years if not decades, the maximum damage to the believers has come from Pakistan’s obsession with India. Integral to the Idea of India is our multiplural set up; this Indian ethos, our multicultural milieu, is anathema for Pakistan. We live in the 21st century and our democratic structure is our way of life. Indian Muslims have suffered twice over, first from terror strikes that were aimed randomly at all citizens, and then from accusations afterwards. The opinion-makers and the religious clergy should declare these jihadist forces as enemies of the nation, and deviant heretics; recruiters and handlers should be dealt with severely. But that can only happen by working with marginalised sections of society. The potential and hope for a better life is the first line of defence in our war against terror. The US is fighting its own battle in Afghanistan and we have to secure ourselves irrespective of US policy. There is no substitute to setting our own house in order. There is no overnight solution or quick-fix to complex challenges. Violent extremists are themselves very careful with their words, and have developed a slick media strategy to justify their actions and exploit grievances that resonate, manipulating theology as well as history and contemporary politics. We need to communicate in a way that counters that, rather than in a way that fuels the terrorist narrative. This battle against Osama has been won. Now, the war against the ideology of terror needs to be won, too. The writer is chairman of the editorial board at the Kanpur-based Urdu newspaper ‘Daily Siyasat Jadid’, express@expressindia.com Source: Indian Express, New Delhi URL: http://newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamWarOnTerror_1.aspx?ArticleID=4571