Of Islam: Bin Laden’s actions not representative of the faith

In wake of bin Laden: False impressions: According to a report by West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center, the vast majority of al-Qaeda’s victims between 2004 and 2008 were Muslims, and from 2006 to 2008, 98 percent of those victims were from Muslim countries.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Duluth News Tribune
By M. Imran Hayee | May 14, 2011

After announcing Osama bin Laden had been killed, President Obama reminded us, “America is not at war against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims.”

As a Muslim-American, I wholeheartedly appreciated Obama’s words. He made a clear and absolute distinction between terrorism and Islam. In fact, no religion teaches terrorism, and terrorists don’t follow any religion. Terrorists always have been deviants of one religion or another, exploiting religion for their perverted worldview or simply for economic and political motives.


Osama bin Laden killed thousands of innocent people throughout the world, including 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11. Victims of bin Laden and al-Qaeda do not belong to a certain country or a certain faith. According to a report by West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center, the vast majority of al-Qaeda’s victims between 2004 and 2008 were Muslims, and from 2006 to 2008, 98 percent of those victims were from Muslim countries.

Bin Laden sanctioned these cold-blooded murders in the name of religion, portraying himself as a Muslim leader. Obama, in contrast, reasoned that bin Laden could not be a Muslim leader precisely because he was a mass murderer. Naturally, bin Laden’s actions tarnished Islam’s image. A 2009 Pew survey revealed that most Americans believe Muslims to be discriminated against more than people of any other faith. But at the same time, they still believe Islam is very different than their own beliefs and promotes more violence than other faiths.

Does Islam really promote violence?

Bin Laden certainly attempted to demonstrate that, suggesting Islam is the driving force behind his inhumane and barbaric mission. The truth is completely opposite. The Quran says that killing one innocent human being is akin to killing the whole of mankind. Bin Laden indiscriminately killed scores of innocent people throughout the world. The Quran forbids creating disorder on Earth. Bin Laden created unparalleled chaos in much of the world. Prophet Muhammad stated that patriotism is part of one’s faith. Bin Laden not only committed treason against his own country but also inspired many more individuals to betray their countries.

Bin Laden neither followed Quran nor Prophet Muhammad in advancing his atrocious agenda of hatred and killing. Bin Laden did not represent Islam. Bin Laden was a terrorist. On May 1, this terrorist was captured and killed.

But will the world be more peaceful without Bin Laden?

Bin Laden’s death is certainly an important milestone in an effort to defeat al-Qaeda. But the world peace can only be achieved with the elimination of bin Laden’s philosophy of hatred and killing.

The task ahead is not easy; the destination is far and the road is treacherous. But if there is a will, there is a way. John Brennan, the president’s adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism, correctly pointed out, “This is a strategic blow to al-Qaeda. It is a necessary but not necessarily sufficient blow to lead to its demise, but we are determined to destroy it.”

While our brave men and women in uniform are continuously engaged in military operations, a huge responsibility falls on the shoulders of the rest of us. Whether we belong to one culture or another, whether we are believers of a particular faith or of no faith, we all need to engage in a peaceful dialogue and stand united against the elements of hatred in our civilized society. Killing innocent people in the name of religion is indeed reprehensible. Stereotyping all people of faith as intolerant is equally wrong.

As a Muslim-American, belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I share an additional responsibility to restore the peaceful image of Islam which bin Laden’s perverted ideology maligned. Unless all Muslims follow the suit and demonstrate — through word and deed — that Islam promotes peace, not violence, bin Laden’s legacy will continue to be a threat.

We could all use the Quran’s advice, “For you, your religion and for me my religion,” to peacefully coexist in our diverse and multicultural society.

M. Imran Hayee is an associate professor and director of graduate studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He wrote this exclusively for the News Tribune.


Read original post here: In wake of bin Laden: False impressions