Perspective: Extremism in the West | Mirza Ramzan Sharif

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ISIS seems to be gaining momentum at the game they have played – that is, to target the vulnerable and the weak minded Muslims and non-Muslims both.

Mirza Ramzan Sharif

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | AU Desk
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By Mirza Ramzan Sharif | November 18, 2015

It is painful and indeed unbearable. My heart is bleeding yet again as I mourn with the nation of France. They will be burying their loved ones after brutal attacks in different locations in Paris that has left more than a hundred people dead. This heinous and barbaric murder has created an open suppurating wound which has not yet healed from the Charlie Hebdo incident about a year ago.

France had to react somehow and naturally they chose Newton’s third law – Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. No wonder France's media reacted with horror and determination after Friday's wave of planned attacks, with the Le Parisien daily declaring "This time it's war”. On the other hand, François Hollande pledged to intensify his country’s airstrikes against the terror group, as the mastermind suspected of organising Friday’s carnage in Paris was revealed to be a notorious Belgian-born Isis extremist living in Syria.

Since France has declared war on ISIS, the nation has to move forward, and move forward in the direction of ISIS I who issued a provoking statement claiming responsibility for the attacks. Hollande will have to quickly seek to unite US and Russia into single anti-ISIS coalition and come up with a bold tactic against terrorism in the coming days. Only time will tell if this coalition spearheaded by France’s "From Paris, with love" missiles are forceful enough to wreak havoc on ISIS strongholds.

In all of this one need not forget that there are currently 1.7 billion Muslims in the world. We must not let such incidents distance ourselves from the bigger picture. Like majority of the Muslims, I support France in its fight against ISIS and at the same time recognize the importance of bridging the gap between the Muslim community and the rest of the nation. I firmly believe that it is through the mutual cooperation of both the French authorities and French Muslims who possibly could be caught up in the fresh fears of public backlash after the attacks. It will take a united front to put an end to these acts of barbarity once and for all.

ISIS seems to be gaining momentum at the game they have played – that is, to target the vulnerable and the weak minded Muslims and non-Muslims both. French Muslims, who face unemployment and discrimination, could easily be misguided by insurgent groups like ISIS. Through social media, ISIS has gained thousands of dedicated supporters from the Western world in the past year. The attack in Paris is indeed a wakeup call not just for France but for the rest of the world.

As this group is creating history, for a moment I may call them by another name - “Muslim Crusaders of Today” - as against the widely used term “Islamic State”. In its early days, we may have overlooked its sturdiness and renewed determination after each attack on mankind. It was last year when the US President Barack Obama referred to the group as al-Qaeda’s “junior varsity team”, a seemingly ludicrous miscalculation. The devastating Paris attacks have revealed that the world leaders were off the mark all along in underestimating the brutality and reach of Islamic State. Leading terror experts are now warning that ISIS will stop at nothing. Even al-Qaeda considers them too fundamentalist.

As I watched the breaking news out of Paris and the media coverage that followed this barbaric incident, I am tempted to put the words together. Australia’s most popular talkback radio presenter Alan Jones has been continuously urging the Grand Mufti of Australia to define the perpetrators as “murderers” or “martyrs”. The answer is quite simple and had been voiced by many. In fact, majority of the Muslims who constitute the world’s second largest religious group would have no hesitation in classifying them as barbaric murders.

To condemn the terrorist attacks, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia reiterated the words of their global leader through immediate press releases. The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has said: “On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide, I express my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the French nation, its people and government following the heinous terrorist attacks that have taken place in Paris. This brutal and inhumane attack can only be condemned in the strongest possible terms. I would also like to reiterate that all forms of terrorism and extremism are completely against the true teachings of Islam. The Holy Quran has said that to kill even one innocent person is akin to killing all of mankind. Thus under no circumstances can murder ever be justified and those who seek to justify their hateful acts in the name of Islam are serving only to defame it in the worst possible way. Our sympathies and prayers are with the victims of these attacks and all those who have been left bereaved or affected in any way. May God Almighty grant patience to them all and I hope and pray that the perpetrators of this evil act are swiftly brought to justice.”

I am baffled where the murders draw their motivation to kill. As far as suicide bombing is concerned, the Holy Quran clearly sets out its prohibition: “And kill not yourselves. Surely, Allah is Merciful to you. And whosoever does that by way of transgression and injustice, We shall cast him into Fire; and that is easy with Allah.” (Ch.4: V.30-31)

Suicide is therefore unconditionally forbidden. When it is used as a mechanism to murder others then it becomes an even greater sin. As a protest against intentional suicide the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) has forbidden observing funeral prayer for a person who commits suicide. After this clear teaching such terrorist actions and suicide bombing of some Muslim individuals or groups has no cover or justification at all, and they must be condemned widely.

There is no justification for violence. The Holy Prophet was himself marginalized and persecuted for thirteen years in Mecca and he never lifted his sword. He always emphasised the glory of greater jihad through self-purification rather than less jihad of lifting sword only for self-defence. When the opening chapters of the Holy Quran clearly says that God Almighty is the Master of the Day of Judgement, why do the innocent get lured to ISIS or certain backyard clerics who play God and promise them heaven beyond this life.

It is quite apparent that the authentic and straightforward messages of the Holy Quran are misinterpreted by some for their ulterior motives. Is it the question of bread and butter for certain backyard clerics? Is it about getting a kick out of this whole phenomenon? Are these youngsters so disconnected with their families? Whatever the case, the religion of Islam should not be judged by the actions of a handful of people. Majority of Muslims are compassionate and just towards other people. The Quran says killing one innocent person is like killing the entire mankind (5:32). This reminds me of a proverb that knowledge without wisdom is like a load of books on the back of an ass.

A French Muslim or an Australian Muslim or a Muslim residing in any part of the world has full responsibility towards their country of residence. The Holy Prophet has stated: “Love of a country (of residence) is part of faith”. Not only the Muslim of France have the responsibility to support their nation in the fight against terrorism, they need to reach out to the victims and their relatives. It is the responsibility of every Muslim to report and guide any man or woman who shows signs of extremism. It is high time the imams are very clear with the Islamic dogma. After Charlie Hebdo, the head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, said: “The police should be given more powers. They should have some arms in their hands. What can policemen do with a stick whereas the opponent is carrying a semi-automatic rifle. The life of your officer is at stake. To protect themselves, they should have something.” Moving on to the focus on the peaceful work of the Muslim community, he added: "The sermons in all the Mosques should be monitored. If anything is being done by the government just to establish law and order, then it's not spying.”

While France has declared war on ISIS, the Australian law makers have given more powers to the police. Six attacks in Australia have been foiled over the past 12 months, according to the government, but several have not, including Sydney siege gunman Man Monis, Melbourne attacker Numan Haider and Parramatta police employee murderer Farhad Khalil Mohammad Jabir. I believe Canberra has moved in the right direction to prompt the states to adapt and change in the face of escalating and challenging circumstances. The country's most populous state, New South Wales, has already begun training police to shoot armed attackers immediately, rather than the "contain and negotiate" protocol that has been in place for decades.

As an Ahmadi Muslim, I choose to pen off with these bold statements as sustainable solutions to today’s problems: Since the foundation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community 126 years ago in 1889, not a single Ahmadi men or women has ever been radicalised. This claim can be attributed to our teachings and clear translations and interpretations of the Holy Quran. Our youth are busier than ever purifying themselves and serving humanity, which keeps them poles away from the extremist mentality.


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Mirza Ramzan Sharif is National Director of Public Relations for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia


 --  Perspective: Extremism in the West | Mirza Ramzan Sharif


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