How to deal with Islamic extremism? A contrast of strategies

( Part I)

 

 

 
It goes without saying: Islamic extremism on rise throughout the globe. And it is, beyond doubt, a crisis both for Muslims, who constitute one-fifth (1/5th) of today's world population, as well as for the rest of the humanity. This is no new information; more , or less, every educated person is aware of the phenomenon.However, critical question is: how should we deal with Islamic extremism? I, personally, consider it a moral obligation for all liberal Muslims to find the right answer before indulging in the thought- some one else with come up with the solution. Of course, I have excluded all amateur Muslim thinkers!   
 
As for strategy to fight any religious extremism, if we reflect on past historical records; there are usually seen two kinds adopted by those aspiring for a change. Among today's liberal Muslims too, in particular, those who are genuinely concerned about the subject and finding a solution; the strategy to fight Islamic extremism, similarly, doesn't deviate from past history of the mankind; and therefore, in my opinion, roughly falls under two categories. What are they?
 
1. Intellectuals insisting on total annihilation , or eradication of Islam:
 
In a nutshell: they believe- it's the Islamic doctrine itself, which has given rise to Islamic extremism , and therefore , Islam should be targeted toward eradication. While many of their motives are, beyond doubt, honest; their solution , however, is immature and a dangerously over simplified one. Why do I say so?
 
First, it is so crucial to remember, the doctrine originated in Arab peninsula about 1400 years ago, called  Islam  took heterogeneous shapes in different countries depending on the pre-existing culture, heritage, religion and history of the to-be adherents. Consider a Muslim marriage ceremony, for instance. Among  Arabs, drums are beaten during a marriage ceremony, while doing so is considered unislamic during a marriage ceremony among many South Asian Sunni Muslims. Another example: in Indian subcontinent, tombs of  prominent Muslim saints such as Khaza Moinuddin  Chisti of India (Ajmir Sharif), Hazrat Shahjalal of Sylhet, Bangladesh, etc are well decorated  and it is not unusual to see- Hindu and Muslims followers alike go to seek "blessings". In Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however, tomb of many great companions of Prophet Muhammad  is beyond ordinary in look. No ornament, no decoration. Practice is still alive on both sides.
 
  Gulf countries, unlike, Indian subcontinent, does not have record of living Muslims and Hindus in harmony except some scattered records, which, unfortunately,  must be termed among some of the worst communal riots in human history; although counter records involving Christian-Jews are very much available as well. Apart from Hitler's systematic killings of 7 millions of Jews during WW II, readers may recall the Black Death of 1800s when Jews were blamed for plagues and killed on a mass level by Christian Europe.               
  
Secondly, this group of intellectuals largely and sadly, ignore roles played by non-Islamic factors such as the wave of national, international politics, poverty, lack of access to education, etc. For instance: despite Quran containing many racist, chauvinistic and provincial instructions; how could Middle Age Islam give birth to same time religious and secular rulers such as Caliph al Mamun, Caliph Harun al Rashid, scientist-cum-philosopher Avicenna (Ibn Sina)?  During al Mamun's rule- Muslim, Jews scholars alike sat side by side to study philosophy, science at Baghdad, the most esteemed center of the knowledge at that time. Was Quran dead at that time when, Mutazilla, the rationalistic Muslim think-tank, had grown as an influential group ?
 
Consider 1946 Hindu-Muslim riots that killed almost half a million Indian Muslims and Hindus. Contrast the roles played by respective religions and their scriptures (Quran/Vedha/Geeta) versus British 'divide and rule' policy? How many such riots did we eyewitness before arrival of British? 
 
Unfortunate is the fact- our own Western educated  leaders (Jinnah, Nehru, Patel et al) fell into British trap; worse still, sometimes voluntarily ,  just to gain selfish leadership.       
 
 2. Intellectuals insisting on gradual reformation:
 
(to be continued)

 

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