Is Terrorism a Muslim Monopoly?

This question arises in the minds of the people, 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.

Oxford Dictionary describes the word terrorism as: ‘the use of violent actions in order to achieve political aims or to force a government to act.’ The word terrorism was first coined in 1790’s during the French Revolution. The years 1793 and 1794 were called as ‘The Reign of Terror’ or ‘Years of Terror.’

During these years Maximilin Robespierre guillotined thousands of innocents. He arrested more than 500,000 out of which he executed 40,000. More than 200,000 were deported and more than 200,000 were starved and tortured to death in the prisons.

Today there is a statement, which is being repeatedly bombarded, especially in the western media and that statement is, ‘All Muslims are not Terrorist, but all Terrorist are Muslims.’ But here are the historical records on terrorist attacks that speak a different picture:

19th century – We hardly find any terrorist attacks done by Muslims.

• 1881 – Tsar Alexander was assassinated in a Bomb Blast. He was traveling in a bulletproof carriage in St. Pietersburg Street. The first bomb kills innocent 21 bystanders. The second bomb killed him while he was stepping out of the car. He was killed by Ignacy Hryniewiecki. He was Anarchists.
• 1886 – Bomb Blast at Haymarket Square, Chicago, during a labour rally. 12 people were killed; one among them was a policeman. Seven policemen were injured and they died in the hospital. The people responsible were 8 Anarchists all of them were non-Muslims.
• 6 September 1901 – The US President, William McKinley, was shot twice by an Anarchist named Leon Czolgosz. He was a non-Muslim.
• 1 October 1910 – Bomb blast in Los Angeles at Times newspaper building. 21 were killed. The blast was done by 2 Christians named James and Joseph. They were union leaders.
• 28 June 1914 – Archduke of Austria and his wife were assassinated which precipitated the World War I. The members of Young Bosnia assassinated them - most of them were Serbs. They were non-Muslims.
• 16 April 1925 – Bomb Blast in St. Nedelya Church in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. 10,050 were killed and 500 injured. This was the biggest terrorist attack that was done on the soil of Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Communist Party did it. They were non-Muslims.
• 9 October 1934 – King Alexander I of Yugoslavia was assassinated by a gunman by the name of Vlada Georgieff. He was a non-Muslim.
• 1 May 1961 – First US plane to be hijacked was not done by a Muslim. It was done by Ramierez Ortiz.
• 28 August 1968 – The US Ambassador to Guatemala was assassinated by a non-Muslim.
• 30 July 1969 – The US Ambassador to Japan was knifed by a Japanese non-Muslim.
• 3 September 1969 – US Ambassador to Brazil was kidnapped by a non-Muslim.
• 19 April 1995 - The famous attack of the Oklahoma Bombing in which a truck loaded with bombs ran into the federal building of Oklahoma, in which 166 were killed and 100 were injured. Initially in the press it came as ‘Middle East Conspiracy’. Later on they came to know that it was done by two Christians named Timothy and Terry.

After World War II

• After World War II from 1941 to 1948, the Jewish Terrorists conducted 259 terrorist attacks.
• 22 July 1946 – The famous bombing of King David Hotel was conducted under the leadership of Menachem Begin. 91 were killed, out of which 28 were British, 41 Arabs, 17 Jews and 5 others. The Ignun group dressed up as Arabs to show as though the Muslims did this bombing. Menachem Begin was called terrorist number one by the British government. Later on after a few years Menachem Begin the terrorist number one became the Prime Minister of Israel & got a Noble Prize for Peace. Imagine a person who was a terrorist number getting a Noble Prize for Peace. Menachem Begin and others were fighting to get a Jewish state. Before 1945 Israel did not exist in the World Map. These Jewish group were fighting for a Jewish state and later on with the power they kick the Palestinian out and now the same people are calling the same Palestinian who are fighting for a more just cause for getting their land back. And the Israelis label them today as Terrorist.
• Hitler killed 6 million Jews. The Palestinians welcome the Jews. Later on the Jews kick the Palestinians out of their own land and when the Palestinians are fighting to get their land back they are labeled as Terrorists. It is like I welcome a stranger in my house. After a few days that person throws me out of my house and when I shout out side my house that I want my house back, you call me a Terrorist.
• In Germany from 1968 – 1992, Baader Meinhoff Gang killed several innocent human beings.
• In Italy, Red Brigades kidnapped and killed Aldo Moro, the former Prime Minister of Italy.
• 20 March 1995 - Aum Shinrikyo a Buddhist Cult used Nerve Gas in the Tokyo Subway in which 12 people were killed and 5700 were wounded and injured.

IRA (The Irish Republican Army)

• In UK since hundred years IRA (The Irish Republican Army) is conducting Terrorist attacks against UK. They are Catholics. But are never called as Catholic Terrorist. In 1972 IRA conducted 3 bomb blasts. In the first blast 7 were killed, in second blast 11 were killed and in the third 9 were killed.
• In 1974 IRA conducted two bomb blasts. First at Guildford Pub in which 5 were killed and 44 injured; second at the Birmingham Pub which killed 21 and injured 182.
• In 1996 IRA conducted bomb blast in London in which 2 persons were killed and more than were 100 injured. In the same year IRA conducted bomb blast in Manchester shopping center in which 206 people were injured.
• On 1 August, 1998, the ‘Banbridge’ bomb blast took place. The IRA planted 500 pound of bomb, which was loaded in a car where 35 people were injured.
• On 15 August, 1998, ‘Omagh’ bomb blast took place. IRA planted 500 pound of bomb in a car where 29 people were killed and 330 injured.
• On the 4 March, 2001, the BBC was bombed by IRA.
• The IRA is never called as Catholic Terrorist. Today the UK government is more afraid of Muslim terrorist. Today Tony Blair is more afraid of the ‘Muslim terrorists’ than IRA who is conducting terrorist attacks for more than a hundred years. Why?

In Spain and France ETA conducted 36 terrorist attacks. In Africa there are many terrorist organisations. But the most notorious is the ‘Lord’s Salvation Army’; a Christian terrorist organisation in Uganda. They train young childrens to commit terrorist attacks.

In Sri Lanka, the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam) is the most notorious. It is the most violent terrorist organisation in the world. They are experts in suicide bombings and they even train children to take part in suicide bombings.

Normally people know Palestinian suicide bombings, Iranian suicide bombing, but they don’t know that LITTE are people who have popularized to suicide bombings. The LTTE i.e. Tamil tigers, they are Hindus.

In India majority of the terrorist attacks are talked about the Kashmiri militants. In India there are terrorist organization belonging to almost all different religions. We have Sikh terrorist, the ‘Bhindranwala’ in Punjab. If you go to South Asian Terrorism portal run by Non-Muslims, and if you see the list of terrorist attacks done by all the people, you will find the Muslims in a minority. But that is never highlighted in the media.

On 5 June, 1984, the Indian Security Forces took over the Golden Temple in which 100 people were killed. In retaliation on 31 October, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh security guard. In Tripura there are Christian terrorist organizations called ATTF (All Tripura Tiger Force) and NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura). On the 2 October, 44 Hindus were killed by these Christian terrorists.

In Assam we have ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam). ULFA in the 16 years from 1990 to 2006 has conducted successfully 749 confirmed terrorist attacks. The ULFA will put the Kashmiri militants to shame. But in the newspapers we only hear of Kashmiri militant. Why? The ULFA are trained to kill the Muslims, they are Hindus. How many times do we hear about them?

The maximum terrorist attacks, which have been done in India, are done by the Maoists. Only in Nepal, in the past 7 years they have conducted 99 terrorist attacks. According to the Indian Government out of 600 districts in India Maoists are present in 150 districts of India. They have done terrorist attacks in one-third part of India. The Maoists are the biggest dangers to India but yet the Indian Government is afraid of the Muslim terrorist. Why? The reason is George Bush. The Times of India, edition dated 9 September, 2006, reported that 875 rockets and 30 launchers were confiscated by the police. It is the biggest haul in the history of India that the government has confiscated.

From all these things we can surely say that Terrorism is not a Muslim Monopoly. Not a Muslim monopoly, it is not even a specialty of the Muslims. It is not even encouraged by Islam. The Holy Qur’an says in Sura Maidah, chp.5, verse.32, that “If anyone kills any human being, except as a punishment for murder or creating mischief in the land, it will as though he had killed the entire humanity”. Most of the religions don’t preach that you should kill innocent human being. Terrorism is not the monopoly of any religion.

The human being who has killed the maximum people is Adolf Hitler. Hitler incinerated 6 million Jews. He was Christian. Joseph Stalin (Uncle Joe) killed 20 million human beings; including 14.5 million were starved to death. Mao Tse Tsung of China killed 14 to 20 million human beings. He was Non Muslim. Benito Mussolini of Italy killed 400,000 human beings. Maximilin Robespierre during the French revolution starved and tortured 200,000 people to death and executed 40,000 people. Ashoka in one battle of Kalinga alone killed more than 100,000 people. He was a Hindu. Saddam Hussein killed a few 100 thousands people. But the embargo put by George Bush and the USA alone killed more than half a million Iraqi children. In Indonesia, Muhammad Suharto killed 500,000 people.

This is nothing compared to Hitler or uncle Joe nothing compare to Mao TSE sung each individual will put the Muslims to shame. I am not trying to say that these individual they were religious. If they would have religious then they would not have committed such acts. But yet we find in the international media that the Muslims are called as fundamentalist, extremists and terrorists. The American Revolution took place in the 19th century. According to the British Government the terrorist No. 1 that time was Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.

Views of world’s famous personalities

• The President of Venezuela, ‘Hugo Chavez’ says, ‘The biggest terrorist in the world is George bush’.
• The President Elect of Bolivia, ‘Evo Morales’, he says that George Bush is a terrorist.
• Famous singer and activist of America, Harry Bellefonte says that the biggest terrorist in the world is George Bush.
• An MP in UK by the name of George Galloway he said, ‘The blood that is on the hands of George Bush and Tony Blair is much more than the bombers who have done bombing in London. It will be justified that a suicide bomber goes and kill Tony Blair without injuring any other human being. This is type of suicide bombing will be justified’.
• Former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu said, ‘The biggest terrorist in the world is George Bush’.
• Noble prize winner for Peace, Betty Williams said, ‘I would love to kill George Bush’.

Solution to terrorism

• Politicians should be honest and just and should not do wrong things for the vote bank.
• Innocent Indian citizens should not be instigated by the politicians and kill other human beings. Police should be upright and just and protect the innocent. They should not be ploy of the politicians. I know that there are times that they can be transferred. But if every policeman in India is honest, the new policemen who are transferred will also be honest. So what will the politicians do?
• People should not take the law in their hand and kill other human being.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “ If India has to improve it should be ruled by a dictator as honest and upright as Hadrat Umar (The Caliph of Islam). Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson said, ‘People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, they fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has already been dropped, it fell the day Prophet MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born’.

IT IS THE BOMB OF PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The significance of the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal

Muhammad Hanif (FMRi)

The most significant day in the history of mankind is the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal. The significance of the day is associated with the dignity of the man who was born on this day. The man born on this day was the answer to Abraham’s supplication. And he was the glad tidings that Jesus Christ gave to his people. His birth had been foretold in previous divine Books. The Jews recognized him as well as one recognizes one’s child. They would even pray against their enemies through him. In short, he is a great blessing for the whole of humanity.

The 12th of Rabi al-Awwal is especially important to the Muslims, because on this day the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was born. This day takes them back to the memory of the one who led humanity from darkness to light and who is described by Allah as “a mercy to all the worlds”.

The Muslims in East and West celebrate the Prophet’s birth anniversary on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal. Such an occasion is meant to remind people of how the Prophet lived his life. Allah Almighty directs us to follow in the footsteps of His Beloved Messenger: “Verily, in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example for him who looks to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.” (al-Qur’an, 33: 21)

Nowadays, celebration of such a religious occasion is extremely important, especially for youth. Forgetful of such sacred events and their significance, they have indulged in other pleasures. When their hearts become abodes for the love of the Prophet, the best of the creation, they will emulate his practice who was an embodiment of love, sympathy and peace. So the commemoration of the Prophet’s birthday should be cherished and maintained.

Such celebrations will instil in them the values, ethics and moral code practised by the Prophet. This occasion serves a great purpose in that it brings the people closer to the teachings of Islam and to the Prophet’s way of life. It causes them to remember that the Prophet was a blessing for the whole universe, so they should also behave with others like him. His lesson of forbearance will motivate them to forgive even the bitter enemies.

On this occasion the Muslim parents should tell the stories of the Prophet to their children – stories that shed light on different aspects of his life: his birth, childhood, youth and adult life. This practice will kindle the flame of love in their hearts. And this message will serve as a beacon of light for the future generations, so that they will live together in peace, fraternity and solidarity. His care for all of humanity sets the best example for humanity.

In recent times, a very commendable practice has begun. Mawlids are being organized in place of secular celebrations: they are organized to mark a child’s birthday, move into a new house, marriages and similar events. Today’s violence-stricken, dark world can only be illuminated through the light of his teachings which show us how much tolerant he was towards others. Mawlid celebrations aim at the promotion of the culture of love and fraternity, peace and harmony, justice and equality, restoration of human rights and denouncement of terrorism. Also, they give the message of human dignity, forgiveness and accommodation. The Muslims congratulate one another on this day and salute and greet the Beloved Messenger of Allah.

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The Celebration of Eid-e-Milaad-un-Nabi PROF. SHAH FARIDUL HAQUE Translator of al-Quran (Kanzul Iman)

The Celebration of Eid-e-Milaad-un-Nabi
PROF. SHAH FARIDUL HAQUE
Translator of al-Quran (Kanzul Iman)

This article has been written in response to the views which were expressed in an article written
by Maulana Taqi Usmani, printed in The News International, Pakistan - August 18, 1994

“Say you, only because of Grace of Allah, and only of His Mercy, therefore let them rejoice over it. That is better than all of their wealth.” (al-Qur’an)

Muslims of this region particularly, and the Muslims of the world generally express their pleasure on the birth date of the Beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) and celebrate this occasion calling it as Eid-e-Milaad-un-Nabi.

Muslims prove themselves to be the true followers of the Prophet (S.A.W.). Paying highest respect to the last Prophet is the basic faith. The slightest disinclination towards the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his disrespect knowingly or unknowingly through connivance or openly, destroys a Muslim's entire faith (iman). Milaad-un-Nabi is celebrated for creating love and respect of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and through him the love and respect of Allah Almighty, the only Creator and Sustainer of the world.

A prominent 'alim belonging to Deobandi school of thought has expressed his views about celebration of Milaad on 12th of Rabiul Awwal and has termed the celebration an innovation as there is no religious authenticity behind it.

The first plea taken by the learned author is that anything not done in the period of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Companions cannot be allowed to enter religion and all such things shall be termed as bida or innovations. These people divide bidat (innovation) into worldly and religious while Islam as a religion is a complete code of life. If this notion is taken as correct then a Muslim has the right to ask about those many things that are being done these days, though they were not done during the days of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Companions and they are considered good and are being appreciated. For example, the publication of Qur’an in present shape with Urdu or English translation and explanation adding vowels in beautiful bounded shape is appreciated, though this was not done in the period of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Companions. I do not know whether this action would be termed as a religious or non-religious innovations by this school of thought. Establishing big dar-ul-ulums and imparting Dars-e-Nizami and awarding degrees of 'Alim in a congregation mainly organized for celebrating the occasion known as "Jalsa Taqseem-e-Asnad", were not done during the days of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Companions. But these functions are performed with religious fervor hoping good rewards from Allah.

Then the decoration of mosques and holding Mahafil-e-qirat and naat are considered by all as good and appreciated. Then many Mahafil-e-zikr and Seerat-un-Nabi gatherings are organized by the opponents of Milaad. These venues are fully decorated and illuminated. Would Maulana Sahib prove that these things were done in the time of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Compainions? Would he stop awarding Dars-e-Nizami degrees to his students in specially organized jalsas(gatherings)?

The key issue here is there is difference among 'ulama regarding the definition of bidat (innovation). Ulema-e-Ahle Sunnat say that every new things is not an innovation, only a new thing which is against the fundamental of the Shari’ah and its roots are not traceable in Qur’an and Sunnah and it directly effects any prevailing tradition of the Prophet (S.A.W.), is to be called innovation in Shari’ah. The definition given by Ulama-e-Deoband would stop the march of Islam altogether.

I am sure that the following tradition of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) would surely resolve the confusion in people’s mind: “One who begins a good tradition he would get its reward and the reward of those who would practice it till the Day of Judgment and the rewards of the persons practicing it would not be curtailed”.

The learned writer would have also heard this saying of Hadrat Umar(Radhiyallahu Anhu) about Tarawih prayers in congregation, ‘What a good innovation it is”.

In fact while performing or abstaining from any work, a Muslim is to see whether such action has been prohibited in the religion, or not. If it is not, then the performance is allowed and in Shari’ah it is known as jaiz and mubah. No person has said that the celebration of the Milaad is obligatory or wajib, but it is appreciable, as rejoicing at the time of getting any favour from Allah is natural and Islam allows it, even the Qur’an allows rejoicing at the time of getting any favour from Allah.

It is said in the Qur’an that: “And publicise well the favours of Allah.”

The greatest favour of Allah to mankind is the birth of the Prophet (S.A.W.).

Another point which has been raised by the learned writer is that many evil and bad practices have entered in such celebration. No doubt some innocent and illiterate people commit such things, but no learned 'alim has ever appreciated these things. Therefore, bad practices should be stopped. If children make noise and play in the mosque or make fun, they would not be stopped from going to the mosque, rather they would be admonished politely to leave such things.

In Milaad-un-Nabi, people participate in peaceful procession, hurl banners, shower flowers; naats are recited, slogans of Allah-o-Akbar and Ya Rasullah are raised and then gatherings are held in which 'ulama deliver speeches about the conduct and character of the Prophet(S.A.W.).

The writer has himself called the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal as blessed so the Blessing should be celebrated and be made known to others.

I would request the learned writer to go through the books of his predecessors such as Haji Imdadullah’s booklet “Haft Masala” and the book “Islahe Mafaheem” in Urdu by Shaikh Syed Muhammad Alawi al-Malaki and "Madarej-un-Nabuwat” by Allama Jalaludin al-Suyuti.

The writer allows celebration and description of the biography (Seerat of the Prophet) anytime and in every month, not only in Rabi-ul-Awwal.

It should be made known to the learned and honourable writer that Milaad functions have not been fixed for this month only. Muslims celebrate such functions throughout the year irrespective of any particular month. An objection has also been raised for fixing 12th of Rabi-ul-Awal as there is a difference of opinion about the authenticity of the actual date. Most of the jurist and 'ulama have agreed upon 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal as the Holy Prophet’s (S.A.W.) birthdate. The fixing of a date for any good work is not prohibited in Islam rather it has been approved by Qur’an and Sunnah. “And remind them of the Days of Allah”. (5:14). What would be the method of reminding, if the dates are not fixed?

Then the date of Lailat-ul-Qadr is not fixed, it occurs on any odd nights during the last ten days of the sacred month of Ramadan, but usually Muslims consider the 27th night of Ramadan as Shab-e-Qadr and celebrate it in a befitting manner. Should this practice should be stopped or be allowed?

Then again the question would arise according to the writer’s notion whether Seerat function and gatherings in present shape were organized and publicised in the days of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Companions?

The writer himself allows such meetings with some limitation that it should be held in complete conformity to the rules of Shari’ah. 'Ulama-e-Ahle Sunnat do so accordingly.

No one allows irreligious (ghair Shari'ah) actions in such meetings. For expressing pleasure if Allah provides and making illuminations, this would not be termed as extravagance. No one denies the rules of Shari’ah, i.e., mixed gathering of men and women are not allowed. No woman is allowed to recite naats before the male audience.

I would request the writer to write and wage practical war against evils and such innovations which are corrupting the moral fabric of society. In this day and age, when our faith is in danger and Muslims are being converted and made murtad. By celebrating the Milaad no Muslim commits haram. There is not a slightest chance of going out of Islam by doing this. Such gatherings enhance faith. The works and sacrifices of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his Companions are eulogized in such meetings.

What if some hours are spent by Muslims in celebrating the Milaad, reciting and listening to naat and religious speeches of ulama? At least during this period they are saved from rebuking, quarelling, backbiting and doing any sinful act.

May Allah bestow us sagacity to think and ponder.


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