Which is the true face of suicidal jihadist terrorists? Are they ultra-conservative, pious devout Muslims who pray five times a day, eschew music and all contact with the opposite sex, reject alcohol, cigarettes and drugs of all kind, while trying to be charitable and forgiving? Or are they hedonistic partygoers who take drugs, frequent strip clubs and are given to sexual promiscuity, both heterosexual and homosexual?
Based on 30 years’ experience as an imam within British Muslim communities, and as a former Islamist who knew and met several people who went on to become convicted terrorists, the simple answer in my view is: both of the above pictures are true, except that all terrorists forget the core Islamic teachings of compassion, forgiveness and humanity that would preclude any act of terrorism.
.... Other young Muslims are so guilt-ridden by hedonistic lifestyles that they will do anything to redeem themselves, thus becoming vulnerable to terrorist recruitment: rather than killing and being killed in a final act of explosive, selfish rage, what is needed is the traditional religious approach of a lifetime of selfless service to others. Stopping the anger and rage of would-be suicidal terrorists, then channelling and transforming it into charitable virtue, is one of the most difficult tasks we face. [Usama Hasan, 727 comments]
[TOP RATED COMMENT 251 votes] "all terrorists forget the core Islamic teachings of compassion, forgiveness and humanity that would preclude any act of terrorism."
But they pay close attention to the other core Islamic teachings of subjugating infidels, waging violent Jihad and treating women as second class citizens. As an Imam, you'll be fully aware that these things are fully justified in Islamic teaching – so why condescend us all?
[2ND 161] They are people who can't reconcile the supremacist message at the heart of islam with the world they see.
It's therefore everyone else's fault that their view of the world doesn't prevail.
[3RD 124] "Other young Muslims are so guilt-ridden by hedonistic lifestyles that they will do anything to redeem themselves, thus becoming vulnerable to terrorist recruitment: rather than killing and being killed in a final act of explosive, selfish rage, what is needed is the traditional religious approach of a lifetime of selfless service to others"
No, what is needed is to let young people be young people. They're guilt ridden because they've been brainwashed into thinking that a) there's a God watching you and b) he cares about your sexual habits. The remedy for that is not to become a monk – it's to live and let live.
[4TH 117] "...except that all terrorists forget the core Islamic teachings of compassion, forgiveness and humanity that would preclude any act of terrorism."
Strange how this forgetfulness only happens to Muslims. You'd think there'd be a proportional number of Christian, Hindu or Buddhist terrorists misunderstanding their religious texts too.
Pity you don't share with readers how the Islamic teachings of compassion, forgiveness and humanity are meant for Muslims only. So much so that it is widely accepted among Islamic scholars that a Muslim should never wish 'peace' upon greeting a non-Muslim. Mohammed said: “Do not initiate the greeting of salaam to a Jew or a Christian…” (Narrated by Muslim, 2167).
We non-Muslims are second class people in the world of Islam and always have been. [Guardian Cif] Read more
