Why call him an Islamic terrorist?

Last month a thirty-year-old deranged man of Muslim ancestry with a criminal history killed a Jewish woman in Seattle because of his anger against Israel’s killing of so many civilians in Lebanon. Some called him a “Homegrown Islamic terrorist.” Isn’t that strange? The man was deranged and had a prior criminal history. His abnormal behavior does not typify the behavior of other 1.4 billion Muslims in the world and neither does his action symbolize the spirit of Islam. Why call him an Islamic terrorist?

In April this year another man by the name Herbert Chalmers Jr. killed a 53-year-old Sylvia Haynes at her apartment in St. Louise. Herbert Chalmers was a Christian. His action also does not typify the Christian behavior. Why not call him also a “Homegrown Christian Terrorist”?

I disagree with both because no religion in the world permits killing of the innocent. I believe there are bad apples in every social and religious group who disgrace their religion and humanity.

It is unfortunate how incorrectly the media portrays Islam, although Judaism, Christianity and Islam have emerged from the same roots. They all started out with the teachings of one man by the name Abraham (saw), the patriarch Prophet who lived in Hebron about 4000 years ago. There is extensive mention of Abraham (saw) both in the Torah and the Qu’ran, the Holy Book of Muslims.

Islam is not a violent religion. Rather this is the only religion that teaches respect for other religions and other people. The Qu’ran repeatedly says that the Muslims believe in all Hebrew Prophets who came before Prophet Mohammed (PBH):

“And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter” (Q2: 4) and

“We did aforetime send apostles before thee: of them there are some whose story We have related to thee, and some whose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for any apostle to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah. But when the Command of Allah issued, the matter was decided in truth
and justice, and there perished, there and then those who stood on Falsehoods”. (Q40: 78)

Both of these verses are telling the believers that they must not only respect but also believe in all apostles and their revelations which were sent before Prophet Mohammed (PBH).

In Islam, war is regarded as a destructive activity and must be avoided as far as possible. War should be used only to repel aggression. Never at any place, the Qu’ran advocates fighting an offensive war. Wars in Islam are always defensive. Qu’ran says:

“And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah. But if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression” (Q2: 193)

A pre-emptive attack is an offence because the party that is attacked has not declared a war against the attacker. Terrorism is an offensive war and therefore, a pre-emptive war is terrorism. Afghanis and Iraqis did not initiate any attack on any country and therefore, calling them terrorists or insurgents would be wrong. They are simply defending themselves against persecution.

War in Afghanistan was waged to punish Osama bin Laden for his alleged involvement in the 9/11 attack. Nobody has ever proved that Osama had any role in the 9/11 plot, much less being its leader. Due to a lack of evidence, the F.B.I. has never filed charges against him. More recently, Osama’s file at the Bureau has been permanently closed.

Likewise, the reasons to attack Iraq were also too wishy-washy, based on unreliable intelligence. These reasons were subsequently redefined several times during and even after the war. First it was the presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), which were never there, then it was Saddam’s intentions to build nuclear weapons, which was also proved incorrect, and finally it was because Saddam was a ruthless dictator and had to removed. The last reason was the most flimsy one, because Saddam was not the only ruthless dictator in the world, there are many other ruthless dictators and most of them are America’s friends.

The U.N. inspectors had thoroughly searched every inch of the Iraqi land and did not find any smoking gun. They had reported their findings to the Bush Administration before the war on Iraq was launched. The Bush Administration ignored them and attacked the country anyway. Then in doing so, they totally obliterated their infrastructure, murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and destroyed an ancient civilization dating back to the dawn of history.

From an Islamic point of view, both of these wars were wars of aggression and should never have carried out. Both of them were fought against the countries that did not have resources to fight back and therefore, were unjust and illegal.

In another verse, the Qu’ran says:

“Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings” (2:213)

This is how far Islam goes to promote a classless society in which equality, justice and a peaceful existence prevails among the people of all races and religions. .

Two thousand years ago, Jesus said:

“ Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. From anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again”. (Luke 6: 27-30)

Two thousand years later, Reverent John Hagee, a Christian leader and Pentecostal television evangelist from Texas, was presiding over a meeting of 3500 members of Christians Unified for Israel, in Washington. When Israel’s armed forces pounded Lebanon and worries of a wider conflagration mounted:

“…. Mr. Hagee called the Israel attacks on Lebanon a “Miracle of God” and suggested that a ceasefire would violate “God’s Foreign Policy Statement” towards the Jews”.

The evangelist is a leading figure in the so-called Christian-Zionist movement rooted in a literal interpretation of the Book of Revelations, which predicts a final battle between good and evil in Israel, where two billion people will die before Christ’s return ushers in a 1000 year period of grace…”

President Bush sent a message to the gathering, praising Mr. Hagee and his supporters for spreading the hope of God’s love and universal gift of freedom.” He is said to have added: “God bless and stand by the people of Israel and God bless the United States.”
(L.A. Times of August 4, 2006)

As a big contrast to Mr. Hagee’s teachings, the Qu’ran says:

“Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure”. (Q 22:40)

Here the Muslims are told by God to sacrifice their lives, not only to save their mosques from the oppressors, but also the Churches and the Synagogues as well, which are the places of worship for the Christians and the Jews.

It would be helpful, if the religious leaders like Rev. Hagee have their facts straight before they call Islam a terrorists’ religion, which it is not.

Now a few words for Mr. Hagee:

As I mentioned earlier, all three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam started from the teachings of Abraham (saw) who believed in One God. It is the same God for the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims. The Arabic word for God is “Allah.”

We are all creation of the same God and worship the same God. If you didn’t know it, please know it now. Why should you call attacks on Lebanon as the “Miracles of God” where the population is 40% Christian?

Mr. Hagee, if you are a Christian and as an ‘individual’ must call Muslims as your enemies, then follow at least what Jesus told you to do: “ Love your enemies”. Don’t preach hate. Please preach love.