Is terrorism Islamic?‎

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Definitely not. It amazes me to see the recent flow in the number of individuals who have become so called experts on Islam and the Qur'an.

Before any individual begins to form an opinion about Islam and Muslims, one needs to check whether one’s knowledge about Islam is complete, honest and obtained from reliable sources. Sources like the internet or some book written by a so called expert who may not be even a Muslim cannot be trusted. When a myth is perpetuated over a period of time, some people tend to believe what they read or watch on the mass media and this influences their judgement or assessment about others. We need to critically analyse what we are fed via the mass media and other platforms of information dissemination.

Terms like liberal Muslims, Islamists and Jihadist do not make sense to me or to any other Muslim for that matter. A Muslim is a Muslim and the Quran, traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) and the consensus of the Scholars are the sources of guidance for Muslims. Anything else like terrorism, suicide bombings, mass murder, honour killing, unjust killings, ill treatment of women, female circumcision, hatred, bigotry, and fanaticism, just to name a few, are not the teachings of Islam. Period! The rules of warfare that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) imposed on his army over 1400 years are emulated by the Geneva Convention. Islam and its teachings are not the problem. Misrepresentation, ignorance and fear mongers are our obstacles to progress and co-existence.

We all need to join the increasing chorus of voices and contribute to the global movements that are striving to ensure that human rights, justice, equality and a life of dignity are attained for all.

The onus is on us as ordinary people to bring about progressive change and to heal the “bleeding world” by promoting dialogue, human rights and universal values. Love of God, love of the good and love of the neighbour.

Just like how on Mandela Day an earnest call to action for individuals – for people everywhere – to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place, one small step at a time is made, I suggest on Human Rights day every individual, organisations, communities and learning institutions should do something to promote Human Rights, equality, truth and justice.