Another beheading. Another al-Qaida video. Another terrorist claim that the act was committed to liberate Iraq from outsiders and another abuse of Islam.
Terrorists are not only killing innocent individuals but also alienating people, including many Muslims, from Islam. The terrorists project their actions as a favor to Muslim causes all over the world, yet they hurt Islam and Muslims more than anyone else. They may claim to be Muslims, yet they are Satanic in their words and actions. Their long beards, their references to the Quran and their emphasis on religious rituals don't qualify them to be called Muslims. Their actions clearly spell out their true evil face that shows nothing but hatred against the innocent creation of God.
Muslim Americans have taken a strong stand against these terrorists, yet we need to do more. Non-Muslims are losing their lives and property in attacks orchestrated by terrorists, but Muslims are fast losing their credibility and integrity to convince others that Islam has something meaningful to offer to the progress of human civilization.
Muslim Americans owe it to their faith, as well as to the generations with whom they share their planet, to fan out in different parts of the world and take an open and hostile stand against terrorists. This is not a time to sit idle, issue a few statements or simplistically cite the Quran or the teachings of Prophet Muhammad on peace and living in harmony with others. This is a time to appeal to the hearts and minds of Muslims all over the world to convince the masses that violence is unacceptable and terror is reprehensible. Policy differences over the Israel-Palestine conflict or the presence of U.S. troops in the Muslim world or even the so-called imperialistic designs on the part of multinational cooperation can never be used to justify the killing of innocent people. The need of the hour is to mobilize streets in the Muslim world against terror. A jihad against violence is a must if Muslims want to restore the credibility of their faith.
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Muslim Americans are resourceful. They contribute over $10 billion to the national economy. They are one of the world's richest Muslim communities. They are also the world's best-educated Muslim community. They can utilize their resources to organize grassroots campaigns in the Muslim world to combat terrorism and violence. They can send their leaders and Imams to different parts of the Muslim world to challenge terror advocates, whether in Gaza and the West Bank or in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. They must mobilize Islamic workshops and training sessions focusing on the antiterrorism message of their faith.
Only through such efforts can Muslim Americans demonstrate that
Muslims are serious and determined to fight all forms of injustice and violence. Otherwise, they will be seen as a community that has double standards in combating violence and terror. They alone are capable of fighting terrorists who abuse their religion and they alone must prove to the world that they are capable of defeating terrorists in their own territory.
Dr. Aslam Abdullah is the Editor of
the Minaret magazine which is a monthly publication from Los Angeles,
California. Minaret is a national publication focusing on Islam and Muslims.
