Academics and intellectuals have been largely impervious to the jihad phenomenon, but American writer Robert Spencer has tackled the issue head-on with such tomes as The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World’s Most Intolerant Religion, and the Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades), which have become bestsellers despite mainstream bookstores not selling them.
Next month, he has a new book out: Religion of Peace? Why Christianity Is and Islam Isn’t. His blog www.jihadwatch.org attracts hundreds of thousands of readers each month. In an interview with The Catholic Herald, Spencer says there is a deep ideological affinity between the Left and the jihadists because both believe in achieving power the same way.
“Whenever the hard Left gained power they instituted a reign of terror in order to create what they envisage as a just society, brought about by force. Islamic law works in much the same way: utopia created by force.”
While the world—and India—tries to make sense of what is happening in London and Bangalore and Brisbane and everywhere in between, why young able-bodied men are being drawn into the fold of radical Islam, Spencer makes these salient points:
# I was surprised to see that there was indeed religiously sanctioned violence in it [the Koran], as well as some others things which I found disturbing. But it was all intriguing, because I was entranced by the shorter, poetic chapters. I thought it very striking that this beauty could co-exist with clear mandates for warfare and violence against unbelievers.
# The best way to counter genuine hatred of Muslims would be for the Islamic community to end their support for the ideology of violence.
# It [Islamophobia] is a fictional, trumped-up political term, there to deflect attention away from the violence committed by Muslims in the name of Islam. Victim status equals privileged status in the West. People know they can be free from criticism and ordinary scrutiny.
# Fascism lasted 25 years, Communism for 75; Islam is 1,400 years old, the imperative to make war against unbelievers is 1,400 years old and they believe they are fighting a 1,400-year-old struggle. And jihad will destroy us if we don’t do anything about it.
Read the full interview here: ‘Jihad will destroy us if we don’t act now‘
http://www.newstatesman.com/200507180004
Here is a piece by an informed Muslim showcasing Jihadism’s roots in Islam.
Unfortunately in India, missionaries have been working in tandem with islamists and Jihadis.
I do hope (say) Father Cedrick Prakash see the future and stop holding hand of Teesta Javed Khan Seetalvad.
There have been three most ruthless islamist ideologues in whole of 20th century/
According to my reserach, ALL THESE THREE PEOPLE HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH PRESENT DAY UTTAR PRADESH AND ISLAMISM IN INDIA WHICH CAN BE TRACED THRO’ INDIAN HISTORY FROM MUSLIM PERIOD.
2 belongs to Sunni Groups – Maududi, founder of Jamat-E-Islami and Sayyid Qutb, founder of Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt and main driving force behind Laden & Co. Amongst Shiites, it was Khomeini, the Shiite Cleric who led Islamic revolution in Iran.
Sayyid Qutb:
Proof that Syed Qutb’s (founder of Islamic brotherhood and ideological father of Bin-Laden & Co) family is from India:
http://www.answers.com/topic/sayyid-qutb-1
“he family, which traces its ancestry ultimately to Central Asia via India,..”
If I am not mistaken, his family was a believer in philosophy of Wahi-Ullah and migrated out of India after the fall of Mughal Empire (just during last days of Mughal Empire) BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT INDIA HAS BECOME DAR-UL-HARB.
Maududi:
We all know Maududi was an Indian and did most of his work prior to 1947 and then migrated to pakistan. He was founder of Jamat-E-Islami, a terror group.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayyid_Abul_Ala_Maududi
Khomeini
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khomeini
I have read in a Syed Naqvi written article (in Indian Express) that Khomenni’s ancestors migrated from Lucknow to Iran, though its a taboo to accept in Iran/
THUS BOTH SUNNI AND SHIA TERRORIST IDEOLOGIES ARE ROOTED IN INDIA, PARTICULARLY PRESENT DAY UTTAR PRADESH, A SEAT OF MUSLIM POWER FOR A LONG TIME.
The common link between these terror ideologues is Shah Wahiullah, a medieval Islamic cleric from Northern India, present day Uttar Pradesh who tried to make India an Islamic nation.
Its the same Shah Wahiullah who later inspired founder of Aligarh Muslim University founder Syed Ahmed, founders of Deoband as well founders of terror group Tablighi Jamat.
(do note Shah Wahiullah lived in India few centuries prior to even birth of Bankim Chatterjee, prophet of Indian nationalism or founding of RSS).
it is these kind of books and churumuri posts that justify Jihad. shame on you. Islam bashing is not going to lead us anywhere. you suggest titles like ‘Religion of peace? why Christianity is and Islam isn’t’ and wonder why educated muslims are becoming jihadis. whats your education level dude, 2nd standard?
saar balaji,
one analysis & response is jihad? what type of response should atleast 50 years of analysis by eminent historians not to mention, ramayana, geeta, ganesha’s trunk elicit? what should chris hitchens get for shedding light on MoC?
allond dhoDD queque ide alli kaTTi nimm Rs. 2.50
Oh Balaji,
The good lord of seven hills! I thought that you are much cleverer than what your comments seem to imply. If a religion is so weak that it could move to an extreme state when people criticise its practices and precepts, then that religion does not fit to be practiced in the 21st century.
You ask: ‘why Christianity is and Islam isn’t’ ?. Ask that questions to muslims like Haneef and Ahmeds.
You also ask: ‘wonder why educated muslims are becoming jihadis.’ That is the answer to your question above. QED.
Ranga,
does this title “Religion of peace? why Christianity is and Islam isn’t” sound like criticism to you? its bigotry, plain and simple. i didn’t ASK why educated muslims are becoming jihadis. i was implying that such blind hate towards Islam would push any muslim over the edge.
Balaji,
I can understand where Ranga is coming from and I support him; he is not felling any hatred towards the religio–only its most extreme practioners!
You are probably thinking and saying, “What a nice guy I am? Why don’t more people like me and stuff like that…”
The answer my friend: you cannot just ignore the reality that is ‘the religion of peace’ today.
Balaji,
So the way for Muslims to react to accusations of being violent, is to become violent? They then prove the point.
If this was really a false accusation, Muslims would respond peacefully, not violently.
It is ironic that every time the violence of Islam is observed and pointed out, Muslims only drive it home harder with their rhetoric and indeed their violent reactions. In the Muslim mentality, it is only natural and justified. Which is why Islam is a dangerous, violent mentality. It justifies violence in its own supposed defense.
When the cartoons were published, implying that Muslims are violent, they proved it was true by burning down the Danish embassy, killing nuns, etc.
You cannot hide the truth.