|
Major US Islamic group denounces terrorism
"Terrorism is the epitome of injustice because it targets innocent people," according to a declaration issued by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). ISNA, the largest Muslim grouping in the Untied States, which is known for its conservative views, has come out strongly in favour religions tolerance and interfaith bridge-building, while condemning terrorism and extremism as gross violations of the word and spirit of the Quran and the teachings of Islam . The declaration published by the bi-monthly ISNA publication, Islamic Horizons, says ends do not justify means and innocent civilians should never pay the price for the misdeeds of others or be used as pawns in settling political or military conflicts. Muslims, it points out, are bound by the Quranic prohibitions of taking an innocent life, considered as one of the gravest sins in Islam. The Quran demands that Muslims act justly and impartially, even when dealing with an enemy. "Humanity lives today in an interdependent world where peaceful and fair interaction, including interfaith and intra-faith dialogue is imperative. A grave threat to all of us nowadays is the scourge of religious and political extremism that manifests itself in various forms of violence, including terrorism," ISNA points out. The declaration says jihad is not to be equated with terrorism, since the word jihad in the Quran does not mean holy war, since there is nothing holy about war, which the Quran at one place calls a hated act. Jihad means to strive or exert effort and as used in the holy book and the hadith in three specific contexts, two of them elating to inward jiahd and social jihad. Only in the third context does it denote to the battlefield. The term used in the Quaran for war in a just cause is "qital" which is to be wages in legitimate self-defence or in the face of unprovoked aggression or in resisting severe repression on religious or other grounds. "Jihad cannot be randomly declared by individuals or groups, but rather by a legitimate authority after due consultation. The intentions of those taking part, Islam enjoins, must be pure, not tainted by personal or nationalistic agendas. Posted by: Fred 2006-05-01 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=150314 |