Islam and Islamism
The series of murderous attacks that bloodied Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday can be added to a long list of anti-christian persecutions of which the cult followers of Mohammed are guilty. However, the repetition of such attacks may come to cause people to consider the risk of attacks as being inevitable, or even to trivialize them. The great danger is misjudging the origin of these crimes by failing to identify their true cause.
Indeed, there are still some proponents of political correctness who are going to explain that these crimes, committed in the name of Islam, are not meant to emanate from the religion itself. At most they would be a serious deviation, certainly monstrous, but not corresponding to the profound nature of this “religion of peace and love.” It would be an outgrowth, a tumor to which is given the name “Islamism.” As if, once this outgrowth had been extirpated, the religion preached by Mohammed would be perfectly sane and beneficent. This vision shows an error of perspective, and rests on profound ignorance of the nature of Islam.
The nature of Jihad
It is a little like the knowledge of living things. Like some plants, whose growth is very significantly modified according to external conditions (altitude, climate, soil, etc.), so that an untrained eye would not be able to recognize that a plant growing only a few inches in a given place, is the same as one that grows one yard in another, more favorable place. It is, however, the same plant.
Likewise, it must be stated that jihad, whatever its form, of which terrorism is only one aspect, if part of the patrimony of Islam—it is in its genes. This is how Mark A. Gabriel, a former professor of Islamic law from Al-Azhar University, and a Christian convert, explains it in his book Islam and Terrorism, (Frontline, 2015).
The Goal of Jihad and its Methods
Jihad is a commandment addressed to all Muslims. It goal is to manage to finish off those who do not accept Islam. In the time of Mohammed, they practiced jihad against Christians and Jews regularly, just as much as against idolaters, or anyone who would not convert to Islam. As it is expressed in the Quran: “Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn away from Islam, seize them and kill them wherever you find them...” (Surah 4:89).
“So, when you meet those who disbelieve [in jihad for Allah], smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly” (Surah 47:4).
“O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are pious” (Surah 9:123).
“It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he had made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land” (Surah 8:67).
Even if they do not take action, Muslims must always prepare to fight the “infidels” who do not obey Mohammed, “And let not unbelievers think that they can progress in piety. They will never abandon their convictions: make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to strike terror in to the hearts of the enemies of Allah, yours and others besides, whom you may not know but whom Allah does know” (Surah 8:59-60).
Among these enemies especially appear Jews and Christians. The “Mecca” verses certainly encourage the Muslims to live in peace with Christians—the opposite for the Jews. But the “Medina” verses are much more hostile. The following verse is considered as the final revelation of Allah on the Jews and Christians, and it is commonly admitted that it is more important than all the others: “And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion will all be for Allah alone [in the whole of the world ]” (Surah 8:39).
The Quran also says that Muslims must not be friends with Christians or Jews: “Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya' (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them” (Surah 5:51). He had better watch out!
Allah Encourages and Threatens Muslims
The pseudo-revelation of Allah also tells Mohammed to go out and conquer the world; this is why many verses of the Quran encourage the people to fight in jihad, as follows: “Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward” (Surah 4:59).
On the other hand, those who do not participate in jihad are threatened with hell fire: “Those who hated to strive and fight with their properties and their lives in the Cause of Allah, and they said: ‘March not forth in the heat.’ Say to them: “The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat,’ if only they could understand!” (Surah 9:81).
Those who withdraw risk the anger of Allah: “And whoever turns his back to them on such a day—unless it be a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own)—he indeed has drawn upon himself wrath from Allah. And his abode is Hell, and worst indeed is that destination!” (Surah 8:16).
Murder, i.e. Jihad, is not a choice. It is an obligation because it is an order from Allah. (Surah 9:29).
The ultimate goal of Islam is thus to establish Islamic authority over all the world, by any means, especially in striking non-Muslims through strength and terror. But do all Muslims believe this?
We Must Recognize that There are Several Types of Muslims
Secularists: they believe in the agreeable aspects of Islam, but reject the call to jihad. They have adopted Islam as a culture, but do not totally live the religion.
Traditional Muslims: there are two types. Those who study Islam, know it and practice it, but struggle with jihad. They see it more as a spiritual battle, like Sufism. This esoteric and “mystical” way of Islam goes back to the 11th century, it was often persecuted by the caliphs.
The second type well understands the implications of jihad, but its members do not take part in it, for various personal reasons.
Fundamental Muslims: these are those who actively participate in jihad.
But in these three types, beliefs are founded on the same basis, with the same genetics: the Quran, the Hadith and Sharia. Those who express themselves through different ways are following the terrain where they have established themselves and according to exterior circumstances. It is illusory to want to oppose them in thinking to reduce Islam to one or the other type. It is not possible to separate them from their genetics.
Just as there are Muslims who do not engage in jihad, and doubtless will not ever engage in it, likewise there are, and there always will be Muslims who will engage in it anyway. Because, in the long history of Islam, this interpretation has always existed, and has always justified the bellicose actions of the head of the Islamic community.
On the other hand, an interpretation like that of Sufism has been violently fought during many eras. It is today very much a minority, and again suppressed, e.g. by Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion
We must not confuse Islam with Islamism, on the other hand, one cannot separate them, just as one cannot get rid of a vital part of oneself or revoke one's genetic makeup. Even if—through pure supposition—tomorrow there were no more Islamic terrorists, but only “secular” Muslims, jihad would still be living, only waiting for a favorable situation and circumstances to sprout again and develop.
Since it is a matter of religious darkness, the only solution—religious—is the deliverance of these “slaves of Allah” through their conversion to Catholicism. In this expectation, the political authority guards the most grave duty of protecting the citizens and institutions. But to do this, it must properly understand the reality of Islam and jihadism, without the distorting glasses of “politically correctness.”
(All English quotations from the Quran are taken, in part, from the website: https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/quran/noble)
