Page 158 - Only Love Can Defeat Terrorism

Only Love Can Defeat Terrorism

fight these three foes with the weapons of wisdom, skill and
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unanimity of purpose." These vital words draw attention to
three grave dangers: ignorance, poverty and conflict.
It is essential to warn the public against the first of these,
ignorance. In today's Islamic world, the great majority has
some a knowledge of religion and belief in Allah. Yet seldom
does that same majority deeply examine religion and spiritual
values. Because their knowledge is generally superficial and
picked up secondhand, it is impossible for them to translate

religion's proper morality, in its true sense, into life. It is
essential, therefore, to do away with that lack of knowledge.
The poverty of the Muslim world is the second danger
Bediuzzaman cites. That poverty prevents people having a
proper education and thus feeds ignorance. It also makes
Muslims feel weak and thus feeds both frustration and
radicalization. The third danger is the internal conflict over so
many issues in the Muslim world. When parties can reach no
agreement on basic values, their debate over ideas usually

degenerates into hostilities, conflict and even civil wars.
Compassion and mutual respect are not only inter-
civilization, but also intra-civilization necessities.
But the truth is that a constructive attitude can resolve
these problems and conflicts. The paths of reason and
conscience are one and the same. For that reason, truth needs
to be stated openly, in the face of the disorder and strife that

conflict brings with it. Against these three dangers,
Bediuzzaman also stressed the measures needed to be taken.

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