Page 1 - The root cause of terrorism and its Solution
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countering against Saddam’s Iraq.
terrorism I believe that terrorism will
There is no doubt that the terror attacks at different parts of the ‘God grants to persist in one form or another
peace, what he does until the ideology of violence is
world are highly condemnable. People the world over are trying not grant to violence.’ countered with another
ideology based on peace. The
to find a solution to this menace. The authorities are trying to —The Prophet ideology behind present day
Muhammad terrorism is that, Islam being a
crush the terror menace through legal action; while the reformers political system, it is the duty of all
are trying to curb it by engaging in condemnation. However both Muslims to establish Islamic rule in
of these methods are, apparently, proving the world. This thinking was not prevalent
to be ineffective. Then what is the during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. It is a later innovation
solution? which was developed in the last few centuries by a handful of
According to my ‘A Muslim is one people. Having become wide spread in the Muslim world today, it
assessment, the present from whose tongue
problem of terrorism is based and hands people is leading to present-day violence. It has influenced many Muslims,
on an ideology and an ideology
cannot be countered through are safe.’ especially the easily influenced youth, and they have become
legal action or by mere —The Prophet
condemnation. We have to Muhammad obsessed with trying to establish the political rule of Islam, thinking
it to be their ticket to paradise. Failing to achieve this objective by
the peaceful method, they have started resorting to suicide
bombing. The idea being that if we cannot eliminate the non-
develop a counter-ideology to Islamic rule, then let us at least de-stabilize it and pave the way
overcome it. for Islamic rule.
According to the UNESCO, ‘Violence begins from the mind’, peace
it has to, therefore, be uprooted from the mind itself. This I feel
succinctly captures the very root cause of terrorism. Therefore, in is a pre-condition
order to eliminate this root cause we need to initiate our efforts by
beginning from the right starting point–of the re-engineering of I have studied Islam through its original sources – the Quran and
minds of individuals by taking them away from the culture of Hadith – and I can say that this political interpretation of Islam is
violence and bringing them closer to the culture of peace. an innovation and the real Islam is
mistaken based upon peace, compassion
belief and tolerance.
To explain the importance of the above, I would state two parallel Peace is not prevalent ‘Good and evil
in the world as people the deeds are not equal. Repel
examples from history. One of the world over are acting evil with what is better; then
intolerantly and indulging you will see that one who was
American campaign against in acts of violence, once your enemy has become
saying, “Give us justice
‘We will, surely, Communist Russia and the other and peace will ensue.” But your dearest friend.’
bear with patience all of the American campaign against
Saddam-led Iraq. While the US when people, ostensibly (The Quran, 41:34)
the harm you do us.’ was successful in curbing the seeking justice, stoop to
(The Quran, 14:12) menace of Communist Russia, violence, peace can never
the same America failed to cope prevail. Peace is always desirable for
with the menace of Saddam-led Iraq. its own sake, and every other desirable state comes after peace,
This is because America met the Russian not along with it. So, the maxim I follow is: “Ignore the problems,
challenge at an ideological level while it opted for military action and avail of the opportunities.”