The True Nature of Islam?
Like other Americans, I am relieved that the snipers apparently responsible for several murders in the Washington, D.C. have been apprehended. Naturally our interest was occupied with the motivation for such behavior. Since the victims seemed to have been selected randomly, what was the reason behind the killing?
We have learned that one of the two suspects, John Allen Muhammad, served in the U.S. military during the Gulf War and was part of a combat engineers unit that was responsible for the demolition of chemical weapons in Iraq. Was he affected by these chemical agents in such a way that he became mentally unstable? Others have suggested that two divorces have also contributed to his "mental imbalance."
John Allen Muhammad changed his name from Williams to Muhammad in the 1990’s to reflect his conversion to Islam. It has also been reported that Muhammad applauded the attack against the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. While many are looking at Muhammad’s military service or his failed relationships to explain his behavior, others in the media have been quick to caution Americans about blaming the religion of Islam for the violence committed by the snipers despite the fact that Muhammad is a Muslim.
Is the religion of Islam irrelevant in the discussion of terrorism? We have been repeatedly told, even by our own President, that the terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center are "radicals" who have "hijacked a peaceful religion," i.e., Islam. I recently listened to a Muslim cleric on television describe violence as contrary to Islam. It is certainly true that, if one reads the Quran, one can find passages which speak of peace, love and getting along with others, even people of other religions.
On the other hand, there are also many passages in the Quran which advocate violence against, even the extermination of, those who do not embrace Islam. How can these passages be reconciled? What is the true nature of the religion of Islam?
Mark Gabriel (not his real name) has written a book entitled "Islam and Terrorism" in which he explains how the passages can be reconciled and also identifies the true nature of Islam. Mr. Gabriel has a doctorate degree from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt and taught Islamic history there. He spent years in careful study of the Quran and Islam and understands the religion well. Although once a dedicated Muslim, he has recognized its true nature and left Islam. Due to numerous attacks against his life, Gabriel has been forced to assume an alias in order to avoid being murdered by "peaceful" Muslims.
Mr. Gabriel argues in his book that the principle of jihad (holy war) is at the core of the Islamic faith. Rather than involving a misuse of the Quran or a radical interpretation of Islam, terrorism is solidly rooted in the Islamic religion. This article is the first of a series which is intended to help Christians understand Islam and its relationship to terrorism.