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Islam is not identical with terrorism By Muhammad Embeay Friday, May 29, 2009 As-Salaam May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings, be with you. I seek refuge in Allah against the accursed devil. In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. "You are the best people raised for the good of mankind; You enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil and believe in Allah. If the people of the Book had believed, it would have surely been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are disobedient." Holy Quran 3:110. THE text not only claims that the Moslem are the best people, a great claim indeed, but also gives reasons for it. These reasons are as follows: Moslems have been raised for the good of others. They have been raised not for the good of any one people or any one country, but for the good of all mankind. It has been made their duty to enjoin what is good and forbid evil and believe in One God. The history of Islam bears ample testimony to the fact the Moslems fulfilled all the hopes expressed in the text. They were not only the torchbearers of Islam to the four corners of the world, but they also contributed to the betterment of other people in a most remarkable manner. The renaissance of the West was mostly, if not entirely, due to their influence. For example, the making of humanity by Robert Briffanct. The greatness of a people is proportionate to the magnitude of their work. As Moslems were to bring about the good of all mankind, they have been declared the greatest of all peoples. In fact, the real purpose of a Moslem's life is to do good to humanity. As Islam is the greatest good, so Moslems have been enjoined to convey its message of peace, not terrorism to the whole world. The history of our worlds is abound with countless instances of the sadistic destruction of national and international peace through wars that have painted many lands red with the blood of innocent millions of people - men, women, young and old, even the sinless children. Prominent among the causes of attempts by country leaders, to dominate and exploit on the basis of racial, religious, political, intolerance, injustice and denial of human rights. These diabolical attempts begin as ideas that originate in the minds of arrogant leaders whose world-view is shaped by nations that reject the equality of man and universal brotherhood. Such people wish for others what they do not wish for themselves and their peoples. Before now, the grave charge against Islam was that it was spread with the aid of sword but nowadays, Islam is regarded as synonymous with terrorism. Once a world power conceived the idea of unassailable and invincible rivalry from another country, especially, Moslem countries in Eastern world, the easiest way and first step is to brand that country as terrorist or pro-terrorist country; that country, one after the other, is stigmatised for imminent invasion for destruction. The next thing is to amass weaponry and motivate some other world leaders to declare war of destruction on that country, the rest is a story of devastating destruction. With the world powers, terrorism is identical with Islamic countries. To strive and exonerate Islam and Moslem countries from
total liquidation, worldwide Moslem leader strongly advised the National Lajna
Imaillah, Lady Servants of In the process they were to explain to the public that, instead of terrorism, Islam is a peaceful, obedient and submissive religion and the Moslems are not terrorists and Islam is not synonymous with terrorism. The battle has never been won in the battlefield but on the round table conference. This, the National Lajna Imaillah, Women Servants of Allah, The seminar was to serve as a laudable example for other Moslem organisations that, instead of violent and devastating protests on any assaults on Islam, the appropriate reconciliation should be through peaceful healthy methods that convert an enemy to become a bosom friend. It was also held so that others may emulate this peaceful,
non-violent protest. Parts of the activities of the National: Lajna Imaillah,
Women Servants of Among the Islamic societies invited with their respective cream of noble elites to witness the great seminar, include: Fomwan, Nasfat, Ikeja; Nadwat, Anwar-ru Islam, M.S.S.,. T.M.C., Hiz-bullah, Tabligh, Jamatul Islamiyya, Al-Qareeb, Shamsud-Deen, Alasalatu, Gbogbo Agbaye; Nawarul Islam. Others were Nawarud-Deen Society, Daiman (Female Wing),
Lillahi-l-Amru, (Jakande Arikawe Ketu; The cream of elites in the country who came as special guests of honour include: Chief (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu, wife of former governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Adigun Tawakalitu (proprietress of Al-Furqan International Schools, Lagos), Alhaja Muibat Asuke Ibraheem, chief Imam's wife, Alhaja Ogungbadero, chairperson, Mainland Local Government, Alhaja Morufat Obanikoro (Senator's wife), Hajia (Mrs.) Simbiat Titi Agbalajobi, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, Dr. (Mrs.) Ogunsanya, Sister Ganiyat Adebanjo, Alhaja R. Ajileye, Barrister (Mrs.) Kolawole, Barrister (Mrs.) Bakare, Alhaja Moriam Kekere-Ekun, Mrs. Kunle Lawal, wife of former Commissioner for Education and Alhaji Yaakubu Abiodun Balogun, Head of Service, Lagos State. The chairperson of the occasion was one time many years Sadar, President, for the group from 1984 to 1996, mow the Matron and a former Director, Department of Pharmacy in the Lagos State Health Services Management Board, Alhaja Kikelomo Sunmonu. In her welcome address, the National Leader of the Women Servants of Allah, a staff of Oyo State Teaching Service, Ibadan Alhaja (Mrs.) Kudirat Olanike Raji said: "Our respected Chairperson, highly honoured Special Guests of Honour, my distinguished sisters, and course, brothers, in Islam, Assalamu Alaikum Wa-Ralhamotullah Wa-Barakatuhoo. I feel highly delighted to welcome you all to this blessed occasion at which an issue affecting the continuous, peaceful and harmonious existence of human beings, especially in our own country, will be x-rayed, with a bid to proffering solutions to its attendant log-jams; particularly, shortly after having just passed through all the highly blessed activities of the divinely blessed month of Ramadhan. My prayer is that Allah, the Almighty, accept all our noble sacrifices in His cause as acts of Ibadat and bless us abundantly for them, (Aameen). Dear sisters and brothers in Islam, the issue of peace and the craving to achieve it by all the nations and people of the world today, has assumed such a magnitude that the more the world struggles to achieve it, the more elusive it continues to become. Yet, the world not only stands in dire need of peace but cannot continue to be without it. Unfortunately, whenever or wherever those who found themselves at the helm of human affairs in the world talk about disturbance of peace, they always erroneously point the first accusing fingers at Islam and Moslems, here is the only religion in the world, which its teachings, practices and everything about it depict Peace, and nothing but Peace; especially as exemplified by the best among the human beings, the epitome of peace, mercy to all mankind, the light from God, Muhammad, the Apostle of Allah, responsible for the establishment of lasting peace in the world have been comprehensively and adequately taken care of. All the factors that are responsible for the establishment of a lasting peace in the world have been instituted by the Respect For other Religions And Their Holy Personages, which is the main theme of today's seminar, and which, sadly, is not being adhered to today. It is only Islam, which recognises the multi-religious nature of mankind, respects it as such and exhorts its adherents to do same with all sincerity and love. The Holy Quran is replete with numerous teachings in this regard. For instance, Allah, the Almighty, says: "... O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable among you in the sight of Allah, is he, who is most righteous among you. "Surely, Allah is All-Knowing All-Aware." Holy Quran 49:13. In this verse, Allah, the Almighty addresses the whole mankind, irrespective of religious, racial, tribal, colour or any other affiliations. This is because, before we become whatever we claim to be, we were first and foremost human beings; as no animal, tree or any other creatures, apart from human beings, can lay claim to religion, tribe or whatever. This is the strongest cord unfortunately, the world has forgotten. Allah (S.A.W) also declares: "Verily, this community of yours (that is human community) is one community, and I am your Lord, so worship me." Holy Quran 21:94. The command by Allah to worship Him is directed towards all human beings. But the right to determine and formulate a mode of this worship rests on every individual according to his or her understanding of it.
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