12. FUNDAMENTALISM

12. Fundamentalism ~ 35 ~ Islam. The Prophet of Islam has observed: “The religion revealed to me is a religion of kindness and tolerance.” There is no room for violence in Islam for any reason whatsoever. Thus Islamic fundamentalism in this second sense is not acceptable to Islam. After the Second World War, however, some Muslims opted for terrorism or extremism in the name of Islam to achieve political ends. It was their personal act. But since they carried it out in the name of Islam the people to Islam attributed it. The truth is that this is a misuse of Islam. It has nothing to do with Islam. Those Muslims who are engaged in terrorism or extremism in the name of Islam are certainly misusing Islam. Islam is a scheme of spiritual development. The goal of Islam is to establish direct communion between God and man in order that man may become the recipient of divine inspiration. In such a religion it is moderation, which is of the utmost importance, not extremism. It is peace, which is of the utmost importance and not violence. From this