PROMOTING PEACE IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES

It is a mission that earns eternal Paradise for those who sincerely engage in it. Political Interpretation of Islam If we want to make the people engaged in terrorism to give up violence and become peaceful, we must change their minds. We will have to give them an alternative ideology. In the first half of the 20th century, Muslims were living in a sense of loss—a loss of political power. At this time, few thinkers emerged who propagated a political interpretation of Islam. This appealed to the mind-set of many Muslims who keenly felt the loss of Muslim political power. And so, they accepted this interpretation of Islam very easily. Today, many Muslims are obsessed with this interpretation. The real problem is this political interpretation of Islam. The advocates of the political interpretation of Islam wanted to establish Islamic rule or Muslim rule all over the world. Finding the seats of political power already occupied by others, they set about trying to unseat them. This led to violence and terrorism. From Living in a Sense of Loss to Living in a Sense of Gain The political interpretation of Islam is the root of all this violence in the name of Islam that Muslims are today engaged in. And the only reason why it became so widely acceptable was that Muslims were living in a sense of loss. Given this, it is imperative that we provide them with a sense of gain. We have to help them realise that Islam is a faith that leads one to Paradise, and so in every situation a Muslim can live in a sense of gain. The Prophet of Islam lived in every situation in a sense of gain, not in a sense of loss. This is the solution to the problem of terrorism. We need to present the right interpretation of Islam to people. In addition, we need to provide them with a target, a goal—which is dawah work. Then, I believe, the problem of terrorism in the name of Islam will be solved. Thank you! o Calling people to God is a mission that earns eternal Paradise for those who sincerely engage in it.