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Showing posts from November 20, 2013

Islam at crossroads: Who’s to blame?

- M. Rajaque Rahman It has become almost fashionable for a Muslim to say Islam is in danger. The religion whose literal meaning is peace is today seen as the root cause of terror and violence. The Muslim world cannot merely dismiss this as fallout of a grand conspiracy against Islam by people of other faiths. It has failed to present the real essence of Islam and remained a mute spectator to many atrocities against humanity committed in the name cleansing the world of infidels. This diffidence to stand up for Islam is mainly due to lack of clarity among Muslims about what their religion truly stands for. The Muslim world is heavily weighed down by its own blinkered interpretation of what is permitted and forbidden in Islam. The most glaring misinterpretation that has led to a distortion of the very essence of Islam is its understanding of the expression ‘La Ilaaha Illallaah’, which is the first principle of Islam. Literally translated, it means there is no god but Allah.