TERRORISM AND ISLAM

Terrorism and Islam
Fight in the Way of God against those who fight you, but do not go beyond the limits. God does not love those who go beyond the limits. (Qur’an, 2:190)
Since the horrific and tragic events of September 11th, nothing has been more discussed and scrutinized in the public arena than Islam. Contrary to official praise of Islam by the President of America and the Prime Minister of England, some of the media have bluntly suggested that the action taken after September’s event is a war and Islam is at its heart. Despite there being a conscious effort to truly understand Islam and Muslims, there seem to be those who are determined to paint terrorism and Islam with the same brush. Simplified and undifferentiated descriptions of Islam help create an image by which Islam is seen as hostile to Western culture, and a religion of backwardness and oppression. The world community shares this small planet with the Muslim community which comprises some 1.2 billion adherents to the faith, so anyone who understands Islam to be a religion of terror would naturally be concerned. However, these fears are not well-grounded.
As Muslims, we strongly condemn the terrorist attacks on two major cities of the United States of America on September 11, 2001, These attacks propelled the important issue of the true source of terrorism to the top of the world agenda. Thus, it has been announced to the entire world that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance that summons individuals to compassion and justice. Many world leaders, leading media organizations, television and radio stations said that true Islam forbids violence, and encourages peace between people and between nations. The Western circles that have come to a full grasp of the religion of Islam and are well-informed about Islam as commanded by God in the Qur’an noted clearly that the words "Islam" and "terror" cannot stand side by side, and that no divine religion permits violence. This is made clear in the Qur’an, the main source of Islam, and in the practices of all true Muslim rulers, the Prophet Muhammad being the foremost of them.
As is known, for centuries various acts of terrorism were been carried out in different parts of the world by different groups for a variety of purposes. Sometimes a communist organisation, sometimes a fascist group, and sometimes radical and separatist factions assume responsibility for these acts. While countries like America often became the target of attacks by racist and marginal terrorist groups, the European countries have been centre stage for violent acts carried out by terrorist groups. In Greece, RAF (Red Army Faction) and Neo-Nazis in Germany, ETA in Spain, Red Brigades in Italy and many other organisations seek to make their voices heard through terror and violence by killing innocent and defenseless people. The nature of terrorism changes with changing world conditions and increases its impact and power with the new means made possible by developing technology. In particular, mass communication tools such as the Internet extend the scope and influence of the terrorist activities considerably.
Besides the Western organisations, there are also other terror organisations of Middle East origin. Terrorist attacks are carried out by these groups in all corners of the world. Sadly, the fact that the perpetrators of various terrorist acts carry Christian, Muslim or Jewish identities cause some people to put forward claims which do not concur with divine religions. The truth is that even if terrorists have Muslim identities, the terror they perpetrate cannot be labeled “Islamic terror”, just as it could not be called “Jewish terror” if the perpetrators were Jews or “Christian terror” if they were Christians. That is because, murdering innocent people in the name of a divine religion is unacceptable. We need to keep in mind that, among those who were killed in New York and Washington, there were people who loved Jesus (Christians), the Prophet Moses (Jews) and the Prophet Muhammad (Muslims). Unless forgiven by God, murdering innocent people is a great sin that brings torment in Hell.
Religion commands love, mercy and peace. Terror, on the other hand, is the opposite of religion; it is cruel, merciless and demands bloodshed and misery. This being the case, the origins of a terrorist act should be sought in disbelief rather than in religion. People with a fascist, communist, racist or materialist outlook on life should be suspected as potential perpetrators. The name or the identity of the triggerman is not important. If he can kill innocent people without blinking an eye, then he is a nonbeliever, not a believer. He is a murderer with no fear of God, whose main ambition is to shed blood and to cause harm. For this reason, "Islamic terror" is an erroneous concept which contradicts Islam’s message. The religion of Islam can by no means stand for terror. On the contrary, terror (i.e. murders committed against innocent people) in Islam is a great sin and Muslims are responsible for preventing these acts and bringing peace and justice to the world.
Islam is the Religion of Peace
The word “Islam” is derived from the word meaning "peace" in Arabic. Islam is a religion revealed to mankind with the intention of presenting a peaceable life through which the infinite compassion and mercy of God manifest on earth. Islam is based on concepts of morality, love, compassion, humility, sacrifice, tolerance and peace. A Muslim who lives by those precepts in its true sense will be most polite, careful of thought, modest, just, trustworthy and easy to get on with. He will spread love, respect, harmony and the joy of living all around him.
God calls all people to Islamic morals through which compassion, mercy, peace and tolerance can be experienced all over the world. On various places in Quran GOD had made it clear to the reader which is actually they are to do as good and obedient creatures of His.
· You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you.(2:208)
· ...And do good as God has been good to you. And do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. God does not love corrupters. (Qur’an, 28:77)
· ... if someone kills another person – unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth – it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind... (Qur’an, 5:32)
· There are only grounds against those who wrong people and act as tyrants in the earth without any right to do so. Such people will have a painful punishment. (Qur’an, 42:42)
· ... Be good to your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to neighbours who are related to you and neighbours who are not related to you, and to companions and travellers and your slaves. God does not love anyone vain or boastful. (Qur’an, 4:36)
· ... Help one another in benevolence and piety. Do not help each other to wrongdoing and enmity. And fear God. God is severe in retribution. (Qur’an, 5:2)
· You who believe! Be upholders of justice, bearing witness for God alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. Whether they are rich or poor, God is well able to look after them. Do not follow your own desires and deviate from the truth. If you twist or turn away, God is aware of what you do. (Qur’an, 4:135)
· You who believe! Show integrity for the sake of God, bearing witness with justice. Do not let hatred for a people incite you into not being just. Be just. That is closer to faith. Heed God (alone). God is aware of what you do. (Qur’an, 5:8)
· There is no compulsion in religion. True guidance has become clearly distinct from error. (Qur’an, 2:256)
· So remind them! You are only a reminder. You are not in control of them. (Qur’an, 88:21-22)
· “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition...” (Qur’an, 16:125),
· “You are not responsible for their guidance, but God guides whoever He wills.” (Qur’an, 2:272)
· If your Lord had willed, all the people on the earth would have believed. Do you think you can force people to be believers? (Qur’an, 10:99)
· We know best what they say and you [O Muhammad] are not a compeller over them. But warn by the Qur’an whoever fears My warning. (Qur’an, 50:45)

· ... if someone kills another person – unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth – it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs, but even after that many of them committed outrages in the earth. (Qur’an, 5:32)
· ...those who do not call on any other deity together with God and do not kill anyone God has made inviolate, except with the right to do so, and do not fornicate; anyone who does that will receive an evil punishment. (Qur’an, 25:68)
· Then to be one of those who have faith and urge each other to steadfastness and urge each other to compassion. Those are the Companions of the Right. (Qur’an, 90:17-18)
· “The repayment of a bad action is one equivalent to it. But if someone pardons and puts things right, his reward is with God. Certainly He does not love wrongdoers.” (Qur’an, 42:40)
· ……….those who control their rage and pardon other people – God loves the good-doers" (Qur’an, 3:134)
All these holy verses of Quran reveal the the true message of Islam, it doesn’t teach an one to organize acts of terror against innocent people is utterly against Islam and it is unlikely that any Muslim could ever commit such crimes. On the contrary, Islam binds on muslims to stop these people who spread mischief and terror on the earth. Islam cannot be reconciled with terror. Just the contrary, it should be the solution to and the path to the prevention of terror.
The Meaning of the Concept of "Jihad” deserves clarification
Misconception about jihad has brought a lot of bad name to the religion of Islam, this concept is hijacked by a minority who used it for its benefits which did a huge harm to the muslims as well as Islam as a religion. So it is very important to explain what is jihad and what is its scope.
The literary meaning of “Jihad” is “effort”. Thus, in Islam, “to carry out jihad” is “to show effort, to struggle”. Where as Jihad is usually referred as “ war against evil “, this evil can be in any form and this war can also be waged in any form, but this whole idea is guarded by a very strict set of conditions, if one group tries to break away from these conditions and claims that they are waging jihad then Quran has other words to describe them. The Prophet Muhammad explained that “the greatest jihad is the one a person carries out against his lower soul”. What is meant by “lower soul” here is selfish desires and ambitions.
Assessed from the Qur’anic point of view, the word “jihad” can also mean a struggle carried out on intellectual grounds against those who oppress people, treat them unjustly, subject them to torture and cruelty and violate legitimate human rights. The purpose of this struggle is to bring about justice, peace and equality.
Apart from these ideological and spiritual meanings, struggle in the physical sense is also considered as “jihad”. However, as explained above, this has to be a struggle carried out solely for defensive purposes. The use of the concept of “jihad” for acts of aggression against innocent people, that is for terror, would be unjust and a great distortion of the true meaning of the term.
World heard this words of Jihad during 1980’s afghan war, when American supported this phenomenon for its benefit and raised a proxy army to fight against soviets, then at that time jihad and jihad’s were the heroes and saviors but once the American goals were achieved and soviets were defeated, these jihadis were abandoned and became illegitimate sons of America, but just in s span of 6 or 7 years these abandoned jihadis again made there presence felt when they started fighting against the American, now these yesterday’s heroes were called terrorist. In this whole saga of changing political realities, Islam as religion caught between them ( America and Jihadis ) for nothing, So when world started to find reasons and motives behind this resistance from these extremists , they found a ready made case in shape of Islam for all this chaos, which is in fact a result of their own ill-planned political strategies . Islam or Muslims has nothing to do with all this.
Another important matter that arose in the wake of the latest terrorist assaults against the United States is that of suicide attacks. Some people who are ill-informed on Islam have made utterly erroneous statements to the effect that this religion of peace allows suicide attacks, whereas in Islam killing oneself and killing other people are both prohibited. In the words, “Do not kill yourselves.” (Qur’an, 4:29) God has declared suicide to be a sin. In Islam it is forbidden for anyone to kill himself or herself, for no matter what reason.
The Prophet reveals suicide to be a sin in a parable, when he says that those who commit suicide will be punished:
Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever.
As this makes clear, committing suicide, and thus carrying out suicide attacks, and causing the deaths of thousands of innocent people while doing so, is a total violation of Islamic morality. God says in the Qur’an that it is a sin to put an end to one’s own life. For that reason, it is quite impossible for someone who believes in God and says he abides by the Qur’an to do such a thing. The only people who can do such things are those who have a very mistaken perception of religion, have no idea of true Qur’anic morality, fail to use their reason and conscience, are under the influence of atheist ideologies, and who have been brainwashed with feelings of hatred and revenge. Everybody must oppose such actions.
The most common logic that these jihadis group give for their activities refers to the universal obligation of every muslim which is “ Aamer bil maaruf wa nahi aanil munkir “( to instruct for good and prohibition of evil ), usually a Hadith is also quoted in which Holy prophet peace be upon him said ,
“ if you see an evil, go and stop with your hand, if you don’t have that power, raise a voice against that, even if you don’t have power for this, consider it an evil in your heart and this is the lowest of degree of emaan.”
But there is huge misconception about the real meaning of this concept of “Aamer bil maaruf wa nahi aanil munkir “and this hadith, one is instructed to act according to these hadith and this concept of Aamer bil maaruf wa nahi aanil munkir. But only with in one’s circle of responsibility, e.g. I’m responsible for my family anf myself not for others around, I wouldn’t questioned over their acts and deeds, I should try to get things right with in y domain rather I start intruding into others life and doing things violently tostop them from doing something which incorrect in my perception.
Islam teaches No violence, Islam was the first religion who taught rules of war, previously war was an activity which was synonymous to ruthlessness and brutality, for the first time Islam give the idea that even the war can be fought while remaining with in the limit of humanity.
Do not kill children. Avoid touching people who devote themselves to worship in churches! Never murder women and the elderly. Do not set trees on fire or cut them down. Never destroy houses!4
According to the Qur’an, war represents an “unwanted obligation” which has to be carried out with strict observance of particular humane and moral guidelines and which must not be resorted to except when it is absolutely inevitable.
…Each time they kindle the fire of war, God extinguishes it. They rush about the earth corrupting it. God does not love corrupters. (Qur’an, 5:64)
The revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad continued for a period of 23 years. During the first 13 years of this period, Muslims lived as a minority under a pagan order in Mecca and faced much oppression. Many Muslims were harassed, abused, tortured, and even murdered, their houses and possessions plundered. Despite this, however, Muslims led their lives without resorting to violence and always called the pagans to peace.
When the oppression of the pagans escalated unbearably, the Muslims emigrated to the town of Yathrib, which was later to be renamed Madinah, where they could establish their own order in a freer and more friendly environment. Even establishing their own system did not prompt them to take up weapons against the aggressive pagans of Mecca. Only after the following revelation, the Prophet commanded his people to prepare for war:
Permission to fight is given to those who are fought against because they have been wronged – truly God has the power to come to their support – those who were expelled from their homes without any right, merely for saying, “Our Lord is God”… (Qur’an, 22:39-40)
In brief, Muslims were allowed to wage war only because they were oppressed and subjected to violence. To put it in another way, God granted permission for war only for defensive purposes. In other verses, Muslims are warned against the use of unnecessary provocation or violence:
Fight in the Way of God against those who fight you, but do not go beyond the limits. God does not love those who go beyond the limits. (Qur’an, 2:190)
After the revelation of these verses, several wars occurred between the Muslims and the pagan Arabs. In none of these wars, however, were the Muslims the inciting party. Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad established a secure and peaceful social environment for Muslims and pagans alike by signing the peace agreement of Hudaybiya which conceded to the pagans most of their requests. The party who violated the terms of the agreement and started hostilities once again were the pagans. With rapid conversions into Islam, the Islamic armies mustered a great force against the pagan Arabs. However, Muhammad conquered Mecca without bloodshed and in a spirit of tolerance. If he wished, Muhammad could have taken revenge on pagan leaders in the city. Yet, he did not do harm to any one of them, forgave them and treated them with the utmost tolerance. In the words of John Esposito, a Western expert on Islam, "eschewing vengeance and the plunder of conquest, the Prophet instead accepted a settlement, granting amnesty rather than wielding the sword toward his former enemies." 2
Pagans, who would later convert to Islam of their own free will, could not help admiring such nobility of character in the Prophet.
Not only during Mecca’s conquest, but also in the course of all the battles and conquests made in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the rights of innocent and defenceless people were meticulously protected. The Prophet Muhammad reminded believers numerous times about this subject and by his own practice became a role model for others to follow. Indeed, he addressed believers who were about to go to war in the following terms: “Go to war in adherence to the religion of God. Never touch the elderly, women or children. Always improve their situation and be kind to them. God loves those who are sincere.” The Messenger of God also clarified the attitude Muslims must adopt even when they are in the middle of a raging battle:
Terrorism has no Religion
Terrorism has no religion but it’s a new reality whose whole work not only in words, but also in deeds, is at war with the existing order of society, and with the whole so-called civilized world, with its laws, morals and customs, he is an uncompromising opponent… He knows only one science; the science of destruction.
No religion ( Islam or any other religion ) teaches its follower to think and act like this, such a thinking develop only in the when religious vision of the worldly challenges and problems vanishes.
Terror, in its broadest sense, is violence committed against non-military targets for political purposes. To put it another way, targets of terror are entirely innocent civilians whose only crime, in the eyes of terrorists, is to represent “the other side”. For this reason, terror means subjecting innocent people to violence, which is an act bereft of any moral justification. This, as in the case of murders committed by Hitler or Stalin, is a crime committed against mankind.

Terrorists are people who sever their relationship with every material and spiritual institution thereby rejecting every moral value, and who view these institutions as impediments to their designs. Which is includes religion as well. Today we see so many people claiming to carry out terrorist activities in the name of religion, but that’s a deception, it is never for religion or anything, its always people’ personal whims and agenda which they hide under the easily convincing cover of religion. This cover of religion allows them to wage support for their activities, in this world which is full of emotional fools who are ignorant as well, they find easy preys for themselves. Day and night terrorists have only one thought, one aim: the unmerciful destruction; while terrorist, cold-blooded and without rest, follows that aim, he himself must be ready to die at any time and ready to kill with his own hands any one who seeks to thwart his aims.
Terrorist are usually stringent with himself as well as others. All weak sentiment towards relation, friendship, love and thankfulness must be suppressed through the only cold passion of the revolutionary work.
These words lay bare the dark face of terrorism and show that it is completely opposed to the religion of Islam which is founded on peace, tolerance and love. In this verse, God reveals that peace is the real salvation of humanity and that pursuing the opposite, that is war and conflict, is to walk in the steps of Satan:
Another important characteristic of terrorists is that they act with a collective spirit. Within this spirit, individual ideas and personal choice are disregarded as everyone is directed toward one single goal. Those who act within this collective spirit may do things they would never do in their right mind and commit acts without using their own will and consciousness. In many countries of the world, terror groups composed of a few unintelligent and uneducated people get caught up in the emotional hysteria of mass meetings, slogans, and without even knowing what they are doing or why, they get involved in committing mass atrocities. In one moment, such people can turn into killers with blood on their hands, and even terrorists who are able to commit inhuman acts. A person may seem quiet and calm when he is alone, but when he becomes a part of a terrorist group, he may become capable of committing acts of arson and assault for no apparent reason. Such spells are cast over individuals that they are even willing to be killed for their cause. The majority of those who take part in acts of terror often have weak wills and consciences, and they become like a flock of sheep under the influence of mass psychology. Good sense and judgment are substituted by excessive and extravagant emotionalism and a tendency toward violence and aggression. Such people are easily provoked, intolerant and know no limitation set by any law.
One of the most important characteristics of terrorism is that it selects its targets indiscriminately. The fact that it determines these targets without discrimination is one of the most important reasons for the spread of fear, because no one can feel secure. If people know that they are possible targets for noreasons, no-one will feel safe from the terrorists. There is nothing a potential target can do to protect themselves, since terrorists act according to their own rules, in a time and place of their own choosing. Thus acts of terror in society are arbitrary and unpredictable.

Peaceful Co-existence
Another important topic that has been on the agenda with the acts of terrorism is the relation between the Western and Islamic worlds. As is known, by the 90s, some intellectuals were suggesting that the world was due for a struggle that would take place between the West and Islam. This is the basic theme of Samuel Huntington’s well-known thesis “The Clash of Civilisations”. However, this thesis—better called as “Clash of Ignorance” by Edward W. Said—rests on an imaginary scenario generated by the exaggeration of the influence of some radical and ignorant factions to be found in these two civilisations. Actually, there can be no clash between the Western civilisation and the Islamic civilisation, because the beliefs of Judaism and Christianity, the tenets upon which Western civilisation is based, are in perfect harmony with Islam. More over Islam teaches a lesson of peaceful co-existence to its followers. Islamic teachings and laws are sound enough that they don’t feel threatened by any of them, whether it be Judaism or Christianity.
In the Qur’an, Jews and Christians are called the “People of the Book”. This is because the members of these two religions abide by the Divine Books revealed by God. The outlook of Islam on the People of the Book is extremely just and compassionate.
This attitude towards the People of the Book developed during the years of the birth of Islam. At that time, Muslims were a minority, struggling to protect their faith and suffering oppression and torture from the pagans of the city of Mecca. Due to this persecution, some Muslims decided to flee Mecca and shelter in a safe country with a just ruler. The Prophet Muhammad told them to take refuge the Christian king of Ethiopia. The Muslims who went to Ethiopia found a very fair administration that embraced them with love and respect. The King refused the demands of the pagan messengers who had travelled to Ethiopia and asked him to surrender the Muslims to them, and announced that Muslims could live freely in his country.
These Christian attitudes of compassion, mercy, and justice, are referred to in a verse of the Qur’an which states:
… You will find the people most affectionate to those who believe are those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. (Qur’an, 5:82)
But the biggest challenge comes from atheist philosophies that are so influential in our time.
Among the best-known and most harmful philosophies of our age can be cited materialism, communism, fascism, anarchism, racism, nihilism and existentialism. Many people who believed in the false diagnoses, deceptive descriptions and explanations of these ideas on the universe, society and man, have lost their faith or doubted it. What is more, these ideologies have dragged people, societies and nations into great crises, conflicts and wars. Their share of the blame for the pain and troubles that humanity suffers from today is immense.
While they deny God and creation, all the above-mentioned ideologies are based on a common framework, a so-called scientific basis; Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Darwinism constitutes the basis of atheist philosophies. This theory claims that living beings have evolved as a result of coincidences and by means of a struggle for life. Therefore, Darwinism sends this deceptive message to people:
“You are not responsible to anyone, you owe your life to coincidences, you need to struggle, and if necessary to oppress others to succeed. This world is one of conflict and self-interest”.
The social messages put across by Darwinist concepts such as “Natural selection”, “struggle for life”, “survival of the fittest” are a means of indoctrination. This evil morality advises people to be egoistical, self-seeking, cruel and oppressive. It destroys such virtues as mercy, compassion, self-sacrifice and humility, the moral values of the three great monotheistic religions and presents this as a necessity of “the rules of life.”
This Darwinist indoctrination is just the opposite of the beliefs of the People of the Book and the message of the Qur’an. Consequently, the Darwinist indoctrination constitutes the foundation of a world which inherently opposes all the three divine religions.
This being the case, it is necessary for the People of the Book and Muslims to co-operate, since they believe in God and accept the morality that He teaches. The followers of these three religions should expose to the world the fallacy of Darwinism, which has no scientific basis, but which people are trying to preserve for the sake of materialist philosophy. They should co-operatively carry out an intellectual struggle against all other deceptive ideas (communism, fascism, racism) that serve atheism. Once this is realized, the world will, in a very short time, embrace peace, tranquility and justice.
CONCLUSION: RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE WESTERN WORLD AND MUSLIMS
Today, the Western world is concerned about the organisations that use terror under the guise of Islam and this concern is not misplaced. It is obvious that those carrying out terror and their supporters should be tried according to international judicial criteria. However, a more important point to consider is the long-term strategies that have to be pursued to discover viable solutions to these problems.
The assessments above reveal that terror has no place in Islam and that it is a crime committed against humanity. They further show the inherently contradictory nature of the concept of “Islamic terror”. This provides us with an important vantage point:
1) The activities serving the presentation of true Islam must be widespread. The solution to combat radical factions in Islamic countries should not be “compulsory secularisation”. On the contrary, such a policy will incite more reaction from the masses. The solution is the dissemination of true Islam and the appearance of a Muslim model which embraces the Qur’anic values such as human rights, democracy, freedom, high morality, science, spirituality, aesthetics, and which offers happiness and bliss to humanity. Muslims must explain and live by the moral values commanded by the Qur’an and as exemplified by Muhammad, the Messenger of God. Muslims have the responsibility to take Islam out from the hands of those who misapply it, (which leads to further misunderstanding of Islam) and place it back into the hands of those who live by the teachings of Islamic virtue and by the example of Muhammad, the Messenger of God.
2) The source of terrorism is in ignorance and prejudice and the solution to terrorism is education. To the circles who feel sympathy with terror, it should be made clear that terror is utterly against Islam and that it only serves to harm Islam, Muslims and humanity at large.
3) Long-term cultural solutions must be devised to combat terrorism which has its roots in communist, fascist and racist ideologies. Today in countries all over the world, Darwinist precepts form the basis of the education system. However, as we have stressed earlier, Darwinism is an erroneous ideology that sees man as an animal who developed only by fighting for survival - something which constitutes the likely basis of all forms of terrorism. An ideology that predicts only those holding power will survive and considers war as a virtue is like a huge morass that will never cease to visit disaster on the world. This being the case, beside the judicial and other measures that will be introduced to combat terrorism, there is also a need for a vigorous education campaign to be launched all over the world. Disclosure of the real face of the deception of Darwinism and materialism and instruction in the good values God has revealed for people must be the fundamentals of this education. Peace and stability are attainable only through living by the good values of true religion. Without draining the morass, it is not possible to rid the world of disaster.
4) The time ahead requires all countries to act with caution, sensitivity and wisdom. The bleak scenario that unfolds with the “Clash of civilisations”, is one to the detriment of the whole world, and from which no one benefits. The world community at large must take the opportunity to learn to live side by side in peaceful interchange, learning from each other, studying each other's history, accomplishments in religion, art, literature, philosophy, science, technology, and culture, all of which mutually enrich one another’s lives.

Our hope is that these measures will help to the world get rid of terrorism and all other bigoted, brutal, barbarous structures. With the Christian culture it represents, the United States that defines itself as “a nation under God” is in fact a real friend of the Muslims. In the Qur’an, God draws attention to this fact and informs us that Christians are those who are "most affectionate to those who believe”. (Qur’an, 5:82)
In history, some ignorant people (for instance, the Crusaders) failed to understand this fact and caused conflicts between these two religions. To prevent the repetition of this scenario, which is propagated with mottos like “Clash of Civilizations” or “Holy War against the West”, true Christians and Muslims need to come together and co-operate.
Indeed, the developments which took place in the aftermath of these grievous events indicate that the seeds of this co-operation have already been sowed. This grave act of terrorism, which has drawn the Christian and Muslim communities closer, led many Christians come to know more about the religion of Islam and encouraged Muslims to make greater efforts to communicate true Islamic morality described in the Qur’an.
All these developments are the glad tidings that people will understand Islamic values better and be able to rid themselves of any prejudices they had held. By the Will of God, the 21st century will be the time when people will truly acknowledge that the dissemination of the values of Islam is the unique way of achieving much longed-for peace on the planet.