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Fear of extremism in the Muslim world
**The rise of deviant groups who often espouse their own cause and ideology rather than what was taught and practiced in the real Islamic world of the Holy Prophet is a threat that needs to be faced squarely and firmly.
Last week, the Pew Research Centre published a survey calculating the rise of fear in 14 Muslim countries around the world, including Bangladesh. These countries were tracked in the last one year. It was found that 69 % of Bangladeshis, 66% of Pakistanis and 63% of Malaysians, among others, expressed deep concern about possible religious violence. But how far this survey is based on ground realities need to be rechecked.
The intention of the Washington-based organ isa tion was to find out how Muslims in d i f- ferent countries were viewing militant organisations like al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Boko Haram a n dthe Taliban. Was there any change in perception about these outfits and the events surrounding them over the last one year? Were they more popular or less so, over this time? The result, in a way, was alarming. The rise of concern among the people could lead to change in local and regional politics and greater efforts by individual states to contain the fear. New laws are likely to be passed
by their parliaments to assure the population of their safety and security. This is good in some ways but there are difficult days ahead for the people. Take the case of what just happened in Pakistan. Through enacting of draconian laws the Pakistan army is allowed to shoot alleged extremists on sight. It can arrest anyone without warrant and keep such people in their custody without giving information about their whereabouts and the charges against them. Human rights and freedom were the first victims.
At a time when the world is moving towards greater democracy this return to the Middle Ages in some Muslim countries could be a cause of concern. Policy makers need to assess the statistics released by Pew and reach definitive conclusions before ay reactive steps are taken.
The activities of the older militant bodies like the Hamas and Hezbollah are well known. Some of them are seeking independence and freedom for their people. But the concern seems to have been prompted by the meteoric rise and sudden success of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which swept across north and west Iraq and eastern Syria obliterating international borders and taking control of large swathes of territories and towns. Its forces were involved in great atrocities. Images received from the front show the unspeakable horror. The ISIS, by carving out the territory from Iraq and Syria, wishes to establish a so-called Muslim Caliphate there. The regular Iraqi army is unable to stem the onslaught. So much so, that the capital Baghdad is under direct threat of this dreaded ISIS.
The surprise declaration of a 'Caliphate' by ISIS has injected fear into other extremist organisations. Most of them also dream of setting up a Caliphate in their region where the state would be run under Sharia law. Even to them, only lunatics can favour the type of government that ISIS wants to introduce.
It would be relevant here to know the historical beginning of the concept of an Islamic Caliphate. This form of government was bom soon after the demise of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sm). It was an Islamic state which was run by a leader with both political and religious authority. Due to his high ethical and moral behaviour, a ruler was then considered a 'successor' to our Holy Prophet. The state itself was run under the Sharia law. The first four Caliphs were known as the Caliph Rashideen (the rightly guided ones). But, unfortunately, when the last of the four consecutive Caliphs died, the state passed into the hands of a dynasty called the Hmmayads. As they did not impeccably follow the ethical and religious writ passed down by the Holy Prophet, the grand tradition of correct path of government was to a large extent abandoned.
It was during the Abbasid dynasty from 750-1258 AD that the Muslim rulers again became dynamic and diverse. The society was multi-cultural. Science, innovation, intellectualism and culture were not only allowed but also promoted. It was in that golden period that Bayt al-Hikmah, the famous 'House ofWisdom,' was founded where scientists, mathematicians and engineers were invited to meet and discover new areas of knowledge. The Muslim Caliphate became the epicentre of progress
and modernity for the world to see and wonder. In fact, the modern scientific method was invented in Baghdad by no less a person than Ibn al-Haytham, 'the first true scientist.'
This tolerance of free thought and deep cogitation on various subjects continued till the Caliphate over time degenerated into a chaotic mess
of small kingdoms and principalities. It ended with the fall of the Ottomans in Turkey at the end of the First World War. The west with its superior armaments and its scientific discoveries overwhelmed the Muslims and left them to their past. However, Muslims throughout the world pined for a return to that Caliphate that brought so much glory and prosperity to them.
There are great examples in Islamic history when not only our Prophet but also the rightly guided Caliphs crafted documents that would be the envy of modern statesmen and diplomats. Take the case of the crafting of the Constitution of Medina during the lifetime of the Prophet. It gave Muslims, Jews, Christians and the nonbelievers equal political and cultural rights. This is a far cry from what proponents of a Muslim Caliphate are now seeking. The ISIS concept of rights is to deny all others any right that is contrary to their own.
The Pew survey is perhaps indicative of the fear of Muslims throughout the world about deviating from the true spirit and practice of Islam. The rise of deviant groups who often espouse their own cause and ideology rather than what was taught and practiced in the real Islamic world of the Holy Prophet is a threat that needs to be faced squarely and firmly.
The writer is a former Ambassador and a commentator on current Issues.