Breaking News
Home / Columns / What Makes Islam, Islam?

What Makes Islam, Islam?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

More ↓

Religion can be viewed from many different perspectives. People throughout the world hold different religious values. One person’s religious value will not match the religious values of another person. Globalization as a whole has affected the way we view the different religions and our feelings towards them; it has moved towards a more symbolic representation of ideologies. Many have come to believe that the west is more superior to others. Martha Crenshaw argues that globalization is a key driver of terrorism because there is a comparison between countries having less access to means of production and others having more access. Furthermore, most religions go against each other’s beliefs and as for Islam; they have neglected the ideologies of the west. In order to understand how religious values are interconnected is through language games; we think in certain ways because of issues of power.

There is a strong belief that Islam and politics are directly tied. They are tied in the sense that the building blocks of the religion dictate how they ought to behave in the political environment. Through this mandatory follow up behavior that the religion delineates, many have come to believe that its teachings are a form of terrorism. Mandaville argues that what has challenged the Islamic link between politics and religion was the emergence of secularism, which went against the belief that politics and religion could go together. Islam has been a religion that has been accused of supporting terrorist activities in the world. Different assumptions have been brought up to understand better the linkages between what really lies behind the Islam religion and politics. Peter Mandaville argues that Islam is dynamic and that it has changed over time; situated within time and politics.

Through day-to-day knowledge of what is happening in the world there is observable evidence that Islamic followers have employed different techniques to proclaim ‘power’. The techniques being employed are basically inflicting pain in the opponent by methods of kidnapping, hijackings, and recruiting members (such as Al-Qaeda in the Middle East) in order to make them a more powerful and a more appealing group in their societies. According to Mandaville, Islam is directly linked to politics (they cannot be separated); Muslims wanted to challenge new technological innovations as well as new institutions without forgetting about their religious values. Mandaville proclaims an important aspect of the Islamic religion. During the Ottoman Empire many Muslims gained important power and began to interact with Europeans in order to move into a more modern system; but times have changed.

Need Writing Help?

Get feedback on grammar, clarity, concision and logic instantly.

Check your paper »

How to Cite this Page

MLA Citation:
“What Makes Islam, Islam?.” 123HelpMe.com. 02 Jun 2018
    .

Title Length Color Rating  


Essay on Tension Between the West and Islam


– The tension between the West and Islam has become a hot topic lately but the conflict between the two has always been there, and is illustrate through the works of Al-Farabi, Nilufar Gole, and Sayyid Qutb. Each author has a different perspective on modernization and the west. The significance of these three authors, whose works span over a period of 1,000 years, is that their work reveals the enduringly complex relationship that Islam and the West have had. Even though, Al-Farabi doesn’t specifically address the tension between Islam and the west his theories are compatible with several of their secular ideals; many of which coincide with the Greek philosopher, Plato….   [tags: Islam]

2698 words
(7.7 pages)
Powerful Essays
[preview]


The Veil is not Mandatory in Islam Essay


– Over the years many scholars have argued on the interpretation of the Qur’an on the verses that relate to the hijab (veil). A few debated that is not fard (mandatory) and only Sunnah (choice). The majority though won and it was decided that the hijab is mandatory in Islam based on verses in the Qur’an and hadeeths said by the prophet and passed on by others. Misinterpretations can be made, although by the majority at times, and I think they made an incorrect assumption in this matter. Nowhere in the Qur’an is it stated that a woman should cover her hair….   [tags: Islam]

954 words
(2.7 pages)
Better Essays
[preview]


The Status of Women in Islam Essay


– Introduction: In today’s globalized world, women’s studies is emerging as a fast growing discipline which is not restricted any more to the academia but is significantly capturing the attention of the civil society. The way civil society responded to “Nirbhaya” gang-rape case of December, 2012 in Delhi; the way people came on the streets in protest against this horrific and barbarous crime committed against a 23 year old woman; this people’s movement has undoubtedly engineered the emergence of a new consciousness among us about the need for a realization of women’s honour and dignity in the society….   [tags: Women and Islam]

:: 7 Works Cited

2801 words
(8 pages)
Research Papers
[preview]


Thomas W. Lippman’s Understanding Islam Essays


– Thomas W. Lippman’s Understanding Islam Thomas W. Lippman gives an introduction to the Muslim world in the book Understanding Islam. He has traveled throughout the Islamic world as Washington Post bureau chief for the Middle East, and as a correspondent in Indochina. This gave him, in his own words, “sharp insight into the complexities of that turbulent region.” However, the purpose of the book is not to produce a critical or controversial interpretation of Islamic scripture. It is instead to give the American layman an broad understanding of a religion that is highly misunderstood by many Americans….   [tags: Thomas Lippman Islam Essays]

1218 words
(3.5 pages)
Strong Essays
[preview]


A Cultural Studies Approach to Understanding Islam Essay


– In today’s world, given the turmoil that sometimes seems to be caused by religious differences, it is easy to see each religion as a monolithic entity existing separate from other religions, and thus representing starkly polar worldviews. Often, such notions arise as a result of not utilizing a cultural studies approach towards studying religion, which is arguably the best approach for understanding the role of religion in one’s daily life. The cultural studies approach, which examines the particular context in which one interprets his or her religion, is particularly important when it comes to understanding religions like Islam, whose adherents come from vastly different backgrounds….   [tags: Interpret Islam]

:: 7 Works Cited

2004 words
(5.7 pages)
Term Papers
[preview]


Essay on Woman And Islam


– Nabia Abbott’s chapter on The Umayyads takes an in-depth look at the rise and fall of this dynasty, paying close attention to women of this time and the roles they played. Abbott discusses early Umayyad Caliph’s and their wives, giving awareness to Uthman and Na’ilah as well as Mu’awiyah and Maisun bint Bahdal. Each of these matches is portrayed by Abbott as somewhat equal or at least a mutual respect between the couples. But as time wore on slowly the ideal Arab wife was being infringed upon by the harems that the elite Umayyads were setting up….   [tags: Women Islam Religion]

1823 words
(5.2 pages)
Strong Essays
[preview]


Islam And Cartoon Controversy Essay


– A discussion of religion can branch into any number of topics, over any number of denominations and sects, about its effects on law and politics, and its role within society. However, mention religion today, and one subject arises universally: Danish cartoons. Out of context, this sounds ridiculous, but within a sound framework, the subject broaches religion at every possible entry. Perhaps no event in recent history, excluding 9/11, has provoked such a universal and rapid backlash. Retaliation against the publication of these comics stunned and shocked the world and led to the mass proposition of one question: Why….   [tags: Religion Muslim Islam]

1902 words
(5.4 pages)
Powerful Essays
[preview]


Islam Essay


– Islam      Islam is comprised of three essential beliefs: The belief in God, obeying his moral laws, and believing in the after-life. Submission to God is directly followed by obeying the moral standards of everyday life. The Qur’an makes morality reign supreme and ensures that the affairs of life, instead of dominated by selfish desires, be regulated by norms of morality. These laws are the standard by which God determines the life of the believers, and the disbelievers on the Day of Judgement….   [tags: Religion Religious Islam Essays]

1484 words
(4.2 pages)
Powerful Essays
[preview]


Islam Essay


– The law, defined as the body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority, is an important facet of any community. It provides guidelines for those in the community to follow so that they may have the most peaceful and problem- free life. Islam takes this notion of peace and obedience and applies to everyday living for the members of its community. Islam law is of great importance to the Muslim community because it provides specific courses of action for living and also supplies mechanisms for considering how to deal with situations that are not discussed in the law….   [tags: essays research papers]

638 words
(1.8 pages)
Better Essays
[preview]


Islam Essay


– Islamism is a captivating phenomenon that has been continuously visited in literature since its emergence in the 1970’s. In particular, the Iranian Revolution has received curious attention in the pursuit to understand the nature, power and effects of Islamism. This essay makes a critical assessment of the opinions journalist Afshin Molavi’s draws on Iran and Islamism in his journal styled compilation Persian Pilgrimages: Journeys across Iran, `Pilgrimage: The Shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini’ . The discussion will explore Molavi’s ideas against the historical narrative of David Reynolds’ One World Divisible: A Global History Since 1945 and the opinionated informative piece Islamic Fundamentali…   [tags: Religion]

1017 words
(2.9 pages)
Strong Essays
[preview]

Islamic individuals no longer hold such believe, for them, their culture is never valued in the international system; hence they attack those perceived to be demeaning their ways of life. Many groups of Muslims have held the belief that Americans and Europeans target them by formulating harsh policies towards their society in general. This conflict has persisted for many years now and it will continue to persist, even though that at some point in history, Muslims interpret terrorism in a different lens. They have interpreted it to be a struggle between religions; that is, Islam and Christianity.

It was in the Middle East, where Osama Bin Laden, the leader of the terrorism group, described his adversaries/opponents as being too aggressive and he urged his supporters and all Muslims to attack them in order to defend the Islamic religion (their long standing traditions). In fact, terrorist groups have justified for so long that their actions can be linked to acts of claiming that they fight for the rights of Islam; rights that have been neglected for long.

For instance, one example of this scenario is Muslims blaming the West for implanting Israel in their land; which technically makes them hold a strong rage that the land was taken from them. Muslims have interpreted this action as a violation of their rights and freedom. In 1948, the United Nations declared Israel an independent state without ‘consulting’ Muslims around the Middle East region. This action angered many Muslims around the world, which further facilitated terrorism. This and many similar historical scenarios make it hard to separate Islam from terrorism in the contemporary global system.

Religion as a cause of terrorism:

Many people in the world have perceived Islam to be directly linked with terrorism because of the secluded value system that this religion holds. However, religion is generally associated with terrorist activities around the world. Religion has specific values, doctrines and dogmas that make them unique. According to Mahmood Mamdani, how people behave politically can be translated to their religious views and culture. Such religious practices predispose members to terrorist practices across the world because the different value systems tend to collide on what they think is appropriate and true. In most cases, religious terrorism aims at fulfilling the will of the One we look up to and it takes no value for human life. Different religions (believes) have been part of human life for centuries; technically without them it would have been difficult to have a socially structured life and something to look up to. Religions have shaped human life and will continue to do so; conflicts and terrorism will persist as a way of going against each other believes and values; it will be a non-ending cycle.

Many groups in the world have justified their actions, such as Islam, using religious values. However, it has been pointed out that many terrorist groups use their religious laws purposefully to their own advantage. As far as I perceive; not one religion has the loss of human life as their main values and as their aim. Most of time religious terrorist are guided by the principles and ideologies of a single human being who interprets the religious laws to suit his/her aims. For instance, leaders in the Middle East rose against the west because they were never consulted before the state of Israel was created. According to them, this was a violation of their rights since they could no longer control the society. The US and the west in general have always supported the state of Israel. In many occasions the US has defended Israel’s a violent actions against Muslim countries. For example; recently Israel sunk a ship carrying humanitarian aid (food) and the United States and the west did nothing about it. This particular action does not go down well with Muslims across the world.

Check Also

What is Muslim community’s response to their looming genocide

Certain Hindu religious leaders called for genocide of Muslims at a three day event held …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *