Understanding And Countering Muslim Extremism
Preface
This article - commissioned after the events in Paris on the
evening of Friday the 13th, 2015 - will
explain what Muslim extremism is, and what might be done to
counter such extremism.
Based as my analysis and conclusions are on forty years of
practical experience of extremism and extremists - which
experience includes ten years as a radical Muslim - it presents
'an insider view' of the problem and thus provides a somewhat
different perspective to that presented by many contemporary
writings on the subject.
I have provided a glossary of some of the Islamic terms used, and
have preferred the term Muslim extremism - the extremism
manifested by those Muslims and groups, belonging to the Sunni
tradition, who adhere to a particular interpretation of Quran and
Sunnah - to the more common term Islamic extremism, since
technically Islam is neither an -ism nor an ideology but rather
submission by individuals to the will of Allah as manifest in the
Quran and Sunnah.
Defining Extremism
A useful definition of extremism - based on practical experience -
is that it is the principles, the causes, the characteristics, that
promote, incite, or describe the harsh action of extremists, and/or
what results from such harsh actions by such extremists. For an
extremist is a person who tends toward harshness, or who is harsh,
or who supports/incites harshness, in pursuit of some supra-personal
objective, usually of a political or a religious nature; where by harsh
is meant rough, severe, a tendency to be unfeeling, unempathic,
uncompassionate, dishonourable.
An extremist, therefore, lacks an understanding of, or a feeling
for, innocency: of treating individuals as individuals and of
judging them only on the basis of a personal knowing of them
extending over a period of time. Instead, the extremist uses some
abstract criteria deriving from whatever ideology, or cause, or
interpretation of some religion, or authoritative figure or leader,
that they believe in or follow, for whatever reason or from whatever
personal motive. Which abstract criteria almost always involves a
division of people into an 'us' and a 'them': we, the true
believers, the defenders of our
cause/movement/leader/ideology/faith, and our enemies who are either
intent on destroying/undermining 'us' and/or who are wrong/bad/evil
and whom 'we' come to hate and despise, en masse.
Thus the extremist dehumanizes
their perceived enemy or enemies, viewing them not as individual
human beings but rather as a commodity, as a means to a
supra-personal end. Hence why, for example, the statement attributed
to ad-Dawlah al-Islamiyah fil 'Iraq wa ash-Sham (Isil, 'Islamic
State', Daesh) after the Friday 13 attacks mentioned 'crusaders' and
called those massacred in the Bataclan theatre profane 'idolaters',
with the statement beginning and ending with Quranic ayat (Al-Hashr
2 and Al-Munafiqun 8). For they were following a strategy outlined,
among others, by the pseudonymous Abu Bakr Naji in the 2004 text إدارة التوحش: أخطر مرحلة ستمر بها الأمة
[Administering The Chaos: The Critical Transition The Ummah Will
Experience] 1 and which strategy is of
using violence and killing (including massacres) to provoke a
response, to reveal the practical (rather than the theoretical)
nature of Jihad (part of which Jihad is to deter the enemy), to wear
down enemies, and to polarize and inspire both Muslim youth and 'the
Crusader enemy', all of which tactics are explained in the context
of the Quran and Sunnah, and thus by reference to Shariah.
This harsh perception of individual human beings as (i) 'a means to
an end', and (ii) in terms of abstract categories to which they are
assigned, en masse, by extremists on the basis of whatever
ideology/cause/faith the extremist believes in or professes, is the
raison d'etre of all extremism. Only the categories, and the aim(s),
differ.
Muslim Extremism
The abstract categories of Muslim extremism are those of the kuffar
(the unbelievers, infidels, idolaters), the believers (Muslims, the
Ummah), apostates (murtads), heretics, and those fighting 'fi
sabilillah' (Jihadists).
The aims for which certain categories are used are essentially
two-fold: the supra-personal one of the establishment of a khilafah
through Jihad, and the personal one of a place in Jannah through
either martyrdom or by strictly adhering to what is believed to be
the correct interpretation of Quran and Sunnah and thus living
according to Shariah.
These two aims - the supra-personal, idealistic, one, and the
personal one - are inextricably entwined, and explain why for
instance seven of the attackers in Paris immolated themselves by
detonating explosives attached to their bodies. For not only could
they massacre infidels - and thus support the strategy of 'creating
and managing the chaos' - but they would, being Shuhadaah, attain
the goal of Jannah.
These aims and categories are defined by particular interpretations
of Quranic Ayat and Ahadith, and it is these particular
interpretations which distinguish the harsh interpretation of Islam
- the extremism of certain Muslims - from that of the majority of
Muslims who reside in the countries of the West.
Countering Muslim Extremism
Some examples may suffice for such a harsh interpretation to be
perceived in context and thus understood for what it is, an
extremist deviation. For there seems to be a distinct lack of
knowledge about Islam both among Muslim extremists and those who
(mostly associated with far-right political groups) react with
hatred against Muslims in general as a result of the atrocities
committed by some Muslim extremists. Both of which sides - with
their 'us' and 'them' attitudes and divisions - just inflame and
increase the conflict that groups such as Daesh and al-Qaida need
and encourage.
Thus, neither side seems to know nor appreciate such clearly
expressed sentiments, in the Quran, as the following:
"Remember that Allah is The Most Merciful, He Who
Often Forgives." 5:34 Interpretation of Meaning
"You who believe, be firm in being fair - as a
witness for Allah - even though it is not to your own advantage,
nor to the advantage of your kin, and whether the matter
concerns the rich or the poor. For Allah is the best protector
(of all). Do not just follow your own desires, for you may
deviate, and turn away, and Allah is always knowing of all that
you do." 4:135 Interpretation of Meaning
"Be loyal and do your duty to Allah; fear Him and
always speak with honour. He will direct you to do honourable
deeds and will forgive your mis-deeds. And whosoever obeys Allah
and His Messenger will achieve the greatest achievement of all."
33:70-71 Interpretation of Meaning
"Observe the limits which Allah has set." 9:112
"Be forgiving and generous, for would you
not seek Allah's forgiveness for yourself? For Allah is indeed
The Most Merciful: He Who Often Forgives." 24:22 Interpretation
of Meaning
Truths evident in the hadith regarding Mu'adh ibn Jaba as narrated
by Abu Musa:
When Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) sent him and Mu'adh bin Jabal to Yemen, he said to them:
"Make things easy for the people rather than difficult; provide
them with reports of good, and do not let them turn away [from
what is honourable]. You should both work together, with mutual
respect, understanding and loyalty." Bukhari, Vol 8, Book 73,
Number 145
and in the hadith narrated by Abdullah bin 'Amr:
"The Prophet (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) never used
insulting words and neither did he ever speak maliciously. He used
to say that "the closest to me from among you is the person who
has good manners and a noble character." Bukhari: Volume 5, Book
57, Number 104
and in ahadith such as:
"Those who believes in Allah and the Last Day should
either speak honourably or be silent." Muslim Book 1, 75
For what these examples illustrate - and many more could be adduced
- is that one effective way to counter Muslim extremism is for
Muslims themselves to, using Quran and Sunnah, counter the harsh
interpretation of Islam by the extremists. To thus express the
humanity that is at the heart of Islam; a humanity so evident in the
millions of Muslims, world-wide, who know or who intuitively feel
that
"The 'Ibaad of Ar-Rahman are those who walk on earth in
humility." 25:63 Interpretation of Meaning
and that
"We have made you [Muslims] a Wasat [just and noble]
people, that you be examples for all other peoples as the
Messenger [Muhammad] is an example for you." 2: 143 Interpretation
of Meaning
There is therefore no need - as individuals such as Cheryl Benard
suggested in her 2003 text Civil Democratic Islam: Partners,
Resources, and Strategies - for the West to support and
"encourage a moderate, democratic interpretation and presentation of
Islam", since Islam as understood and practised by the majority of
Muslims world-wide enshrines the same values that make, and have
made, the societies of the West what they are, as those who are
familiar with Studia Humanitatis - ancient and modern - will
assuredly appreciate, 2
with such a strident promotion and sponsorship of a Western-made
"moderate, democratic interpretation" of Islam only confirming what
Muslim extremists already believe - that the modern West is their
enemy, and at war with Islam - and thus not only aiding resentment,
disaffection, among many young Muslims but also contributing to the
spread of Muslim extremism.
Beyond Missiles, Drones, And Invasions
Have Western programmes of 'de-radicalization' and of 'tackling
extremism' - of engaging with and encouraging 'moderate' Muslims and
a 'moderate' Islam, of promoting a 'modernist Islam' - worked?
Apparently not, given the attacks in Mumbai, Tunisia, France, and
the numerous planned attacks that have been prevented in Britain and
elsewhere, thanks to the security services.
Fourteen years after 9/11 - and almost five years after the death of
bin Laden - and despite the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and
military interventions in places such as Syria and Yemen, there are
more Muslim extremists in more countries than ever. As recent police
raids in France have revealed, such extremists have no difficulty in
acquiring arms, from hand-guns to semi-automatic rifles, to rocket
launchers.
The issue of Muslim extremism is not complex; it is simple. For the
issue is one of interpretation of texts such as the Quran and
Sunnah, and of a particular interpretation, or interpretations,
being used by various groups and individuals to inflame passions and
provide individuals - such as the disadvantaged, the disaffected,
and those inclined toward idealism - with a sense of identity and a
purpose which is vivifying. 3
To counter such extremism
there has to be, and of necessity from within Muslim communities and
by individual Muslims, a promotion of classical Islamic
jurisprudence and thus of the independence, the authority, the
learning, of the Qadi. For a problem that was classically understood
in Islam - and which is important and relevant today - was the
distinction made by Muslim scholars between fiqh (classical Islamic
jurisprudence) and Shariah, with fiqh understood as our fallible
understanding and attempts at interpretation, and with Shariah being
the divine and perfect guidance given by Allah. For fiqh was based
on the principles of acceptance of diversity of scholarly opinion,
on custom 4,
and on logical deductions by individuals that are stated to be
fallible and thus not immutable. 5 Such a
distinction allows for reasoned change, accepts the necessity of
diverse opinions, the necessity of individual independent scholarly
judgement in trials, in arbitrations, and in determining penalties.
However, in modern times, this classical distinction between fiqh
and Shariah - with its allowance for reasoned change based on
diverse scholarly opinion, its acceptance of local custom, and the
necessity of individual independent scholarly judgement in trials,
arbitrations, and determining penalties - is not made by extremist
groups such as Daesh when they implement their interpretation of
'Shariah law' and which interpretation invariably has an inflexible
penal code and immutable penalties with those judging individuals
using such an interpretation invariably lacking the learning and the
independence of a classically trained Qadi. For it is the practical
implementation of 'Shariah' law that is the raison d'etre of groups
such as Daesh and al-Qaida, and it is that implementation, and their
interpretations of texts, that needs to be exposed, from within
Muslim communities, thus destroying the credibility and the allure
that such groups have for a minority of Muslims.
Hence, and in addition to current strategies and tactics, it is (i)
the scholarly, years-long, learning required for a correct
interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah, and (ii) the roles and
importance of classically trained Muslim scholars and of the Qadi,
and (iii) the opinions of such learned Muslims, that should be
encouraged, supported, and promoted, by Western governments.
David Myatt
2015
[1] The title is generally translated as Management of Savagery,
although Administering The Chaos is more appropriate since
what is referred to are not savage deeds per se but rather the
violent chaos of the period of transition which, caused by Jihad,
will precede the establishment of the Khilafah, with 'administering'
capturing both of the implied meanings: that of 'managing' the chaos
and that of administering 'the cure', of provoking the chaos as a
means to an end.
[2] For thousands of years – from the classical world to the
Renaissance to fairly recent times – Studia Humanitatis (an
appreciation and understanding of our being, our nature, as humans)
was considered to be the basis of a good education. Thus, for
Cicero, Studia Humanitatis implied forming and shaping the manners,
the character, and the knowledge, of young people through them
acquiring an understanding of subjects such as philosophy, geometry,
rhetoric, music, and litterarum cognitio (literary culture)
with Cicero noting the importance of the Greek virtue of εὐταξία
(self-restraint) manifest as that virtue is in manners: in what
Muslims term Adab.
[3] What often seems to be forgotten is that extremist groups
(Muslim and otherwise) have within their ranks many idealists who -
initially at least - have good intentions and believe they are doing
what is right and necessary.
[4] لعادة محكمة
[5] One has only to read the chapter on evidence in al-Majalla al
Ahkam al Adaliyyah (an Ottoman book of Hanafi jurisprudence
published in the late 19th century) to
appreciate how a Qadi was guided by logic.
°°°
Glossary
Ayah: a quranic verse. Plural: Ayat.
Ahadith: plural of Hadith (qv).
Fi sabilillah: 'in the cause of Allah'.
Hadith: a recorded saying, or deed, of the Prophet Muhammad.
Islam: literally means submission to the Will of Allah, as
manifest in the Quran and Sunnah.
Jannah: Paradise. As recounted, for example, in the following
Ayah:
" [Allah] will forgive your transgressions [ ْم
ك ُ َنُوب ذ ُ ] and guide you to Jannah wherein are
rivers, cascading down, and those beautiful dwellings set within
perpetually-flowering gardens. And this is the success that
matters." 61:12 [Interpretation of Meaning]
Khilafah: Caliphate. A Muslim community (or nation/Empire)
founded upon Shariah, led by a Khalifah ('Caliph').
Kuffar: those who do not believe in the Way of Islam. Often
translated as infidels. Singular: Kaffir.
Qadi: A learned Muslim judge.
Shariah: the Muslim way of living, as manifest in the Muslim legal
system, and which system includes the laws governing interactions
between Muslims.
Shuhadaah: Martyrs. Muslims who die Fi Sabilillah. Singular:
Shaheed. A Shaheed is often called a "witness to the truth (of
Islam)".
Sunnah: The example of the life and deeds and sayings of the
Prophet Muhammed as recorded in Ahadith.
cc David Myatt 2015
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