When Muslims express sympathy and empathy for the victims of ISIL it should not be seen as an apology, but as a demonstration that they are as far removed from the barbarous acts of ISIL as anyone of whatever other faith, for even though ISIL says it is doing these unspeakable acts in the name of Islam, all ordinary Muslims are in equal danger from their heinous acts.
ISIL is as far removed from Islam as it is from any other faith.
We would be wrong to assume ordinary Muslims should even need to feel apologetic for something so deranged and moreover so utterly removed from their faith.
ISIL cannot be apologised for as they are a law onto themselves and nothing but a murderous gang with a hat that doesn't fit.
Before anyone can truly call themselves a Muslim they must be prepared to embrace every other message sent by Him throughout the ages, if not through learning then through faith alone.
The Quran embraces all major religions of the world and even those that precede and moreover a Muslim is referred to as one who may exist unawarely... where the messages have not yet reached.
When faiths are reflected upon and weighed, varying practices may appear as ripples in one ocean, for with focus upon what unites us, all quibbling may be put into shade.
We should note that, as mentioned in the Quran, had He wished to make us all one nation with one creed it would have been so. It is in His wisdom that we are asked to reach out to one another with respect; for it is He and He alone who knows what is in each heart and it is He who judges each of us in the end and only He can iron out the differences.
To that we must adhere even when discussion or intelligent and insightful debates prevail.
When disdain and obtuseness take over we are advised to leave well alone and abide by a well-rehearsed saying which emanates from the Quran; one basically requiring us to believe what we believe and leave each well alone to their belief. The well-known phrase 'لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ', 'you have your religion and I have mine' is part of a verse addressed to the unbelievers of Qureish who worshipped idols fashioned by their own hands. The saying bears significance in a universal and timeless manner for to 'worship' which is an epithet with considerable weight, to worship anything other than the One and Only abolishes unity and is therefore a very strict requirement for any believer of the religions sent by Him and Him alone.
It is through our belief in Good and Evil, in our search for Justice and Truth that we find ourselves, for without belief and search.. very little value to anything we exist for in the end ... endures.
ISIL is as far removed from Islam as it is from any other faith.
We would be wrong to assume ordinary Muslims should even need to feel apologetic for something so deranged and moreover so utterly removed from their faith.
ISIL cannot be apologised for as they are a law onto themselves and nothing but a murderous gang with a hat that doesn't fit.
Before anyone can truly call themselves a Muslim they must be prepared to embrace every other message sent by Him throughout the ages, if not through learning then through faith alone.
The Quran embraces all major religions of the world and even those that precede and moreover a Muslim is referred to as one who may exist unawarely... where the messages have not yet reached.
When faiths are reflected upon and weighed, varying practices may appear as ripples in one ocean, for with focus upon what unites us, all quibbling may be put into shade.
We should note that, as mentioned in the Quran, had He wished to make us all one nation with one creed it would have been so. It is in His wisdom that we are asked to reach out to one another with respect; for it is He and He alone who knows what is in each heart and it is He who judges each of us in the end and only He can iron out the differences.
To that we must adhere even when discussion or intelligent and insightful debates prevail.
When disdain and obtuseness take over we are advised to leave well alone and abide by a well-rehearsed saying which emanates from the Quran; one basically requiring us to believe what we believe and leave each well alone to their belief. The well-known phrase 'لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ', 'you have your religion and I have mine' is part of a verse addressed to the unbelievers of Qureish who worshipped idols fashioned by their own hands. The saying bears significance in a universal and timeless manner for to 'worship' which is an epithet with considerable weight, to worship anything other than the One and Only abolishes unity and is therefore a very strict requirement for any believer of the religions sent by Him and Him alone.
It is through our belief in Good and Evil, in our search for Justice and Truth that we find ourselves, for without belief and search.. very little value to anything we exist for in the end ... endures.
