Approaching the West — Page 73
A pproaching the West—73 organizations, well-equipped with modern weaponry, emerged on both sides, and Pakistan saw the worst sectarian violence and terrorist activities in its history. The ill- conceived efforts to implement a portion of Isl ā mic religious law ended up increasing the level of terrorism in Pakistan. However, we should keep in mind that the religion of Isl ā m does not promote but rather forbids such disgraceful measures that were taken by the Sunn ī s and the Sh ī ‘ahs against each other on the issue of Zak ā t–a charitable act. Here we must identify some of the methods used by the extremists and militants to exploit and misinterpret Isl ā mic teachings to justify acts of terrorism. Among the traditionally accepted sources of Isl ā mic Law (Shar ī ‘ah), the Qur’ ā n, the Sunnah (the practice), and the authentic sayings (A ḥā d ī th) of the Prophet are considered as the absolute arguments or authorities, and Ijm ā ‘ and Ijtih ā d are treated as arguments obtained by legal reasoning. By the Qur’ ā n’s own declaration, some of its verses are open to interpretation. Some of them can easily be taken out of the context by the opportunists. In an emotionally charged discourse, religious leaders often intentionally misinterpret some of the Qur’ ā nic verses in order to provoke acts of violence. The target audience can be motivated to act in a certain emotional way. They can be indoctrinated into thinking as if they are pleasing God by submitting to His Will—to His commandments—and thus earning high spiritual merits in this life and the Hereafter. Similarly, some actions of the Prophet are misconstrued and misrepresented. The believers are instigated, without