The Takfir, Terrorism, and the Looming Tower
Terrorism — By Harrison on June 27, 2009 at 6:00 am
I have been working my way, for the second time, through a book by Lawrence Wright called The Looming Tower al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. It is a fascinating, exhaustively researched book that covers many topics related to Islamic fundamentalism. I find the concept of the Takfir to be very interesting because it shows the never-ending ability of the human mind to justify any action as being morally permissible.
Much has been written on the Takfir and those who follow this belief (the Takfiri). Essentially, the Koran forbids the killing of innocents but, in order to get around this pesky problem, it was decided that “innocents” applied only to true Muslims. So how could Islamic extremists carry out bombings that would be certain to kill their own kind and thus violate one of the central tenets of the Koran? The very clever part is that and example from Muslim history was found to make it permissible to murder even Muslims.
In the mid-7th Century there was a group known as the Kharijites who revolted against the 4th caliph, or Muslim ruler. They said that it was they who were real and true Muslims and everybody else who didn’t agree with them were not real Muslims so they could be killed with a clean conscious. Thus, with a quick explanation under their belts, Islamic terrorists could, without violating the Koran in their minds, kill anybody they chose. People who believe in this line of thinking can be called Takfiri. Not only can they kill whomever they want (with Koranic justification of course), but they can drink alcohol, shave their beards… whatever it takes to get the job done when your job is jihad!
Why do I write of Takfir and how does it relate to politics? It is no coincidence that one is told from a young age not to discuss politics or religion at the dinner table as these subjects are so “divisive.” What it really illustrates, however, is that nearly any action can be justified in one’s mind if one wants to explain why they are doing, will do, or have done a certain thing.
Thus, in domestic (United States) politics, I would point to an issue like “Global Warming” and say that Liberals are pushing so hard for the (extremely) expensive Cap-and-Trade bill to become law because they can use this as an excuse to change people’s lifestyles. Few realist Liberals will actually come out and say this because it would strike most people as a bit Big Brotherish but “saving the planet” is used to justify all sorts of half-baked ideas.
Liberals are not the only group doing the justification thing. Many Evangelicals use the Bible as a way to justify the demonization of gays, for example. In the end, people will bitterly cling to their dogmas in order to pursue their opaque agendas but, in the end, they are no different from the Takfir.
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23 Comments
Great book, and great conclusion at the end of this article.
Brian Anderson´s last blog ..Obama responds to Iranian protests; Tricky Dick’s tapes
It sounds like the book is describing what we would refer to in today’s terms as ‘Fundamental Islamists” versus ‘Moderate Islamists”.. however the problem is that both groups have the same prophet (Mohammad) as their teacher/role model, and Mohammad (a fundamentalist) killed a few hundred people (specifically, Jews) in his day. I agree that Evangelical’s “demonization of gays” is a problem via Christianity which teaches that “anyone” (including gays) who does not believe in their ‘Christian Theology/Jesus’ are doomed to burn eternally in a lake of fire when they die. So, you better feel the love that Evangelical is offering you…or else! haha
I liked the part about liberals “saving the planet”..are you trying to tell me that liberals and their messiah are not going to save us? Thanks alot for ruining my day! haha
The Takfiri seem to have come up with a theological justification for killing women, children, and other Muslims. Much in the Bible is ignored because of the Reformation. Because Islam has not gone through a similar event they are still in a pre-Reformation period much the way Christians were during the Middle Ages.
We need more reformists because as it is now the fundamentalists are holding way too much power over the Islamic masses. For example, remember when some guy in (I think it was Denmark) made a “cartoon” of the prophet Mohammad and we saw embassies being closed and protests all over the place because the Muslims were so outraged(by a cartoon). And then remember the more recent attack in India (not to mention 9-11 in America) but where was the outrage? But mostly, how about what the Islamic dictators in Iran are doing to their own people right now, where is the outrage from the Islamic world? If they care so little for their own, imagine how the non-muslim(s) fare out in this equation. But I will tell you this much, when Israel finally got sick of the rockets coming out of Gaza and retailiated.. only then did we hear so “loudly” from the Islamic world. “This is” Islam today! So yeah I “hope” the reformists take over and “change” things too, but for right now..we have alot of work (and innocent deaths) ahead of us… unless the majority of the world gets tougher on Islam, the world can not continue to promote this vile behaviour via political correctness and wishful thinking.
Sorry, but jumping from Jihadist to Liberals in 2 sentences is a little too much for me.
Are Liberals staging and fighting a war against everyone who don’t believe in their ideas? Are they killing, attacking, converting, murdering people? Are they beheading people?
For your information, I’m a practizing Christian (I don’t believe in born again Christiany since that is blashemy to me) who is married to a Muslim born Turk. She don’t practice her religion like so many other Muslim born people I know. How are for example the Iranian people doing in the USA, and the Iraquees? Pretty well integrated or not?!
Here an article by the former governor of HongKong and the arch-Conservative British Chris Patten:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=179281&bolum=109
Hans´s last blog ..‘Will US ever face ICC over allegations of war crimes in Iraq?’
Interesting article, and thanks for pointing out that a sense of fairness and balance has to be established before any genuine progress on tolerance can be generated.
Al´s last blog ..Stalinist challenges USA?
Are Liberals staging and fighting a war against everyone who don’t believe in their ideas? Are they killing, attacking, converting, murdering people? Are they beheading people?
No, but liberals like to appease those who are doing the above. Don’t get me wrong, the conservative Bush was no saint (or Einstein) either. Bush was burning the candle at both ends (appeasing) the Islamic world too. But the current liberal president with his liberal administration, and followers, are really taking the ball and running much, much, further with it. Below is just one example for you, hot off the press, which has helped to support my on-going symptom of nausea since Obama took office. http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/06/blueprint-for-dhimmitude-execution-of-us-muslim-engagement.html
Andreas, thanks.
Marie, putting Bush and Einstein on one line is putting my dog Sarah P on one line with Felix the Cat..)!
And, yes, I’m familiar with all those blogs, but I rather prefer reading establsihed writers. What about V.S. Naipaul ‘Among the Believers’ or Oriana Falaci’s
The Rage and The Pride, for which she was honored on November 2005 in New York the Annie Taylor Award for the courage of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture. She was honored for the “heroism and the values” that rendered her «a symbol of the fight against Islamic fascism and a knight of the freedom of humankind’
Google her. She is well known among European liberals but unknown among US conservatives since they in generaly don’t read books..))!
She died in 2006…
All those blogs are a freak show, like Fox news only worse..((
Kindest
hans
A true Dutch Liberal in Turkey.)!
Hans´s last blog ..‘Will US ever face ICC over allegations of war crimes in Iraq?’
You assume because Fox news covers stories from a different perspective from the other two U.S. cable news networks that there must be something wrong with them. I would suggest that you are not used to seeing a different angle expressed and taking it seriously.
Thanks, but I’ve already tried getting inside the mind of the “enlightened liberals.” And upon looking at the times, threats, and realities of the world which we are living in today, coupled with that of history, this all makes me realize that there is much to be admired in the homegrown “rednecks” whom cling to their God and religion right here in America. And frankly, thats good enough for me. True, it’s not a perfect system by no means, but considering the options out there, I’d rather stand up and fight for American morals and values. America still has some potential. We are still standing. Next.
High-Fives! God Bless America!
Al´s last blog ..Stalinist challenges USA?
Hans – US conservatives don’t read books????? You’re joking! Why don’t you try Ayn Rand: ATLAS SHRUGGED. You’ll be scared to death by what she predicted would happen when Big Government takes control. It’s happening now in USA. American Citizens are losing their individual financial freedom at such a speed that soon, some of them (only the enlightened and brave ones) will have to write a Charter 10 (following China Charter 09) hoping to retain their rights.
Don’t dismiss Fox News so readily, Hans.:)) If you depend only on CNN, (and other TV Stations) they’ve been sold out long ago (as our own Canadian CBC) to ultra socialism. Hard to hear one word of truth when marxism becomes the state’s philosophy.
We’re lucky, in Canada, that we just elected a Conservative who is trying to reverse the trend. Altough it’s a bit late to recuperate all we have lost through our Socialised Health System. It’s great for the whole world to be on our medical clogged waiting list as long as I don’t die before I finally get the treatment I need!:)
A true Canadian Conservative in Canada.
)
Harrison, is there something else in the world then the USA with CBS, ABC and CNN?
I lived three times in the USA: in the OC, NYC and before I moved to Turkey in Miami. Could not find a decent newspaper (subscribed to the Financial Times in the end) not a decent newschannel (BBC world was ok tough) and the whole ‘Liberal versus Conservative’ discussion became pretty boring. I lived and worked in 8 different countries, speak and write 6 languages (I don’t count ancient Greek and Latin here) travelled to more than 50 countries, so you can expect that I am used to think from all kind of angles…
Marie, ever met an ‘enlightend liberal’? I not. Also never met an ‘enlightened conservative’. But yes, I met open minded people from all kind of political background. And that’s what the world needs to understand each other better. Labelling each other and dismissing eachother because of their political back ground is as stupid Fox news simplifies the world news according their narrow minded idiotry.
Claudia, do we know each other..)))!
Kindest
hans
Hans´s last blog ..Day Opening – June 29
I too, subscribe to the Financial Times because I could not find an un-biased US newspaper. Any news network has topical shows that cover stupid things for too long. I am talking about the “hard” news portions of their shows more than the entertainment portions. Labelling Fox News as having “narrow minded idiotry” does not explain your opinion of ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, or MSNBC.
Dear Hans – Of course you know me!!!I was so surprised that you would “label” yourself a “True Dutch Liberal in Turkey”, as what I know of you is more that you’re a citizen of the world, and you’re too open minded to be ‘just a Liberal.’ Surely you must see that we must protect some of the values that permissiveness and too much liberalism have been destroying.
I’m becoming more conservative as I’m getting older. My country has been far too compliant and generous with multiculturalism. Our basic, solid character has been eroded. If we’re losing our own cultural, national heritage, what do we have to offer? On which leg can we stand?
When I call myself, a “true Conservative”, I’m not talking about a political party. I’m talking about being my own person, achieving my own goals,facing my own crisis, not depending on my government to boost me up, and certainly not having my government taking control of my affairs, and of the News I receive daily. It’s a constant battle, because most politicians want to buy me out. Sadly, as I said on your blog, some people are fighting presently in Iran, for the Freedom, we, in the west, might have already sold out to the highest bidder.
All the best, as always.
Hans, You are trying to make me look like a political racist (lol, I just invented that term do you like it?).. but don’t forget you were the one who said “conservatives” don’t read books. So tell me, did you really mean to say that BOTH “liberals and conservatives” don’t read books? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Ps.. In my last post I meant to say …rednecks.. “whom cling to their “guns” and religion” (obama said that, but I think he really meant to say “Guns & God”)..hehee!
Harrison, I only like certain programs of CBS, ABC and CNN. But in general they all ’sucks’!
Dear Claudia, I was somehow provoking, but a liberal in the Netherlands means ‘conservative’….in fact ‘for free trade and less government involvement’ and ‘progressive on issues as euthanesia, drugs, abortion (here they differ with the conservatives in the USA) I agree with your statements about national heritage, therefor I write so often about the creepy islamization..)) Today about Islam in Prisons…))
Marie, Love your statement, will remember it.))
In fact I had to say: Americans don’t read books…they watch too much TV.)! That was more emotive correct..)
Kindest
hans
Hans´s last blog ..Day Opening – June 30
Now it’s “Americans don’t read books”..hahaaa! Keep digging your hole deeper why don’t you! Glad to know how easily you can lump so many people into one group like that!
Ps.. I can only imagine what statement is coming next from your enlightened intelligence, perhaps it’s something like this.. “America is the big Satan, and Israel the little Satan.”
Lol @ Marie’s Ps remarks…
Long live the United States of America, mankind’s best hope for a free and just world.
Al´s last blog ..Stalinist challenges USA?
no Marie, its those who ignore simple facts who are in a hole without knowing it…
Hans´s last blog ..Some Dutch prisons serve only Halal food
You know what they say Hans.. when one is down at the bottom, then there is only one place to go.. which is up. But, I may have to actually agree with you this time around because I really don’t know if enough Amrericans realize just where we are, yet. Let’s have a moment of silence and mourn for this once great country together Hans! Haha,, I know, I’m pushing it now, aren’t I!