Devoutness or Fanaticism?

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  • | Friday, 27 January, 2017

One recent form of bigotry is fanaticism for a party or group of people, where supporters pledge loyalty only to such a group or party to the exclusion of other Muslims. Some of these people think that this is a kind of devoutness. Islam, however, has forbidden this kind of fanaticism and deemed it abhorred; Allah says, "The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy."( Al-Hujurat:10). Islam has made faith and good deeds the main criterion for preference among people. Allah says, "O mankind, indeed We have created you all from a single man and a single woman and made you into peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you at the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing and All-Acquainted".( Al-Hujurat:13). Besides, Allah’s Omnipotence is manifested in this matter as Allah says,"And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge." (Al-Rum: 23).

Islam has forbidden fanaticism as it has negative effects on the Muslim community and humanity because it may lead a person to commit abhorring behaviors that completely contradict human virtues, such as exercising oppression or tyranny over people or disparage them and underestimate their opinions. Such a person may also tell lies to support his views, thoughts or doctrine. There is no doubt that ideological fanaticism leads to ideological extremism and religious fanaticism, which presents a negative image of religion to the world and causes people to have aversion for it. This in turn gives rise to extrimism, not tolerance and Ta’aruf (Knowing one another), which contradicts what Islam  has commanded us to do.

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