By A. Abdul Aziz
Several letters have appeared in these columns criticising Muslims. This is in response to them. Islam means peace. But unfortunately, today the followers of religion of Islam facing many trials and tribulations through out the world. They are being destroyed like in Bosnia and Chechnya. We learn from the history of Iran - Iraq war that the oil of the Muslim world was used to burn and destroy the economy of the Muslim world. Now another Islamic territory - Afghanistan - is under seige.

When will man stop killing his fellow men? When will his thirst for blood ever be quenched? Terrorism cannot be wiped out by another form of terrorism.

There are terrorist organizations among the Muslims. No one can deny it. Terrorism is a global problem and this has to be put in perspective.

Unless we understand the forces behind this violence, we shall not be able to understand why some Muslim groups and states are turning to terrorism to achieve certain objectives. Muslims kill Muslims. It is unfortunate that Islam is condemned as a barbaric religion which upholds terrorism, preaches hatred and intolerance and divides adherents into opposing camps of bloodthirsty foes. This is not surprising. Why single out "Islamic" whenever terrorist forces are at work today in Muslim groups or countries? When Muslim cease to live by the teachings of Islam, brothers become foes and tribal rivalries return to the forefront. So what we observe in the world of Islam is not truly Islamic in character.

Every pursuit and activity which disturbs peace is severely condemned in Islam. We find specific injunctions in the Holy Quran. It says: "And create not disorder in the earth" (7:57) "Commit not iniquity in the earth causing disorder." (11 :86, 29:37.)

Mischief and wickedness are condemned in several other verses and Muslims are commanded to work wholly for peace.

As stated earlier, the real forces at work are not truly and essentially religious in character. As the Holy Quran states (25:30), Muslims have discarded the Quran and have thrown it behind their backs. Perhaps never during the last 14 centuries Hijra, the Quran was so much neglected and ignored by the Muslims as it is today.

There is a saying of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to this effect. The prevailing decline of the Muslims and their internecine strife: are matters of which the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not uninformed. Through divine revelation, he prophesied fourteen hundred years ago that Muslim would split into sects. He described the pitiable plight of the Muslims in such detail as if a view of our era had been unfolded before his very eyes.

The Prophet’s traditions contain a graphic description of our times.

Hazrat Ali (R.A.) stated that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: "A time will come when nothing will remain of Islam except its name and nothing will remain of the Quran except its script. Mosques will be full of worshippers, but as far as righteousness is concerned they will be empty and deserted. Their ‘Ulama’ (religious scholars) will be the worst of creatures under the canopy of the heavens. Evil plots will originate from them and to them will they return." (Mishkat - Vol. 1, Kithabul Ilm - 3rd part, Page: 121, Hadith No: 276 [79] )

However, along with these terrible portents, he also gave glorious tidings. He said that in spite of this dire distress the Islamic nation would not perish. As he also prophesied, the religion of Islam has to be restored to its former glory. How?

When the religious leaders/scholars become corrupt as foretold by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the above saying, God takes the leadership in his own hands. It is sad to point out here that today the so-called Islamic world does not have such universal leadership (IMAM) sent by God, as prophesied by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to reform and guide them.

Every other generation we find is a less pious generation, less God-fearing. Every other generation we find is less confident of a Islamic way of life.

Religions are born and revived through divinely appointed reformers. Never have the scholars ever reformed a religion through conferences and consultations. The reformers never advocate violence. Their followers demonstrate steadfastness of such a high degree that they would rather be exiled or killed than recant.

The reformers do not entice people with promises of power and high office; they dispel worldly ambition. They do not lure people with wealth; they inculcate the spirit of sacrifice.

The rich who believe consider it their good fortune to give their all in the services of God. It is then that divine providence adjudges them fit to take over temporal power. This is the process of religious revival of nations that the Holy Quran and the Scriptures reveal. I appeal to the seekers after truth to ponder over this and find out where it exists. This is the only solution for the Muslims to overcome from their trials and tribulations.