Media Should Stop Linking Terrorism To Islam – Sultan

“We believe that our religion is a peaceful one not a violent one. But unfortunately some things have been happening are given the toga of Islam, but which we still say no. These violent things that have been happening are not Islam and they neither represent Islam nor Muslims. So, it is very expedient for the media to uphold the true principles of objectivity and stop associating these violent things to Islam or Muslims. They should disassociate Islam from them, instead of calling the perpetrators Islamist terrorists they should call them simply terrorists or criminals. I don’t think if a Christian commits the same criminal act, he would be called a Christian terrorist. I think terrorism should be terrorism irrespective of the faith of its perpetrator. This is a very important issue but unfortunately the world is not giving it much attention.
It is not right to give religious toga to these evil things. The problem should be addressed not by stereotyping a particular religion or its adherents. We should remove religious toga to this criminality. All the Abrahamic religions teach and preach peace and mutual co-existence. So, if someone wakes up one day and say I am doing this for my religion, then I think he should be helped, by telling him that no, that is not what our religion teach. He should be told that he is the terrorist and criminal not the religion he claims to profess, no matter who he is.

In fact, I heard comments here from the (Saudi) king, calling on United Nations to enact a law that will criminalize abuse of religions and their personages.  This is true. These (desecration) of religions sometimes get people annoyed. It is insulting to find out that what you are doing, what you are preaching and what your religion is, is not what those people are busy portraying in the media. As human beings, of course, you feel sad and angry but also tolerance, patience are some of the virtues we inherit as Muslims. We have to keep on calling for tolerance, patience and understanding.

This is because we have to understand ourselves, when you understand yourself; others should also understand you by coming closer to you. But when you don’t understand somebody, how would you be with him? But if you try to understand somebody, then you know who he is. Therefore, reaching out to people and coming closer to them is very important. If you don’t come closer to me, you won’t know how I behave. If you stay far away, and keep on imagining this is what Sultan thinks, then you are just thinking and imagining. But when you come to me, we share our food and drink, then you will know this is how this man is and so on. So, tomorrow if we hear anything negative about each other, we would say no, that is not correct. This is only possible because we know each other. You can tolerate but when you understand some one, then you are better equipped to handle such person.

For instance, if you understand Christianity and somebody is doing something negative in its name, I would say no, that is not Christianity. The same thing applies to Islam and Muslims. That is why we keep on calling on people to understand Islam and Muslims. They should separate the bad ones among us. Yes, they are Muslims, but what they may be doing is not necessarily Islam. Someone will say but is he not a Muslim? Yes he is, but Islam doesn’t instruct or teach him to do what he is doing that is bad. And this thing applies to all religions and people. It is no secret that Islam is a peaceful religion and it doesn’t preach violence”

Credit: Daily Trust.