Islaam vs Fundamentalism by Dr. Ahmad H. Sakr 1.

If fundamentalism means to follow the fundamental teachings of Islam, then ev ery Muslim is a fundamentalist. But to be fanatical, to be dogmatic and to be ra dical is against the teachings of Islam. 2. Islam condemns any person who is fanatical, or extremist. Islam insists on mo deration and tolerance towards one another and especially towards non-Muslims. ( The Holy Qur'aan, [2:143] and [22:40]) 3. Islam instructed Muslims to call upon People of the Book to come together and live peacefully with the Muslims. (The Holy Qur'aan, [3:64] and [29:46]) 4. Islam praised those People of the Book who are honest, sincere, faithful and God-fearing. (The Holy Qur'aan, [3:113]) 5. Muslims are to respect People of the Book, honour them, to protect them, and to encourage them to live with moral teachings of their Books. 6. In some Muslim countries we see groups, movements and individuals committing acts of terrorism and acts of fanaticism. Such acts have nothing to do with Islam. The individual s are to be blamed. 7. It is understood that Muslims in different parts of the world did not have a chance to practise a democratic way of life. They have self-imposed leaders who are either dictators, monarchs, feudal or tyrant military rulers. They were self -imposed or were imposed by outside foreign powers. Some of them committed crime s, killings, imprisonments, and they did not respect the rights of their local c itizens. Some of the denied freedom of speech and freedom of practising the reli gious teachings of Islam in its purest form. 8. Most of the Muslims who came to the US from the Muslim world are passive. They don't get involved in politics an d they are not vocal. They have lived in America for a number of years and still they are afraid to express their views to non-Muslims. They are afraid to be kn own as activists. Either they are afraid of losing their jobs or their citizensh ip. Therefore, they are not in the mainstream of American politics. On the other hand they came from a totalitarian system and they learnt not to express their views to anyone otherwise they will be in trouble.