Muslim Australians - Religion Cultural Diversity Resource Manual

While the portrayal of Islam and
Muslims in the media today has
a historical basis of negative bias
against Muslims, the portrayal
of Islam as violent has also been
encouraged by the actions of a few
Muslims who have violated the most
fundamental precepts of the religion.
For example, terrorist activities
against American or Western interests
often in the name of Islam are the
cause of some of the fear of Muslims.
Examples of such terrorist activity
include the September 11 attacks on
New York and Washington in 2001
and the bombings in Bali in October
2002.
Muslims point out that, as in any
religion, there are Muslims who
use violence to achieve religious or
political objectives. However, the
vast majority do not advocate or use
violence, but wish to live peacefully
with other people. They argue that
it is unfair to label all Muslims as
violent or as terrorists because of
the actions of a few extremists. They
say that there are violent or fanatical
groups among Catholics, Protestants,
Jews, Hindus and Buddhists, for
example, and that the majority in
those groups should not be blamed
for the actions of the minority. In
their view, the same should apply to
Muslims.
What many Muslims think
about violence
For the average Muslim, Islam
is a religion of peace. It does not
encourage the use of violence against
non-Muslims. In fact, it encourages
peaceful and harmonious relations
with others.
Islam as peace
Islam is the religion of peace: its
meaning is peace; one of God’s
names is peace; the daily greetings
of Muslims and angels are peace;
paradise is the house of peace, the
adjective ‘Muslim’ means peaceful.
Peace is the nature, the meaning, the
emblem and the objective of Islam.
Every being is entitled to enjoy the
peace of Islam and the kindness of
the peaceful Muslims, regardless of
religious or geographical or racial
considerations… 35
Islam does, however, condone selfdefence:
to defend one’s life, property,
homeland, and religion. This is
acceptable in almost all religions and
communities we know of today. In
this, Muslims are no different from
other religious groups.
Where Islam allows violence in
self-defence, for example when the
community is under attack by an
enemy or its homeland is occupied,
it is a duty of the community to
defend itself. This duty usually
belongs to the state; that is, the
government which represents the
community. For instance, if Australia
is under attack or threatened with
occupation, it is the duty of the
Australian community to defend
itself. Since Muslims are also part of
the Australian community, they are
obliged religiously to defend Australia
and its people.
35
Hammudah Abdalati, Islam in Focus Indianapolis, American Trust Publications, p.143.
60 Muslim Australians:THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS