The Messiah Herald Issue 05 June 2017 | Page 18

TACKLING RADICALISATION How do we thwart the systematic radicalisation of Muslims? E VERY RELIGION HAS a dark side. There was a time when there were Crusaders in Christianity and warriors in Hinduism. There have been manipulators in every religion and Islam is no exception. Islam, unlike Christianity, does not have an established hierarchy - meaning that there is no authoritative body that all Muslims accept. A vast majority of religious scholars today are guilty of giving people their own opinionated understanding of the religion. That is because most orthodox scholars reject the spiritual dimension of Islam, which allows a man to connect with God. HH Younus AlGohar declares, ‘If the interpretation of God’s word is not coming to you from God, no matter how you explain it, it is manipulated and opinionated because you do not have the understanding of God’s word directly put in your heart.’ The radicalisation of youth in the West can be stopped only when the true problems are addressed. Authorities must investigate how misleading, concocted and hate-mongering interpretations of Islam are 18 hammered into the minds of vulnerable youth. Secondly, these young people should be introduced to the spiritual dimension of Islam, Sufism. Sufism, in addition to being the most authentic aspect of Islamic life, allows its practitioners to co-exist peacefully in any society. Examples of theosophical manipulation in Islam HH YOUNUS ALGOHAR NOTES, ‘You will only become part of manipulation when your heart is not open or enlightened 4 . When your heart is connected to God, any philosophy of hatred, any manipulation in the religion will not have an impact on you because your nature is entwined in the nature of God if you love God.’ 4 Learn how to open your heart through the method of His Divine Eminence Gohar Shahi on: http://www.theawaitedone.com/ teachings/opening-of-the-spiritual-heart • The segregation of sexes in mosques. In Prophet Mohammad’s era, women and men would perform prayers together. • Forbidding Muslims from following modern- day fashion trends, including wearing trousers and collared shirts. • Forbidding Muslims from taking pictures with cameras or watching television since Prophet Mohammad didn’t do it. How could these things be prohibited in Islam when they didn’t even exist in the era Islam was founded in? MESSIAH HERALD / ISSUE 05 / JUN 2017