Islam Rediscovered
12. Islamic Fundamentalism
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the same basic teachings of Islam as are emphasized
in the Islamic scriptures themselves. This cannot
mean that any individual may declare, through
personal interpretation, some self-styled teachings
to be the basic teachings or the fundamentals of
Islam, and then launch a violent movement aimed
at establishing these so-called Islamic fundamentals.
Unfortunately this is what these fundamentalists
are doing.
Now what are the basic teachings of Islam? The
principle concern of Islam is monotheism.
According to an Orientalist, “the central focus of
Islam is Allah. That is to believe in one God;
associating all one’s feelings of love and fear with
Him; and worshipping Him alone. Then adhering
strictly to justice in one’s dealings with other
human beings, returning good for evil, and so on.
In Islam, according to a
hadith
, actions are judged by
their intentions. That is why Islam lays the greatest
of stress on the subjection of human beings to
greater and greater degrees of purification.
According to a
hadith
the Prophet Muhammad, may
peace be upon him, observed: “Listen, there is a
