Using Sword to Westernise Muslims

The Nation, Islamabad, Pakistan
30 May 2005

Using sword to westernise Muslims
By Abid Mustafa

Whenever western governments mention WMDs and Muslims in the same
breath, the western media immediately breaks into wild frenzy warning
its people that a catastrophic event of epic proportions is about to
unfold. Old European fables of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword
are reinvented to convey the impression that Muslims are extremely
dangerous, highly irresponsible and pay scant regard to human life.
Hence the mantra of disarming Muslim countries of WMD has become the
rallying cry of the West directed against the Muslim world.

In some cases the arguments are extended to justify the West’s
ongoing policy of regime change in Syria, Iran and perhaps Pakistan.

However, a close study of Islamic rule in the past contradicts the
popular western myth that Muslims are bloodthirsty people anxious to
wipe out the rest of mankind in the name of Islam.

The same however, cannot be said about the West. The West armed with
its secular doctrine and materialistic worldview proceeded to
exploit, plunder and colonise vast populations in order to control
resources and maximise wealth.

In pursuit of these newfound riches the West succeeded in destroying
civilisations such as the Incas, American Indians, Aztecs, and
Aborigines. Those who survived colonisation were forcibly converted
to Christianity, stripped of their heritage and sold into bondage to
western companies. For the indigenous people of Africa, India, Asia,
Middle East and others, the promises of freedom quickly evaporated
and were replaced by colonial rule. Rather than show remorse towards
such atrocities, the West could only gloat at its achievements.

Technologies such as cannons, pistols, steam engines, machine guns,
aeroplanes, mustard gas, etc, only hastened the acquisition of
colonies and the exploitation of its people. Resistance offered by
the natives towards their colonial masters was met by brute force –
often resulting in the destruction of entire communities. When the
West was not destroying the natives they were too busy annihilating
each other in a desperate bid to cling on to their precious colonies.
World Wars I and II are prime examples of the destructive nature of
western values.

This is a description of the Old World, where countries like England,
France, and Germany built empires and accumulated immense wealth on
the death and destruction of millions of innocent people. Is the New
World (America leading the West) any different today?

Take the example of the New World and its relationship with
Afghanistan and Iraq. Liberation has become occupation; democracy has
given way to colonial rule, devastation is termed as precision
bombing and the slaughter of innocent Muslims is described as
collateral damage. Meanwhile, American and British oil companies are
queuing up to exploit the oil wells of Iraq and transport the energy
reserves of the Caspian Sea to Europe via Afghanistan.

The Caliphate did not spread Islam by force, nor destroy
civilisations. When Islam spread to Egypt, many Coptic Christians did
not embrace Islam, and today they still number approximately 7
million. Likewise, when India was opened up to Islam, the inhabitants
were not coerced into accepting Islam. India today has a population
of more than 750 million Hindus.

Compare this to extermination of Muslim and Jews in the courts of the
Spanish Inquisitors during the much-coveted European renaissance.
Those Jews that survived the Spanish holocaust were warmly welcomed
by the Ottoman Caliphate. In Islamic Spain they flourished and became
important members of the Islamic society.

Today the world has more to fear from the destructive nature of
western values than WMDs in the hands of Muslims. In the past these
values were enforced upon nations either through direct colonial rule
or through tyrannical regimes loyal to the West. Presently, the
greatest danger-facing mankind is the constant threat of the West
imposing its values on the rest of the world through its own WMD.