Islamic Fundamentalism
Islamic Fundamentalism
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political system on the basis of Islam depends upon
the will of society as a whole. Only if there is a
Muslim society possessed of the collective will to
accept and institute Islamic government, can a
political system based on Islam with all its social
caveats, be established.
THE CHALLENGE OF FUNDAMENTALISM
With reference to the Muslims of the present day,
the news most highlighted in the media relates to
Muslim fundamentalism. Experience has shown
that there is nothing more destructive than
fanaticism—the
driving
force
of
Muslim
fundamentalism. However, it is not generally
appreciated that Islamic fundamentalism, launched
in the name of Islam, has been dealing a death blow
to the image of Islam as a religion of peace and
mercy. For it is this Muslim fundamentalism which,
today, has converted the image of Islam into one
tarnished by violence.
Let us place this form of extremism in a historical
perspective. At the time of the emergence of
modern western civilization, the greater part of the
