Of fundamentalism & Islam

Reviewed by Asif Anwar Alig 

A handbook for Fundamentalist Muslims, by Mohammad Kamran, Islam for All (I.F.A) Publishers, F- 10/16, Jogabai Extension, New Delhi (India), pp64, Price INR30/-, Soft. 

I

Masjid al-Haram in Makkah Mukarramah

slam, as a religion, has always been misinterpreted on numerous grounds. The biasness against the followers of Islam worldwide is rooted upon either “alchemic” or subversive modus operandi of a few powers. The message of Islam is ideally staunched upon the philosophy of promoting sustainable mindset that inspires its followers to adopt decent and unique lifestyle. Furthermore, they shouldn’t presume this rule of law a decree but it should remain part and parcel of their personal ethics. Should a true believer of Islam be fundamentalist?

This question is replied hitherto through this booklet, “A handbook for Fundamentalist Muslims” with much exemplary references accounted from the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “A person in order to be a Muslim worth the name must be a fundamentalist,” describes one of the lines of this booklet. How the echelons of the present day dictators understand fundamentalism is an unanswered question.

Their hallucination in replying this unfathomable issue yields into absolute naught because the rulers either from the socialite, democratic or autocratic system of governance need to accept the true faith before looking into the whereabouts of fundamentalism. One needs to look into this matter beyond all levels of prejudice, which catapult the essence of an ideology. There is a common opinion amongst the enemies of Islam that this religion is rooted upon “fundamentalism” hence its followers are prone to terrorism and destructive elements.

The booklet guides each of the believers who are keen to understand the differences of opinion. It also helps one to comprehend Islamic thought with certain level of basic understanding and guides the followers of Islam to become a true “fundamentalist”. The booklet describes the picture of Islam in simple flowering of language: the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the message of the Almighty Allah that is sent to the mankind through the verses of the Holy Quran.

Reviewer Asif Anwar Alig

Each chapter differentiates the ideals of Islam as a religion with so-called trends of the modern era. What are the penurious effects of modernity on the human races and what impact it actually has on the religions particularly Islam has been described prudently?

The Book A Handbook for Fundamentalist Muslims

A 

Being fundamental is not a bad omen for a true believer because it doesn’t has any relation with the destructive game plans of anti-social elements and the atheists alike. Christianity and other major religions of the world have always followed fundamentalism to strengthen their impact on the respective believers. 

Remarkably it is all about the level of sincerity on how one’s faith is being followed and if its followers are truly dedicated with their respective faiths. What is the deliberate nuisances if one follows fundamental ethics if Islam—as a fundamentalist? The jigsaw is still accusative.

Many such questions are put forward through this booklet. Mohammad kamran, the author, has taken references from several verses of the Holy Quran followed by the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to justify fundamentalism. The booklet is a welcome step for each of those who had had any misconceptions on Islam and for those too who are desirous to learn the basics of this faith—an eye-opener for us all.

This book review first appeared in erstwhile Meantime Magazine, Cochi on 01 February 2003.