انتہا پسندی کی ماہیت : اسلامی اور مغربی تناظر میں تجزیاتی مطالعہ

The Essence of Extremism: A Comparative Analysis in Islamic and Western Perspectives

Abstract

In the lexicon, an "extremist" (as it's called in English) refers to an individual who desires the ultimate or extreme of any action or thing. It stands in contrast to a "moderate." While the literal meaning of the word is very broad, it's regrettable that in our society, this term is often exclusively linked with religion. In reality, the scope of this word encompasses numerous fields, including religion, politics, social behavior, ethics, beliefs, and many others Islam is a religion entirely devoted to peace; it seeks to foster peace and safety in every aspect of life. No other religion emphasizes understanding and conciliation more than Islam. There is no compulsion, oppression, injustice, or violation of rights in Islam. Instead, its approach in every matter is judicious and tolerant. Islam is a religion of moderation and balance. Anyone who examines Islamic teachings, be it Quranic verses or Hadith, will realize that the foundations of Islamic injunctions are built upon moderation, balance, ease, and expansiveness, having no connection whatsoever with violence, torture, or extremism. In contrast, an element of extremism is prominent in Western thoughts, ideologies, political and economic systems, and laws. What could be greater extremism than the current behavior of Western governments concerning Iraq, Palestine, Gaza, Kashmir, and Afghanistan? Similarly, to create confusion in the minds and thoughts of Muslims, Western powers have established numerous institutions based on "Orientalism."Today, the word "extremism" has become common parlance among everyone, yet the truth is that the very powers demonstrating extraordinary sensitivity about this extremism are the ones who’s inequitable, or rather, whose misuse of power and extremist policies have brought the world to the brink of destruction. Since we are in an era dominated by "media war" and "diplomacy," anti-Islamic forces exploit electronic, print, and social media to conceal their own wrongdoings, unfairly blaming the oppressed Muslims.There is also a clear distinction between the non-extremist and non-dogmatic thinking found in Islamic and Western thought and ideologies. Islamic and Western extremism have varying global impacts. This paper will present research on the nature of extremism and its comparison within Islamic and Western contexts.