23 July 2012

By Al-Ikhwan Al-Mujahidun

A new study conducted by the Center for Strategic Communication in Arizona State University (ASU), America, revealed that the struggle of Al-Qaeda all these years is only a form of defense of their faith, not to destroy the Western civilization or in other words not to commit acts of terrorism as the West claims one-sidedly all this time. The study which was released in the Daily Mail, Monday (10/7/2012), said that the Mujahideen of Al-Qaeda are not desiring to destroy the West, but only to defend themselves. Although this argument was opposed by several parties and considered to be provocative, the ASU academics emphatically say that groups such as Al-Qaeda are largely only to protect themselves.

This study, which analyzes more than 2,000 propaganda texts of Al-Qaeda and other Islamic groups regarded as "extreme", stated that the goal of these groups is actually a form of self defense. These observers were reviewing the quotes of the Quran'ic verses, which strengthens the argument that the "extremists" are fighting to defend their faith and hoping on jihad. According to these observers, the verses of the Qur'an, reputed to be the very bedrock of Al-Qaeda's struggle, are apparently less than what they expected. Such as the 5th verse from surah At-Tawbah (9) which means, "...then kill the polytheists wherever you find them.." which made these observers surprised and believed that this verse was only used three times by Al-Qaeda. The observers also collected more than 1,500 catalogs quoted from the Qur'an used by the "extremists" to strengthen their argument, and then examine the representing surahs and verses.

"We were surprised at the very limited use of the verse of the sword," said Bennett Furlow, an assistant observer and one of the three coordinators of the results of this study.

All this time, the West assumes that Islamic groups are determined to rule the world by basing on that verse, and these observers found things that are not significant.

"These findings refute the concept of 'a clash of civilization'," said the head of the study, Jeff Halverson, a professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences at the ASU.

"What the 'extremists' are actually saying to the Muslims is, our community is under attack and God will defend us if we have faith and courage," Halverson said.

However, Halverson still think that their credibility would be damaged if they (the West) acknowledge that Al-Qaeda and groups like them are the conquerors of evil, just as the Muslims, according to him, think of the Mujahideen as their helpers and heroes.