Extremism in The Islamic Culture

As the question of extremism in the Islamic culture becomes a rather significant problem in modern society, this research paper focuses on the relevant conceptions perceived by the majority of people nowadays. Due to the recent researches, Islamic religion represents a negative connotation among the population. As Islamists have created an image of violent or aggressive believers, the one who practices Islam is to face many obstacles regarding the cohabitation in the modern community. Unfortunately, owing to this widespread vision, Islamic religion is to overcome the number of prejudices and stereotypes. This paper refers to the essential notions of comprehending the Islamic culture and outlines the item of its interpretation in the sphere of severe realities.

Without a doubt, the issue of extremism has become rather controversial in the recent years. As an actual debate dedicated to this problem still augments, the researcher cannot remain indifferent to the problem of extremism. In the contemporary context, extremism in Islamic culture has inherited the distinguishing characteristics, which is to be outlined in this paper. Nowadays, extremism is represented by three specific categories: political Islamism, radical Islam, and Islamic supremacy. As a rule, these essential notions have the negative image in the modern mass media that has already created the dramatic interpretation of Islam. According to the established system of beliefs, extremism in Islam reveals as an opposition of democracy, eternal laws, liberty, mutual respect, equality, and tolerance. In this aspect, the process of legislation is rather diminished or minimized due to the up-to-date vision of Islamic propaganda. Thus, this paper is to analyze the particular features of extremism in the prescribed culture, underline its vital notions, and summarize the following findings concerning such investigation.

Literature Review

As the topic of extremism is relevant to the question of religion and policy, the selected materials require precise evaluation of this question. Moreover, the prescribed resources also deal with the main conceptions related to the question of the Muslim community and its comprehension in a quotidian life. Owing to this fact, special attention is paid to the problem of analytical interpretation and the precise specialization on the problem of in question. More to say, all sources selected for this paper provide critical thinking and deep understanding of the chosen conceptions. Each of the prescribed sources has an apparent influence on the conducted research, as they promote an advanced vision to this problem. The first resource may be described as a rather valuable kind of information, as it assures an independent vision of this issue since it is free of any political impact (“Islamic Pamphlets,” n. d.). What is more, it helps the researcher to discover a truthful strategy directed to the understanding of Islamic concepts. Specifically, it depicts the perspective of the following examination and ensures a clear difference between the notions of extremism and political terrorism – a peculiar intervention to this sphere. It claims that due to the usage of mass media slogans, Islamic religion has gained a negative image and interpretation in contemporary society, where most of the members are afraid of experience the deplorable consequences of this tradition.

The next source allows elucidating the roots of Islamic extremism that may be considered a perfect strategy at the beginning stage of the resource. It highlights that the extreme doctrine can be traced to the 7th century when its first conceptions appeared. In his work, the author portrays the customary perception of Islamic religion that is believed to represent violent tactics as the broadest strategy for achieving its goals (Schwartz, n.d.). Schwartz (n.d.) also discusses the tendencies that imperialism and Wahhabism have brought into this special category. Moreover, Schwartz (n.d.) provides further criticism on the following conceptions. He has a strong perception that most people cannot associate Islamic culture with extremism and other radical manifestations. Analyzing the Muslim community and the legitimacy of Jihad, Schwartz (n.d.) assures a stable attitude to the question of Sharia law in the contemporary context, mentioning that each religion has its peculiarities that might not be understood by the representatives of other religions.

Finally, the book Islamic Extremism: Causes, Diversity, and Challenges by Monte Palmer and Princess Palmer (2008) focuses on the risks posed by the Islamic culture for the modern community. The authors describe the potential and hidden effects of this religion (Palmer & Palmer, 2008). Palmer and Palmer (2008) generalize the leading terms in the political sphere of regulation and pay special attention to a delicate balance between the Western and the Eastern cultures. Explaining the main notions, the authors present the strongest and the weakest sides of this policy, specialize on the external influence of Islamic religion on other countries, and offer the well-developed conclusions. As the question of religious extremism becomes more and more significant, this issue is based on the theory of massive terror and the hidden consequences it carries.

Summarizing all of the outlined findings, the above-mentioned sources remain rather precious in the context of an accurate analysis of the presented issue. As they directly correspond to the presented notions, this data may be characterized as a vital source of knowledge.

Methodology

For this research, a number of analytic methods and the technique of descriptive approach were applied. Moreover, some of them served as the powerful tools during the examination. Such a common structure was considered as an instrument for the further investigation. Remarkably, it has established a strong system of relevant conceptions. The received information has become the most suitable method of interpretation in the sphere of the cumulative process. It should be mentioned that the usage of other techniques was directed to depict the picture at the whole. According to this prominent task, the researcher used a theoretical matching tool, which helped to reveal some distinctions in the selected item. As a result, the apparatus of the methodology was completely directed to underline some particularities of this issue that have promoted the development of other findings. To increase the effectiveness of examination, the critical approach was applied. As its absolute value was used, it assisted in the evaluation of the received data from the diverse points of view.

Data Analysis

The proper approach to this issue reveals the informational aspect of the investigation. As the question of real value and significance is rather important to the whole research, an accurate evaluation of the chosen materials occupies a certain place in this work. Without a doubt, the notion of extremism may have a number of interpretations. According to this, the prescribed sources are worth considering, as they completely refer to the needed element of examination. Due to the unstable situation in the Middle East, this issue requires the usage of relevant materials and credible sources. To depict a realistic situation, the data should be free of any political, economic, or ideological influence. That is why before making an independent choice it is recommended to ensure the evaluation of extremism and its peculiar categories.

Applying the prescribed methods, the following investigation should be centered on the independent sources that are to provide a realistic image of Islamic religion. As its comprehension varies noticeably from different countries and governmental institutions, the critical method of evaluation is rather valuable in this context. The existing materials allow the researcher to describe the actual information, identify the origin of the widespread theories, provide a well-developed comparison, generalize the leading differences, and forecast some alterations in this sphere in the nearest future. Thus, this information may be interpreted in the diverse ways, but the main message remains rather similar to the whole paper.

Results

During the work on the presented issue, much attention was paid to the cumulative process of gathering the proper material. As a result, the researcher examined the legitimacy of the right to fight that takes a significant place in Islamic religion. What is more, most of the works focus on the thesis that after September 2011, the Islamic world has transformed into hostile society with its perceptions and values. Unfortunately, it is no longer the truth, as numerous investigations have opposed such a vision of the Muslim community. However, the negative image of Arabian society still dominates, and the majority of people who belong to this category should experience the hostile attitude towards themselves. Of course, the interpretation of extremism in Islamic culture varies from different regions, but due to the ideological influence, the common understanding justifies the critical positions.

Discussion

While the argument stays rather actual in the contemporary aspect, the Muslim community is to accommodate to the new realities of the world. In the era of globalization, when most of the integral elements have become more independent and coherent, it is impossible to imagine a minor change that would not have a tremendous effect. The situation is similar to this question. Nowadays, Islamic culture becomes a victim, a target of political manipulation. Naturally, this religion represents some of the aggressive actions as Jihad can serve a perfect example of extremism. More to say, the right interpretation of these internal laws is far from the image that the majority of the Western sources propose. Only by the accurate analysis of the prominent religious conceptions, the researcher could open and portray the original context of the notions.

Conclusion

To sum up, it is essential to highlight that the results of the conducted examination require the further investigation in the political and cultural sphere. Extremism in the Islamic culture may be considered as a double-edged sword. However, it is rather pretentious not to recede from the important notions that this culture promotes. The sacred writing might be interpreted correctly only by the native bearers. The precise analysis of the main conceptions could be misunderstood. That is why it is rather important to emphasize attention on the leading items portrayed in Qur’an. Since Islam is a diverse religion, the following particularities concerning the accusation of extremism may be highlighted only by using the specific proof from the essential sources.