Terrorism Under the Banner of Islam

In the small hours of Monday morning, the 2nd May 2011, US President Obama announced to the world that Osama bin Laden and the head of al-Qaida – the most notorious terrorist group of our time - had been killed in Pakistan by special American task forces.

The most sought after terrorist in the world was dead, but the ideology of violence and terror that he and his followers have embraced is still alive.

It is said that terrorism is as old as history. It has operated under number of names and emerged under variety of banners. It is a violent act that targets civilians to advance an ideological or political cause. Today terrorism is taking cover under Islam.

Over the centuries Islam has co-existed, interacted with religions, cultures and civilizations. In general, the outcome has been humane and colourful societies. so why now is Islam used  as  an incubator of violence? What are the foundations of Islam, its message and the way it relates itself to other monotheist religions? In short, what do we know about Islam?

More importantly, what do young Muslims who kill themselves and devastate the lives of others know about their religion? Do they know that suicide is considered to be a great sin in Islam? And do they know that killing an innocent soul is an unforgivable crime in Islam? Do they know also that hate preachers are promoting their own anomalous Islam?

The answers to those and many more questions are methodically explored in this book.