One of the most controversial terms discussed nowadays s “fundamentalism”. It may simply be defined as an embattled form of spirituality, which emerges as a response to a perceived crisis. Within Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other faiths, the media generally uses the term to refer to the most conservative wing of the religion. Islamic Fundamentalism has replaced communism as the enemy of the day. A question may arise, is it the Islamic Fundamentalism – the producer of terrorism or is it western minimal understanding of what Islamic Fundamentalism is and who Islamic Fundamentalists are?

"Fundamentalist Islam is simply the conservative wing of Islam, just as Fundamentalist Christians in the conservative wing of Christianity."



Originally Fundamentalism is a theological term, which became commonly used after the “Scopes” trial during 1920s. John Scopes, a high school biology teacher was put on trial for violation of state’s Buttler Act. The Act forbade the teaching of any theory, which denied the story of Divine Creation of man as taught in Bible. It is Christianity where one finds the origin of Fundamentalism.
In Christianity, Fundamentalism is normally used for the conservative of Evangelical Christianity, the most conservative wing of Protestant Christianity. Fundamentalist Christians typically believe that the Bible is inspired by God, inerrant and internally consistent. As far as Catholics are concerned, in the 1960s the term Fundamentalist started to be used to refer those among them who rejected the changes and wished to retain traditional beliefs and practices. Though having different beliefs Christian and Islamic Fundamentalism seem to be parallel to each other.

Islamic Fundamentalism means to aide by and follow, the rules and teachings of Islam. It denotes recourse to the Holy Book, justice, fairplay and protection of all the people specially those of minorities. A great majority of Muslim Fundamentalists are pious individuals who strictly follow the teachings of the Holy Prophet Mohammad(P.B.U.H), promote regular attendance at mosques and promote the reading of the Holy Quran. Many promote the concept of theocratic government, in which Sharia (Islamic Law) becomes the law of the state. West according to them is secular, ungodly, decadent and obsessed with sex. But Islamic Fundamentalism is not what the West thinks about it.

Western media has extensively misused the term Fundamentalism to refer to those terrorists who happen to be Muslims, or who are anti-American Muslims. This is not accurate. Fundamentalist Islam is simply the conservative wing of Islam, just as Fundamentalist Christians in the conservative wing of Christianity. West perceives Islamic Fundamentalism as a threat to peace. They believe Muslim Fundamentalists are rigid, unrealistic and dogmatic who are always ready to join any battle or take a jihad at any time. Whether or not Muslim Fundamentalists use violence, West is stressing upon calling them extremists and even terrorists.

Most of the Middle Eastern Terrorists are probably Fundamentalist Muslims, but they share little with their fellow Fundamentalists. They represent an extremist, radical wing of Fundamentalist Islam, which is composed of people who believe that the Islamic state must be imposed on the people from above, usinf violent action if necessary. This movement is fueled by social, religious and economic stressors in many of the Muslim countries: lack of democracy; autocratic, non-elected political leaders; millions of Palestinian refugees, extreme wealth for a minority and often extreme poverty for most of the public; poor human rights records; high unemployment. Perhaps the greatest stressor of all is the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has lasted over five decades. The U.S. is viewed as favoring and supporting Israel. She has been giving over 3 billion dollars a year in military and economic aid to Israel.

Another stressor is the presence of many American troops in Saudi-Arabia; many radical Muslim Fundamentalists saw this as a desecration of the Holy Ground. The most two sacred in Islam–Mecca and Medina—are located in that country. Anti-American feelings are running high because of the invasion on Iraq. It means Muslim agitation or so-called ‘terrorism’ is the reaction of western actions.

Lawrence Davidson, professor of history ar West Chester University in Pennysylvania and author of the book Islamic Fundamentalism says about Muslim Fundamentalists: “The vast majority are not violent, bomb-throwing people. They are very much like your average very religious Catholic or Protestant”. In fact, most fundamentalists have much in common with their Christian counterparts and elements of extreminism and violence found in Muslim Fundamentalists are the reaction of anti-Muslim policies of the West.

Hence, Islam is not the source of terrorism but its solution and west specially Americans have always shown their lack of knowledge regarding Islamic Fundamentalism. In its original application it means to believe in fundamentals of religion, in this sense all the Muslim are fundamentalists. However the manner that it is used in the Western media, to mean a fanatic or extremist, it does not illuminate either Muslim thought or Muslim society. The fault also lies within us, as we Muslims have never tried to rationalize ourselves. We should adopt a flexible attitude and give image to west that we want peace by showing patience and tolerance. Muslim Media must try to portray the exact picture of Muslim Fundamentalism. Last but not the least nothing is possible without enlightened moderation; that is modern education and research.

Article by
Zeeshan Ahmad Malik