Islam: Teaching Unity… But Practicing What?
The Following essay was formulated by Mark Moran upon reading “World Religions & Cults 101” by: Bruce Bickel. The subject is Islam, and their civil war
The religion known as Islam is the second largest religion in existence upon our world, with over one billion Muslims stretching across every continent. One of the reasons for their great success is the belief in unity, and their enforcement of their beliefs on those under their control. There is however one major problem. There has been a civil war going on amongst the Muslims since the time of their great prophet Muhammad’s death. This conflict takes place between the Sunni majority, and the Shi’ite minority.
The conflict began when Muhammad, the highest prophet in the Islam religion died. Many of his followers believed that only a man of Muhammad’s bloodline should lead the Muslim world. The followers of this idea became known as Shi’ites, and to this day make up about 20 percent of the Muslim population. The other eighty percent of the people however believed that Muhammad’s successor should be chosen by the people. Those who believed this became known as Sunnis. To this day they have been at war with each other, with blood shed becoming an everyday event.
Upon the destruction of the World Trade Centers in New York City by Islamic extremists, the Muslim world split even wider. Some claimed that it was God’s justice on America, while others condemned the actions as extremism. Muslim clerics were preaching love, but the world could see only hate. So which is it? Upon research in the Koran (Muslim definitive work written from Muhammad’s teachings), the authors of “World Religion & Cults 101” found that there is very little reference of love, with a large amount of violence being encouraged.
In modern Iraq, the majority of the fighting takes place not between Americans and Extremists; it is the Sunni muslims who hate the Shi’ite muslims (and vise verso) that are causing the largest toll on human life. On the day that this article was written, two Sunnis strapped bombs to their bodies, and rushed into a Shi’ite market place. There were 150 people wounded, and 42 killed out right. There was no military target involved, no Americans killed; just regular people who followed the Shi’ite Muslim religion.
When comes the point when people see the truth? How many lives need to end before the world takes action? It is my belief that something must be done to stop the constant murder. The hate needs to end.