Understanding Islamic Terrorism

I ordered and read this book after hearing Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo on Dr. Deal Hudson's Church and Culture program on Ave Maria Radio.  I read with interest on the internet that Dr. Sookhdeo was convicted by a British jury earlier this year of a misdemeanor grade sexual assault for groping a woman at this office at a Christian charity.

Regardless of whether Sookhdeo did or did not commit sexual battery, he knows his stuff when it comes to Islam.  Sookhdeo's 2004 book Understanding Islamist Terrorism: The Islamic Doctrine of War is excellent and should be read by every American.

Is Islam really "a religion of peace" as our political leaders keep telling us?  Not according to Sookhdeo.  Islam was a faith born in battle and spread by conquest.  Although modern liberal Islamic theologians have developed the idea that the battle for personal purity and against sin is "the greater Jihad" and that the literal jihad against infidels is the "lesser jihad," in classical Islam jihad means struggle against unbelievers.  Fundamentalist groups like Al-Qaeda and Isis take jihad against infidels seriously and see it as a duty of all Muslims.

Patrick Sookhdeo

Islam is not just a religion, it is a total system of politics, law and spirituality.  The book traces the history of jihad from the time of the Prophet until the 9/11 attacks.  In his conclusions, Sookhdeo states:  ". . . wars continue to be fought in which the name of Islam as a religion is invoked along with the concept of jihad; as has been seen, this reflects the mainstream interpretation of Islamic scholars in the classical period of Islam.  A twenty first century imam, who feels strongly that Islam is oppressed by the tyrannous and unjust governments of the US and Europe, comments: We say it proudly that Islam recognizes the near inevitability of recourse to war.  Islam in its classical interpretation finds it difficult to coexist with the modern world.  Such coexistence will remain a challenge unless Islam can examine itself and make modifications.  No matter how much is done to improve the socio-economic status of impoverished Muslim populations, no matter how carefully the West tries to avoid causing any kind of 'humiliation' which might inflict psychological pain on Muslims, there will remain reasons for Muslims to wage war on non-Muslims, unless Islam itself can change.  How far the Islamic world is capable of coming to terms with its own history, theology and practice is hard to estimate.  Typically Islam finds great difficulty in admitting fault or the need for change.  However, there are contemporary Muslims who are beginning to face this reality."