The Application of Imam Ali`s Belief Crisis Theory to Find the Roots of Terrorism Thoughts

2022.03.05 - 01:28
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  The emergence of the Kharijites occurred during arbitration. The Kharijites initially were members of the "Party of Ali". They later rejected his leadership after he agreed to arbitration with Muawiyah rather than combat to decide the succession to the Caliphate following the Battle of Siffin. Alis forces met Muawiyahs at the Battle of Siffin. Initially, the battle went against Muawiyah but on the brink of defeat, Muawiyah directed his army to hoist Qurans on their lances. That initiated discord among some of those who were in Alis army. Muawiyah wanted to put the dispute between the two sides to arbitration in accordance with the Quran. A group of Alis army mutinied demanding for Ali to agree to Muawiyahs proposal. As a result, Ali reluctantly presented his own representative for arbitration. The mutineers, however, put forward Abu Musa Ashaari, against Alis wishes. They gradually set some rules and regulations and concluded that they need to discover the roots of corruption in the world of Islam (Norouzian, 2007: 145-148).
Kharijites [which means those who leave] are also known as "Mareqin" because they left Imam Ali. "Mareqin" is an arrow that passes the sign referred to Kharijites because they abandoned religion (Qaderi, 2003: 60-61). This name, provided by Imam Ali, is a valid document to acquit political Islam from assassination and terrorism. Kharijites were not terrorists as long as they were Muslims. As soon as they began terrorist acts, they were considered those who left the Islam by Imam Ali. Therefore, not only terrorist thought is false among the Muslims, terrorists who believe they are Muslims are not actually related to Islam. However, the terrorist act needs to be sought in trans-regional factors. The dominant discourse on terrorism is in condemning terrorism, especially suicide missions in Islam in order to prevent the investigation of political realities. Professor Robert Paige of the University of Chicago and author of "End the massacre: the scientific strategy of suicide acts" studied the 426 suicide attacks from 1980 to 2003. Professor Paige concluded that no relationship is found between Islam and terrorist suicide acts. He also believes that military occupation of foreign forces is the main contributing factor of suicide acts (Moqtader Khan, 2008: 76). Terrorism is not justifiable. Therefore, all countries condemn terrorism. In reality, most countries use terrorism against each other and even some times they establish terrorist groups. What goes on in Iraq is an example. It means that the governments involved in these events take advantage of the condition because Machiavellianism is not gone. All countries, in fact, seek to increase their power. All countries claim democracy and human rights; however, they are the first ones to damage the human rights (Naqib Zadeh, 2006: 10).
Establishing social order has been one of the most important strategies of Imam Ali`s government. The law is considered the basis of setting social relationships by Imam Ali. Imam Ali believes that it is God`s law. In the political system formed by Imam Ali, freedom is both required to be protected and developed. As freedom is considered a value, social order is also considered a value in Islamic community. Since all of these principles should complement each other to approach the rational life, it is natural to create some constraints for each other. Therefore, in order not to deregulate the social order, they raise some borders in which the most important ones are Law and Ethics (Mandegar, 2002: 245-249). That is why Imam Ali told Kharijites that: you [Kharijites] are the worst group of people (Nahj Al-Balagheh, Part127: 171). It means that terrorist groups such as Al-Jihad, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, the Islamic State, etc. are not only related to Islam but also are an opportunity for anti-Islam discourse in order to challenge the Islamic discourse in international level. The strongest approach which has been created to analyze the terrorism is a logical and rational strategy. Robert A. Pip is one of those who studied in this field. He believes that terrorism follows a strategic approach. Generally, Robert collected 188 suicide acts around the world from 1980 to 2001 in order to prove that the terrorism is a strategic approach. He explained that terrorist organizations rate such attacks efficient (Firahi and Zahiri, 2008: 161). In Imam Ali`s point of view, what causes the formation of terrorist associations in political Islam is the spread of false ideas under the guise of truth. These thoughts are supplied in false side. This is the main theme of Imam Ali`s Belief Crisis Theory concerning the analysis of terrorist thoughts. At the end of Nahrawan battle, Imam Ali said:
Do not fight with the Kharijites after me because those who followed rights are not similar to those who sought false. (Nahj Al-Balagheh, Part61: 79)
If Imam Ali asks not to fight with Kharijites, it means that the roots of terrorist groups need to be dried in order to prevent the growth. If he differentiates those who seek right and made a mistake with those who seeks false, it means no neglect of the agents promoting terrorist ideas because they are potential to grow and expand in the space of belief crisis. False thoughts are the most contributing factor for weak right side. He mentioned after the end of Seffin battle during arbitration:
Indeed, the emergence of seditions is heresies in Islamic rules. Innovations to which the Holy Quran opposes are against the God.
If false and right were not mixed, it was discovered. If the right were separated the false and became pure, enemies tongues would be cut. If part of the right and part of the false were taken into account, Satan dominates friends. Those in favor of God would survive (Nahj Al-Balagheh, Part50: 71)
While investigating the roots of terrorism, Imam Ali`s Belief Crisis Theory leads to two separate group of players with different roles. The original player is behind the scene and the target player is in the scene. Original player, who is the mastermind and the main perpetrators of terrorist establishments, supply terrorist groups by creating ambiguity in the target player`s beliefs. That Muhammad abd-al-Salam Faraj, the leader of Al-Jihad Terrorist Group in his book "Neglected Duty" believes that lack of participation in Jihad declines the Islam is a strong belief. He institutionalizes lack of participation in Jihad in minds of people. Then, he displays injustice and aggressiveness in Jihad of body organs. Here, the crisis of beliefs is formed. Imam Ali says that:
God, you know, we did not go to battle to win power and wealth but we wanted to restore the symbols of rights and religion and modify your lands (Nahj Al-Balagheh, Part131: 175).
Based upon Imam Ali`s words, the definitive goal of Islamic government is to balance the social justice. It supplies the national and global benefits of Islam in line with establishing global security and peace. Imam Ali follows the ideology of opposing the injustice and defending the oppressed. This ideology is possible in the management strategy of human equality to have equal rights. What is considered valuable in Islam regarding Jihad is its meaning. Defending the oppressed is always prescribed by following equal rights and justice. Jihad alone is not valuable. Values have mental identities. In reality, they are not able to reach the objective identity. The importance of the public in Islam concerning the human life`s value can be evaluated by red lines and unlawful killings even when the Muslim armed forces are against enemy forces. Killing children, women, the elderly and the disabled, religious leaders and businessmen is strictly forbidden. Those who gave up their guns are prisoned at their homes, looking for shelters. They should not be killed. Places of worship, buildings, farms, and even trees must not be destroyed. The general public should not be invaded (Tahir-ul-qadri, 2010:9).

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