ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Political Dimension of Religion in Shiism Islam and Terrorism ====================== After the burst of the Middle East crisis, in great part, caused by Israel's creation in 1948, the imminence of a conflict between Occidental civilization assimilated to Christianity and the oriental one dominated by the Islamic values has become obvious.

The dispute between Jewish and Muslims for the Holy City reached its peak during crusades, this confrontation between the Occident and the Islamic world taking one of the most violent facets -the terrorism. The Afghan mujahediins, disposing of American technology and funds generously offered by Saudi Arabia, have obtained a historical victory over the orthodox Russians. For Islam, this victory may be considered as important as Jerusalem's freeing by the caliph Sallahudin.

This moment represented a turning point for Islam and gave hopes to the millions of Muslims to continue Jihad till the final victory over the Infidels. Another reference point on the international terrorism spiral constituted 2001, September 11-th event, when the most representative symbols of American civilization embodied by The Twin Towers (bourse- finance) and The Pentagon (military force) were stricken.

It was obvious for everyone that Samuel Hungtington's prophecies were justifying the collision between civilizations which had reached its critical point. The entire Islamic world was to suffer due to the anti-Islamic campaign, terms like Islamic terrorist and Muslim fundamentalist being associated to it.

In the Quran, the word "jihad" means "the supreme effort in order to accomplish a goal" and it also can be interpreted as "a means of sacrifice for God's cause in order to eliminate dishonest people and to re-establish a correct new system." The Jihad's goals are presented in the Coran as it follows: o To broaden belief in God and to accept unconditionally his commands (Fight against your enemies in the way God asked you to.) o To help weak and oppressed people (What indeed stops you to fight for God's cause and for vulnerable defenseless people?) o To cease persecution (Fight against your enemies by believing in God and do not commit aggressions.