Muslim’s thinking

When non-Islam people hear the word, Islam, this word brings to their mind images of violence or something negative. In non-Islamic countries, especially in western non-Islamic countries, most of the information about Islam they can get by news or some movies are negative. When I went to library to find some book about Islam, I found many books that pointed out misunderstand about Islam. It is clear that the interpretation that Islam is violence religion is wrong.

There are some group called “radical Islamism”. In 1990^th, when there were some military fights between governments and Islamic power, many citizens supported radical Islamic power. In Egypt, a lot of member of Muslim Brotherhood, the group that tried to construct Islamic state and were supported by many young people who had dissatisfaction with social situation and government, were arrested and this incident make the origin of Islamic radicals. After that, the military fights between Islamic power and governments happened one after another. In Algeria, in 1989, new constitution was established and Islamic political party was elected democratically. But nation’s armed military forces intervened and this election was declared invalid. This incident cause military fights in Algeria. The time when this Islamic power became the object of the oppression by government, the number of people who support Islamic power were increased.

But Since 1997, some groups that use too much violence are isolated by other Islamic power and their acts came to be more radically and violently. The military fights between Islamic power and governments ceased and most of Islamic power came to criticize governments nonviolently. Some Islamic radicals came not to be able to act in their own countries. Their objective was changed. It is no longer to construct of Islamic country. When they tried to do so, their action based on theory of Islam. But at present, they act to show their existence or even if based on theory of Islam,their interpretation is wrong. We can say most of Muslims (the genetic name of Islam believers) do not support the Islamic radicals who act of terrorism. So, at present, what do they think about non-Islam people?

We may get some hint from looking the region that has both Muslim and other believers. Istanbul is the only transcontinental city between Asia and Europe. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish person live together. This city has unique history for until 1453, Byzantine Empire had had this city, and after that Istanbul fell into Osman Empire. It is said that at one time the great poet said to Turk general that he sang Greek songs in Istanbul and sang Turkey song in Athens and he said “I am a real modern hero, isn’t it?” We can see unique and attractive spectacle in this city. At a bar, Turk and Greek enjoy drinking, singing and dancing. There are many historic spot and we can see Islamic and Christian buildings and arts. At Saint Sophia, now it is a museum, we can see the Christian mosaics drawn in Byzantine Empire era under the plaster. Why not these mosaics were destroyed by Osman Empire and covered by plaster? It is said that when Osman Empire get this church and tried to change it to Islamic mosque, Mehmet 2, the king of Osman Empire, were amazed the beauty of this church and he did not destroy the mosaics. There are a lot of church and mosque in Istanbul and next to each other. Can we say that Muslim look non-Islam people as enemy? This place may teach us how we should understand each other and live together.

I have to write more about the concretely system how Osman Empire dialed with people believed other religions. I will write about them comparing other era and other countries in next blog.           

Satona Kato

 

                

Reference

Paul, L. (2002), ISLAM: A BRIEF HISTORY. Dorling Kindersley Limited, London.

 

John, F. (1996).Istanbul: the imperial city. Viking.

 

Nagaba, H.(2005) Istanbul. ISBN, Japan.

 

Kawakita, T. Momoki, S. (Eds.) (2010). Tapestry. Teikokushoin, Japan.

 

Matsumoto,H.(2004). The social position of islamic radicals. The terrorism of Islamic

Radicals and measures.(pp39-47) Japan research institute of international problems.