Muslim Militant’s Mindset and Quranic Verses: A Comparison of Narratives from Pakistan

Abstract

Since last decade, the world has been facing Muslim militancy as the most tough challenge and threat. Activities of global Muslim militant groups like Al Qaeda and Taliban have engulfed a large number of human lives have cost dollars in billions. The militants as a base, cite different verses of the holy Quran related to dominancy of Islam over all religions, Islam as the only acceptable religion to God, Killing Polytheists and people of the books a religious obligation and thus making an Islamic state. It is argued in this study that they (militant) are not alone in basing their militant activities on divine obligations. Some very prominent, well learned Muslim scholars (of which Maulana Shabeer Ahmad Usmani and Maulana Syed Mawdudi are the focus of this study) are also projecting and promoting the same concept and ideology. The study highlights how these scholars interpret these specific verses of the Holy Quran and how their concepts and explanations are countered by scholars like Ameen Ihsan Islahi and Javed Ahmad Ghamidi. Upon comparing both the groups’ interpretations, the study found that these verses which are the base of Muslim Militants agenda mean something very different from militant’s narrative. This profound counter narrative can remove the base provided to militants and can serve as a soft tool to handle them ideologically, and thus reducing any further militancy in the name of Islam and Quran.