Is there a difference between Muslim and Islamist extremist?

Question

I look on Wikipedia and a few other sites and I am confused still?

Answer 1

Islam is the religion a muslim follows...

Answer 2

Yes there is a big difference.

A Muslim is one that follows Islam (which means submission) and an Islamic extremist is one that listens to speeches by misleading people, mostly in poor nations or nations that have been exploited and are in turmoil. These Islamic extremists usually have never read about Muslim practices and even when they memorize the Qur’an (the Muslim holy book) they do not understand it.

There are many people who think Muslims that do not want to harm and hurt non-Muslims are secular or are just not following the religion correctly. The first thing is that how can anyone say that when they do not even know what Islam is. In the west, the people just listen to their biased news media and their leaders to learn about other cultures and other religions. Their own research is quite limited.

Furthermore for there are some people who do research, they claim that the Holy book tells Muslims to kill or not make friends with Non-Muslims, these researchers do not understand that the Arabic language is extremely vast and is quite different from English. In the Qur’an there are many forms of revelation, some verses are meant for specific times or specific people, some of them have also been translated differently by different people. For example there is a verse which some people translate as “do not make friends with the Jews” this is a verse used by Islam's speakers to emotionally manipulate their people. The Arabic word used that has been translated as “friend” actually has many meanings, and in this verse it actually means “leader” and it was also revealed at a time when there were battles and the Muslims had been double-crossed by some tribes, both Jew and Pagan. This is what this verse was revealed for.

The history of Islam is something most people do not understand, the prophet was the person who explained many verses in the Qur’an. These explanations are what Muslims use to understand the true meanings of verses, no Muslim claims to read the verses and make their own judgements on them (unlike the Islamists who misuse many for manipulation), we have them already explained by the prophet, his Family and his friends, and it these that must be used. Additionally there is one rule; if there is a saying contradicts the Qur’an or humanity we must take it to be false.

Now lets look at society today, people are very quick to condemn the terrorists and Islam, but what they do not understand that why is all this happening. These terrorists are the creation of the West, U.S. created the Taliban to fight the Russians to fight their war against Communism, the British created the State of Israel and many Palestinians were displaced, North and South Korea were created because of Russia and the U.S. and In Iraq it was the United States that set up Saddam Hussein. When these tragedies occurred many innocent people were killed and many displaced, now what to do expect uneducated young children, who have lost their families, to do? These people see their families massacred and they do not understand why all this happened so in the end they become terrorists. It is easy to hate these people that come and fight and hurt innocent civilians by why not also condemn those countries and those leaders that created them, that kill and continue to kill around the world. This Islamic extremism is quite recent and the reasons for is can be read in detail in books like “Ghost wars – by Steve Coll” and “Confessions of an economic hit-man – by John Perkins” you will notice that for money and power people and corporations are willing to do anything.

The news media must also be looked at, the news is so biased here it’s just amazing. This is not surprising since it’s owned by just a handful of people, most notable Rupert Murdoch. People need to watch the documentary “Outfoxed – Rupert Murdoch’s war on Journalism” and “Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land”. Additionally I would also like to mention that The land that they kidnapped two Israeli SOLDIERS was in the Shebaa farms (which is a disputed land that the Lebanese believe is their land) so for them it was not a cross-border raid, it was defence of their home soil. Please watch the George Galloway Interview on (http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=9071731896689197790&q=george+galloway+interview) He is a British MP, and you can hear his view. I do not understand that when Israel receives weapons supplies form the U.S. and they bomb civilians it is called “collateral damage” and when Hezbollah fires rockets in to Israel it is called terrorism!

I would also like to mention that there are many legitimate organizations that are branded terrorists just because they are against the foreign policy or are not willing to let corporations into their countries to exploit the people. It’s hard to North Americans to understand that not everyone wants a Wal-Mart or MacDonald’s in their country.

This whole issue of Terrorism and Islam is very complex, it doesn’t only involve the religions teachings but also involves the current situation of the world and it reasons. These problems must be looked into deeply and you cannot rely on only one side of the story.

Finally to read more about Islam please ask educated clerics, read Islamic history and you can visit this site “http://al-islam.org/index.php?t=sub_pages_80&cat=135&sid=1ecf22ce800b67ab45c3c34cf1e6efea”

Answer 3

Yes there are "secular" Muslims that are no more truly Muslim than any other secular group. These kind loving people are completely unaware and indeed would be shocked to find that their holy book commands them to murder for Allah. And by any means possible to wipe out the "stain of Israel".

They are the people you meet at the market who never buy pork, and eat mostly Halal. They believe in peace and capitalism, and it is incomprehensible to them why any human mother would help her child strap on a vest of razorblades, nails and dynamite to deliver to a crowded souk full of Jews, Christians and Arabs.

They fast for Ramadan as their families did for centuries before Mohamed. They have a quick wit and a warm smile and loving ways. They love to laugh and dance and they want the best western education for their children possible. Whom they raise morally and tremendously well mannered and behaved.

They are not true followers of Islam. They are not the Jihadi
that feel that every Infidel must die, that the Jews must never be allowed a homeland, and are willing to happily die for the sake of appeasing the blood-lust of Allah.

So the answer is; No there is not... and yes very much so.

Answer 4

A muslim thinks that islam is a religion of peace--an Islamist extremist lives the faith the way it was meant to be lived--violently.

Answer 5

Yes but it is narrowing. Recently (Today) a Muslim Cleric in England said is twas correct for Muslims to kill Non-Muslims. He also mentioned about forthcoming attacks in America, and President Bush should be killed. He even said he loved Osama bin Laden more than himself. I think that we need to assassinate all of these extremist right now!

Answer 6

No the same thing - just 2 different terms for the same extremists

Answer 7

A muslim is someone who is of the faith of Islam.

An Islamic extremist is someone who has had his country invaded or bombed and seeks revenge.

Answer 8

no difference, Islam is the name of the religion Muslims follow.

Answer 9

The difference of Pineapple and Pineapple Juice

Answer 10

LOl yes... there is...

Muslims just believe in a religion called Islam..

Islamic extremists believe in nothing but themselves, terror and mass destruction.... just like Bush and Blair!!