How does the early history of islam effect our current War on Terror?

Question

Do you know why islam proclaims Jerusalem one of *their* holy sites?
Do you know why Sunnis and Shi'a fight each other?
Did you know that at one time Christians and Jews were considered lesser allies to islam and their early rulers?
Are you aware that 'infidel' cannot be applied to a Christian according to the Koran?
How rooted in history are islamic atrocities?

In my article, "The Holy City of Jerusalem and the Ummayyad Caliphate," I address the history of atrocities as well as how the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem became a 'sacred' site.

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-DfkctJU7dK5B7LcNROoyVQ--;_ylt=AiNXZokI1G6zowgYXNnJS9m0AOJ3?cq=1

No politics. Only the objective groundtruth from a combat veteran that has been to both fronts of our War on Terror, backed up by independent research and historical study.

Know your enemy!

"Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Vulcan, you make some interesting arguments, even if some of your facts are incorrect.
Ali, the fourth Caliph was very violent.
Al-Malik, the ?7th? Caliph established the Dome of the Rock and Christians and Jews were still living in relative peace throughout their area.

Mohhammed himself ordered murders and assassinations, though I do not cover that in this article.

I agree with your assertation that it was empire building but also assert that religion was used as the mechanism.

Thank you, I do try to be objective in my articles and my questions (though I've been known to attempt provocative questions to drive up participation).

As a sidenote to all, I was expecting more in the way of educated (even if dissenting) answers in the history forum.

And yes, I use the blog to expand the information available, since space here is limited. There is NO financial gain to me, though yahoo is probably pleased with the extra traffic.

Answer 1

hi, i m glad u asked these qs with impartial attitude.
jerusalem is a place holy 4 christian jews n muslims alike...becuz these 3 communities used 2 live there peacefully in hisory..the second supposed caliph Umar started all this fued 2 cleanse the place off jews which was nt a right decision...4 it was not the decision of islam it was the decision of just 1 man who wanted 2 expand his territory.the result is the never ending fued.
shia nation n sunnis dont want 2 fight at all..their small differences r exploited by agnistic communities who call themselves by different names.these try 2 implant fights betwn shia n sunnis...they both r peaceful ppl..intermingle n get married sometimes also..so its another element that call themselves sunnis or shia whereas infact they r none..
yes thats right also is right that islam never initiated fights in history. they were either shammed,a treaty broken by the other parties.
yes..christians r brothers 2 muslims n jews..yes thats right..but the differences in these religions have triggered outside elements in order 2 shatter peace..infidels r not those to whom were sent a book n a prophet by God.
good q!atrocities r nt rooted in islam..they have been forcibly attached 2 the name of islam at a very later period..islam n Mohammad were never atrocious..the islamic law would have gone on peacefully with better judgments had the caliphate not been usurped ..yes that s right..i m not a sunni i m nt a shia i m not a muslim at all..but i know that when we talk of inheritance family comes 1st , n not ppl who join u at a later date in order 2 get something...out of it..atrocities are a recent attachment but those who prefer it r nt regarded as muslims even by muslims themselves.
attrocities began by 2nd caliphate n contd..the 4th caliph tried 2 stop all that n did but the conditions had been so much worsened by the earlier caliphs that a lot damage was already done..the rift between the 3 heavenly religions had come.

Answer 2

If you've not seen it already read God's Terrorists by Charles Allen.

It makes a strong argument that deliberately toying with the meaning of greater and lesser Jihad is the basis for the Wahabbi cult, and in turn much of the Islamist violence.

That if there was better academic understanding of the differences between Sunni and Shia, rather than a sectarian divide, then there would be much more stability in the Middle East.

Islam, like Christianity, can be read as a moral philosophy or as an excuse for violence. Unfortunately Islamic society feels threatened by the west (this may or may not be a justified view) and what we are all getting is violence.

Answer 3

...I think that's the SADDEST part of the situation we find ourselves in- in the Middle East today...-That most of us (Including our Leaders in Washington), have NO IDEA of the history of Islam, & HOW it's affecting EVERYTHING we do- from the Iraqi conflict, to our "war on terrorism", to our dealings with Iran & Pakistan, to the Palistinian situation - you name it! We frankly don't know what we're DOING- in a part of the World we don't understand!

Answer 4

I agree with the advertisement pun. Isn't there a little thing next to where you type that says no spam. :)

Answer 5

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