by Lakshmi Swami

Created on: December 15, 2009   Last Updated: October 22, 2010

Terror of the type that we see today is a modern weapon of threat.  Even the Maoists started this in India. Burning property and life is something happening every time whenever the enemies of peace want to draw the attention of the government.

Government is slow because of certain procedures that are to be followed.  This is the problem in a democracy. When democracy just remains a nomenclature; when  not put in practice, people revolt.  Promises are forgotten the moment elections are over. Democracy should be a partnership between people and the Government. When there is no active people’s participation all problems will come out.

Terrorism is disapproval of something using violence to create an atmosphere of panic. Terrorism is not a violent mob, killing people; it has the backing of countries with money and guns. It grows and if things are not in favour of people. The agitation turns violent  and the Government wakes up.

Terrorist is a word today associated with Islam. I heard a Muslim Priest who was invited to speak on an occasion to an eager audience. He expanded Islam: ‘I’ stands for Islam I , ‘S’ stands for shall, ‘L’ stands for love, ‘A’ stands for all, ‘M’ stands for mankind. in other words I (SHALL) L(LOVE)  A (all) M (MANKIND)

If someone says that Quran preached violence, it is difficult to comprehend. Islam is second next largest spread out religion after Christianity in the world.  From this it is obvious that Islam and violence are contradictory.

Mohammed  used to go out walking along the street for Namaz .(Offering prayers) every evening.. There was a house on the way in a street through which he used to pass through. 

There was a woman living in the house who waited for him to pass through. As he was just crossing her house, she used to throw the garbage on his head collected for this purpose from the terrace. She was doing this every day.

One day as Mohammed was passing through the street, the garbage did not fall. Mohammed was concerned. He thought the person might have gone out. The next day the garbage did not fall. This happened for two more days.

Mohammed was worried. He went up the house and he heard groans coming from the room. He went in and saw the woman suffering from acute pain in the throat and running high fever.

He at once brought a Hakim (a doctor) and showed the woman and he gave medicine and asked Mohammed to keep a watch. Mohammed spent sleepless nights guarding her and attending on her.

The woman throwing garbage on him was shaken with shame for the acts of sin she had  committed. She knelt down at his feet and begged for forgiveness. He didn’t wait to hear anything from her. He left the place being happy that she had completely recovered. The woman was one of Mohammed’s first devotees.

 Mohammed was full of compassion and love. Terror is associated with hatred not connected with religion though it is professed that way. Terrorism is vomiting hatred, jealousy and cynicism.

If Jesus Christ Was crucified, this is worse than beheading. To curb terrorism is not just use terror methods but to educate those who have gone astray. A group of right thinking people should make an attempt to deal with countries that help them with arms, money and protection. First we have to deal with them and then terrorism could be eliminated. 

Learn more about this author, Lakshmi Swami.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.