Historian Builds Understanding of Islamic World

By Kari Hawkins, AMCOMJune 10, 2015

Better Understanding of Islam
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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Understanding the beliefs of the world's religions can go a long way to understanding cultures that differ from the American way of life.

That is most evident when comparing Judeo-Christian principles with the Islamic view of the world, according to Aviation and Missile Command historian Russ Rodgers. While American culture is heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs, the culture of the world's Muslims is based on the Islamic laws passed on to followers by the ancient prophet Muhammad.

And understanding those laws is essential to being able to understand the Muslim culture, said Rodgers, who has spent years conducting historical research into world religions. During a presentation June 2 that is part of AMCOM's "Religion and …" lunch-and-learn series hosted by AMCOM's Chaplain's Office, Rodgers gave a brief introduction into the Islamic world view, which is part of a more involved Islamic world view course that he has taught several times to units of Soldiers preparing to deploy to the Middle East.

"How many Soldiers deploy to the Middle East who know something of Islam?" Rodgers asked the estimated 30 AMCOM employees at the lunch and learn. "They are told not to talk about religion or politics. But if they know the history of Islam, they can at least talk to Muslim citizens and make decisions intelligently. And they could actually make a friend because they've taken the time to at least understand something about being Muslim."

In the Islamic world, faith is based on acts more than it is a mental acknowledgement of belief, he said. And, while the Judeo-Christian world recognizes a separation between the religious and secular aspects of life, the Islamic culture does not, he said.

In the West, the religious aspect of life includes a person's family and congregation, and the secular aspect of life includes culture, politics, business and the media. But in the Islamic world, all aspects of life are ruled, first, by religion and, second, by men.

Judeo-Christian believers "separate our world into two compartments. We live a certain way in one place but we might not live a certain way in another place. With Islam, everything you do is connected to your world. Islam and almost every other religion has this integrated world view," Rodgers said.

This basic difference, he said, can lead to a clash of law systems.

Rodgers went on to explain that there are three stages in the history of Islam as practiced by the prophet Muhammad and followed by Muslims today. The first stage involves the tolerance of other beliefs, the second stage involves using a defense posture to fend off any antagonizers and the third involves taking an offensive posture to impose submission to Islam and its laws.

"I believe the Islamic world view was not about converting everyone to Islam. It's about submission to the Islamic law system," Rodgers said. "You don't have to convert. But you must abide by Islamic law, and those who don't convert (but live in a nation governed by Islamic law) must pay a tax that can be as high as 80 percent."

Practicing Muslims' view of the West, Rodgers said, is manifested in several observations, including:

• They love Western technology, but not Western philosophy or ideas. "They will say 'We like your computers. We like your cars.' But they don't want the philosophies or ideas that created those things," Rodgers said. "In the West, we can develop and create new things because people are free to create new things."

• They oppose the ideas of free markets and capitalism, preferring instead the philosophy behind socialism.

• They avoid social intermingling with the West. They only interact socially on their terms.

• They tend to "cocoon," keeping themselves away from society in general. "This happens within other ethnic and religious groups that are part of the American culture. But these other groups eventually integrate into the Western world through the generations," Rodgers said.

• They view "reform" and "revivalist" concepts differently. "In the Western world, we view reform as we are on the right track, but let's make a few changes to be better, and revival as significant changes we make to bring something back into being," Rodgers said. "Muslims see these terms in an opposite way. They view reform as abandoning the Qur'an and the Shari'ah, and revival as returning to the days of Muhammad and his companions."

Although much of Islam is not easily incorporated into the Western culture, Rodgers did say that Judeo-Christian believers can learn one thing from Muslims: how to take their faith seriously every day.

Prayer, contemplation, good works -- all are positive aspects of Islam. But, Rodgers said, the way Muslims learn and apply their ideas on faith are questionable.

"If you want to walk or learn Islam, then you need to follow the companions of Muhammad. But sometimes things will be done without question simply because it was done by Muhammad or his companions," he said.

For some Muslims, they learn their faith through a process called "taqlid," meaning blind following.

For other Muslims, they learn through a process called "ijtihad," meaning to struggle with the Islamic writings to find the true meaning and to live that meaning.

"Ijithad is a revival of personal interpretation and what we are finding is that ijithad will move a Muslim more toward violent acts," Rodgers said.

Often, ijithad becomes radicalization, he said, adding that he has seen followers of moderate imans (a Muslim priest) break off from the moderate group to interpret Islam teachings into a radicalized movement. And when there are challenges within a nation -- such as water and food shortages, and less oil production -- the radicalization can become more extreme.

"When you submit to Islam, it is much like a contract where you give your life for something in return," Rodgers said. "Islam is very different form Christianity or the Judeo-Christian world view that allows for the forgiveness of sins when a believer becomes right with God and when a sacrifice -- such as Christ -- is made.

"The Islam world view is more like a set of scales with good deeds on one side and evil deeds on another. When they die, all Muslims will spend time in hell fire for bad deeds, but the amount of time in hell fire is decided by how many bad deeds versus good deeds. The Jihad act -- being a martyr -- is the only thing that will instantly release a Muslim to paradise, that will allow them to bypass hell fire to get to paradise. And a person who is extremely guilt ridden on the scales might choose to become a martyr so they can go to paradise."

Rodgers said there are numerous Islamic writings that support this philosophy. Actions that can purify a Muslim's heart include going on a pilgrimage, paying a tax, fasting, participating in daily prayer, fighting for Allah (God) and being a martyr for the cause of Allah.

"There are plenty of Muslim moderates who are asking the question 'Are we really Muslim according to Muhammad?' They're redefining Islam for themselves. Some Muslims practice tolerance and others want to force all citizens to follow the Isl