:bism:
Majority of Muslims in the world are moderate and will never support any kind of terrorism. However, there is a minority of Muslims, who have a DIY type of philosophy in regards to Islam and do self-interpretation of Quran and ahadith (prophetic traditions) to justify the unjustifiable.
So, from my humble understanding, I should emphasize Islam is not at fault, and yet the extremist type of Islamic interpretation that started spreading in Arabia in the 18th and 19th centuries that I call Wahabbism had a tribal type of worldview in regards to non-Muslims, and of course, the interpretation was supported by Saudi Arabia because the regime wanted to ensure that they remain in power and that their actions are not called into question even if they indulge in un-Islamic actions. However, what I expect and see is that even Saudi Arabia did not anticipate the consequences of spreading this type of extreme interpretation of Islam, as some persons practicing Wahhabism or Salafism in our modern age are undoubtedly hateful and more easily persuaded into joining Islamic militants to commit un-Islamic actions under the guise of avenging lost Muslim lives elsewhere in the world and supporting purist Islam. Islamic scholars by consensus in the Muslim world have globally condemned and continue to condemn terrorism, suicide bombing. However, what terrorist organizations believe and say is that Islamic scholars who have taken this position are "sell-outs" and only they [terrorist organization members] are on true Islam and "haqq" ("truth"). They also say that the Muslims who do not support them are either pusillanimous, ignorant, villainous, deviant, modernist, sell-outs, or not Muslim.
To be honest, I think you'll find it hard (not saying impossible but definitely hard) to find books that offer balanced views because unfortunately the terrorist organizations' evil actions mean that all Muslims and Islam are tarred with the same brush and found guilty without a trial in the court of public opinion, not to mention that there is an easy money-making enterprise available in authoring Islamophobic literature or blogs. Also, the liberals or other like-minded individuals who try to voice their objection to stereotyping Muslims or Islam are considered sell-outs by ring-wingers or populists who are unequivocally not abashed about calling such individuals who are destroying the country. So, if I find any balanced literature, I'd definitely love to share with you; however, mostly, I have seen an overflowing of the opposite literature that seeks to say that Muslims and Islam are bad and evil and must be dealt with or even annihilated (in extreme literature).
So, sorry, bro, it's not going to be easy for you to sift through books to find balanced views; however, that said, I wish you resounding success on the endeavor.
Majority of Muslims in the world are moderate and will never support any kind of terrorism. However, there is a minority of Muslims, who have a DIY type of philosophy in regards to Islam and do self-interpretation of Quran and ahadith (prophetic traditions) to justify the unjustifiable.
So, from my humble understanding, I should emphasize Islam is not at fault, and yet the extremist type of Islamic interpretation that started spreading in Arabia in the 18th and 19th centuries that I call Wahabbism had a tribal type of worldview in regards to non-Muslims, and of course, the interpretation was supported by Saudi Arabia because the regime wanted to ensure that they remain in power and that their actions are not called into question even if they indulge in un-Islamic actions. However, what I expect and see is that even Saudi Arabia did not anticipate the consequences of spreading this type of extreme interpretation of Islam, as some persons practicing Wahhabism or Salafism in our modern age are undoubtedly hateful and more easily persuaded into joining Islamic militants to commit un-Islamic actions under the guise of avenging lost Muslim lives elsewhere in the world and supporting purist Islam. Islamic scholars by consensus in the Muslim world have globally condemned and continue to condemn terrorism, suicide bombing. However, what terrorist organizations believe and say is that Islamic scholars who have taken this position are "sell-outs" and only they [terrorist organization members] are on true Islam and "haqq" ("truth"). They also say that the Muslims who do not support them are either pusillanimous, ignorant, villainous, deviant, modernist, sell-outs, or not Muslim.
To be honest, I think you'll find it hard (not saying impossible but definitely hard) to find books that offer balanced views because unfortunately the terrorist organizations' evil actions mean that all Muslims and Islam are tarred with the same brush and found guilty without a trial in the court of public opinion, not to mention that there is an easy money-making enterprise available in authoring Islamophobic literature or blogs. Also, the liberals or other like-minded individuals who try to voice their objection to stereotyping Muslims or Islam are considered sell-outs by ring-wingers or populists who are unequivocally not abashed about calling such individuals who are destroying the country. So, if I find any balanced literature, I'd definitely love to share with you; however, mostly, I have seen an overflowing of the opposite literature that seeks to say that Muslims and Islam are bad and evil and must be dealt with or even annihilated (in extreme literature).
So, sorry, bro, it's not going to be easy for you to sift through books to find balanced views; however, that said, I wish you resounding success on the endeavor.
