Editors' Note: This article is translated from an op-ed from Opinion@CommonWealth

Please, Separate ISIS from Islam.

"Because ISIS is not the Face of Islam."

The world is in denial about the fact that Islamic part should be dehyphenated from terrorism. At the time when the Islamic State of Iraq and Syiria (ISIS) or simply Islamic State, used the holy text in the Qur'an to justify their violent measure, it is disingenuous to pretend that this violence is unrelated to the faith. 

We know that ISIS started reaching outward from the flare of internal politics between Iraq and Syria. It started on 9th April 2013 and had Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi as a Chaliphate or leader. Of course this government still is unilateral because both in the country of Iraq and Syria or other countries do not admit the existence of ISIS. 

Lately, ISIS continues to make news by violating Islam and human rights. The list of horror is a long one. Sadly, it also exposes our collective failure as humanity to respond appropriately to extremism. ISIS keeps on setting their agenda, which highlights our ineptness in the process.

For example, ISIS has been forcing ethnic Yazidi women into sexual slavery, which they say is an act of precedence for historical reasons. This is absolutely an absurd and false claim. The truth is that from a doctrinal, the Islamic perspective should see this as an affront to the natural state of freedom which God endowed to human beings when He created them. That is tied to the first pillar of Islam (declaration of faith). All human are equal before God and are distinguished only by their own behavior.

In fact, the Qur'an advocated for a departure from this age-old practice of human bondage. It calls for the just and humane treatment of slaves as human beings, not property. It also encouraged the act of freeing slaves, by seeing it as an act of worship. Slavery is out-lawed  throughout the world and should never be reconsidered if we accept liberation as the most important value of Islam. 

So how can groups such as ISIS still use this outdated dogma to rationalize murder and rape, and to create a facade of religious legitimacy?

The trouble comes from the fact that organizations such as ISIS cherry-pick tribal customs, then apply an Islamic veneer to rationalize them. And it is this deliberate muddying of reality that lies at the heart of struggling ideas within the muslim in the world today. ISIS tries to exploit misunderstanding of doctrine to further carry out their own agendas. Yet while some muslim scholars have spoken out against ISIS's false claim, others are rather silent on the issue of abolishing such outrageous practices. Or worse: they suggest that if muslims demand, it will be considered a sin.

We abandon practices that should be consigned to history. Modern form of slavery, such as concubinage and human trafficking.

Indeed, Islam as a religion developed for reforming the society and to elevate its norms and cultural practices to become closer to the Qur'anic ideals of freedom and equality. So the original essence of Islam is to bring dignity to humanity. To bring mercy to the world, and to establish justice in the land within which we reside. Islam should be seen as a breath of fresh air, a refuge from war and persecution, whether at the hands of religious or secular rulers.

Muslims must do everything they can to break away from misogynist, maniacal, maddening practices that are dressed up like Islamic. And Muslims must not cease to do more to define Islam to the public, rather than simply responding to each outrage elicited by an extremist group. 

Islam is about free thinking. Anything that runs counter to such freedom of thought, runs counter will of God. As the Qur'an states that God command justice and goodness and generosity, He forbids all that is shameful and what runs counter to reason. Islamic jurisprudence is not a rigid and immutable law based on unchanging rules written centuries ago. Instead, it is a flexible and dynamic jurisprudence that is fully compatible with the modern human rights framework.

Mainstream, to understand Islam, you must see them as the standard-bearer of the faith (Qur'an and Hadith) who are on the side of anyone who is oppressed and suffering.

Editor's note: We do our best to preserve the voice of the original author. Only certain parts of the article were altered or rephrased in order to convey the meaning more clearly. Most of the grammatical structures stay the same.

Opinion@CommonWealth website is a sub-channel of CommonWealth Magazine. Founded in January 2013 with its main focus on social, humanity and policy issues and opinions, Opinion@CommonWealth is dedicated to building a democratic, diverse platform where multi opinions can be presented.

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