American Imperialism And Islam Essay

The 9/11 terror attacks in New York City thrust Islam to the forefront of the western world. Islamic militancy gained global recognition and a discourse began on the Islamist movement. In the weeks following the attacks, public perception of Islamic violence, Jihad, and Islam were blurred by the media. This confusion created an aura of distinction, fueling nationalism and reigniting the West vs. East debate. Despite this, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US government remained firm. The ideological differences between the countries have manifested themselves in the forms of American Imperialism and Saudi Wahhabism. The rise of Islamic Fundamentalism is a result of both Saudi Arabia and the United States trying to advance their separate goals while …show more content…
Whereas most Muslim scholars throughout history have outlined apostates as people who clearly leave Islam by declaring themselves non-Muslims or rejecting key tenets of Islam, jihadis claim that any leader who will not will implement and follow shariah law is an apostate. Whereas most scholars reject violent uprisings to purge rulers as long as they permit the basic tenets of Islam, jihadis believe it 's a divine duty to wage jihad against rulers who refuse to implement the radicals ' interpretation of shariah law. Whereas there is a general acceptance throughout Islamic history that civilians shouldn 't be targeted in war, Al Qaeda has interpreted the term "civilian" in such a way to classify every person living in a Western democracy subject to attack (reinforced by a doctrine of proportional response that requires Muslims to kill countless Americans). Although there is broad support for the utilization of suicide bombings, Al Qaeda has extended its use to include attacks on innocent civilians in Western countries instead of simply military or political