'The evil people who planned and carried out this want to divide us as a people'

One London Muslim had a phone call from his parents in Algeria, and he commented, "I think like me they are embarrassed as Muslims about what has happened because we are associated with these people. But this has nothing at all to do with Islam in any form. I do not understand what these people feel or think. All I know is that they are not following the teachings of the Qur'an and are not Muslims.'"

There are a number of things to note here. First and most importantly, as for most Muslims interviewed in this Guardian report, the revulsion of 'everyday' Muslims for the bombings and the genuine perplexity at how this could be construed as Islamic. And then the consequent outrage that they are being associated with it. In the west, we must be careful to act and speak in such a way as not to alienate those who see these acts rightly as heinous crimes. If we react by identifying them with the terrorists and treating them accordingly, then we will play into the hands of Al Qaida by giving cause for radicalisation of the general Muslim population and further separatism. We need to be strengthening the hands of those of good will in the Muslim communities for the common good.

But let's note too the last bit of what was said; "But this has nothing at all to do with Islam in any form. I do not understand what these people feel or think. All I know is that they are not following the teachings of the Qur'an and are not Muslims.'"
Now this is very interesting. First, note the incomprehension; the militant expression of Islam is felt as being very much at odds with their everyday version which they understand as being about prayer, certain issues of morality and lifestyle and responsible citizenship [I think that's broadly fair].

And yet the jihadists maintain that their interpretation of Islam is authentic and that these 'mainstream' Muslims are little bettter than apostates. The jihadist approach is grounded in appeals to the Qur'an, Sunna and Hadith and as such proves persuasive to many converts who want to be authentic Muslims. - A dynamic familiar to Christians also. We westerners are accustomed to religion that 'knows its place' and is normally about loving ones neighbour. So we get scared when it claims to be about government and matters of public morality. Lots of Muslims are a part of traditions that harmonise better with the western mindset in this respect, but it is by no means the only approach. Up until recently, the rulers of Saudi Arabia were funding the Wahhabi approach to Islam which has been the context that produced Bin Laden and is best understood in Christian terms, perhaps, as analogous to the kind of rather fierce and dour Evangelicalism of groups like Reform. Hear me aright here; I'm not saying that Reform are terrorists! Just that the textual earnestness is similar. The terrorist impetus comes from the fact that the Medinan period of Muhammed's ministry is marked by the needs of statecraft and he seems to have made some rather 'bold' [read 'cruel'] decisions at this time which have become canonised as scripture and are rather contradictory to his earlier and eirenic Meccan teachings.

This is Islam's dilemma, the best of their traditions are what is known but the majority are in ignorance of some of the more warlike teachings that the Jihadists draw on.

If you are interested in going a bit further with this, try here.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | 'The evil people who planned and carried out this want to divide us as a people':