Islam, state, security and peaceful co-existence in Myanmar

• Main Author: Maulana Akbar Shah @ U Tun Aung, Maulana Akbar Shah
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English; English; English; English
• Published: Francis & Taylor Informa UK Limited Trading, Routledge 2021
• Subjects: JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/84571/1/Cover%20Page.JPG; http://irep.iium.edu.my/84571/4/SSPCT%20acceptance%20letter%20-%20Dr%20Akbar%20Maulana.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/84571/19/8451i%20cover%20and%20TOC.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/84571/25/18-Islam%2C%20state%2C%20security%20and%20peaceful%20coexistence-21.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/84571/

World media and leading newspapers express many a time about terrorism and extremism frequently after the event of 9/11, for several groups or factions around the world use violence as a tool against civilian targets to achieve their political objectives. Who are these groups have been terrorizing and why they do so is significant to understand, because the media only highlights those terrorist groups affiliated to the Muslim Ummah and describes Islam as a religion giving birth to terrorism and promotes it. Terrorizing the innocent civilians is totally against humanity, and every religion all over the world denounces such acts indicating the reemergence of barbarism and brutality after the second World War II. This ideology and its implication make further confusion and unimaginable obliteration to Muslims, for they are blamed that Muslim states sponsor radicalism, extremism, and terrorism. It is not fair to accuse the Muslims alone in this connection without thorough research as there are many other possibilities that this ideology and acts may have some relationship to non-other than Islam and Muslim. Therefore, it is essential to know who terrorists are really and what are the criterion and characteristic of the terrorist. Besides, it is also vital to precisely explain the role of Islam that it is a peaceful religion, and there is no reason to point out the emergence of terrorism caused by Islam. This paper aims to explore the pivotal role of Islam in history and the contemporary world while presenting its clear perspectives promotion of good deeds and denouncing the destruction of individuals and society. If the world realizes the true nature of Islam and its values, the citizens of our sphere would live in the state of security and enjoy at a peaceful co-existence. The methodology uses in this research is a qualitative methodology with an analytical search of information and data available at libraries’ documents, books, newspapers, journals and all available media sources.