ISIL terror group is the cancer of Islam

Editor,

According to the urban dictionary, a frenemy is “an enemy disguised as a friend.”

Muslims all over the world should familiarize themselves with this definition because there are groups and organizations pretending to be the friends of Muslims and of Islam when in fact they are like a cancer.

ISIL is the latest manifestation of this phenomenon, whereby they claim to be standing up for Muslims and Islam when in fact they are only causing harm to Muslims.

It has been said that there is nothing new under the sun, and ISIL is not the first group of Muslims who went astray in the name of zealotry. In the early history of Islam there was a group of Muslims called the Khawaraj who made it lawful to kill other Muslims simply because of religious differences. The Prophet Muhammad called these people “the dogs of hell.” ISIL is simply the modern day reincarnation of this unfortunate phenomenon, and Muslims should treat them as such.

It is unfortunate that, due to the legacy of colonialism and racism in the Middle East by Western nations, some naive Muslims might look upon ISIL as being the defenders of Islam. This idea is logically impossible because the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad have both clearly forbidden Muslims from killing innocent civilians whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. ISIL is the very definition of a frenemy when it comes to Islam and Muslims.

Sincerely,

Muhajir Romero

UNM Student