"Muslims must depart from the literal reading of the Koran in order to create a jihad-free Islamic world," says one Muslim turned Christian scholar.
Dr Nabeel Qureshi, author of "Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward", has studied the passages of the Koran and the traditions of Muhammad's life to understand what fuels Muslim radicalisation and compels groups like the Islamic State (ISIS) to violently wage war against "enemies" of their faith.
He outlined his thoughts in a column for USA Today in the wake of bombings last week in Belgium that killed over 30 people.
ISIS claimed the attacks were a retaliation for Belgium's role against militants in Syria and Iraq. In their statement claiming responsibility, the group claimed that "dark days" were ahead for countries allied against the Islamic State and that "what is coming is worse and more bitter."
In his column, Dr Qureshi said the radicalisation of young Muslims has become easier for extremists because of the internet. While the full text of the Koran was not readily available before for older Muslims and interpretation was left to the imams, the internet has made it easier to access the full book and leaves young Muslims to translate and understand the text literally, even passages that depict violence mainly found in Surah 9, which commands to disavow all treaties with polytheists and to subjugate Jews and Christians (9.29) so that Islam may "prevail over all religions" (9.33).
This chapter, which is often cited by extremists in their declarations of war, calls on Muslims to fight lest their faith be called into question. It also says that those who do fight are entitled to the spoils of war or heaven through martyrdom.
"ISIL's primary recruiting technique is not social or financial but theological. With frequent references to the highest sources of authority in Islam, the Quran and hadith (the collection of the sayings of the prophet Muhammad), ISIL enjoins upon Muslims their duty to fight against the enemies of Islam and to emigrate to the Islamic State once it has been established," he explained.
The scholar further said that the literal interpretation of the Koran without the aid of the imams is dangerous as it sidetracks tradition, leaving impressionable Muslims exposed to the violence of jihad without anyone guiding them towards the proper context and expression of their faith.
Dr Qureshi suggested the sharing of alternative world views as a counter to radicalisation, reflecting on his own experience when a Christian friend suggested Islam did not have to be his only choice. He subsequently opened himself up to the Gospel.
"As more and more Western Muslims encounter ISIL's claims and the surprising violence in their own tradition, many will be looking for ways out of the moral quandary this poses for them. We need to be equipped to provide alternatives to violent jihad, alternatives that address the root of why so many Muslims are radicalising in the first place. Any solution, political or otherwise, that overlooks the spiritual and religious roots of jihad can have only limited effectiveness," he said.
