The crucial difference between Islam and Islamism

The difference between Islam and Islamism

Islam and Islamism are often conflated, but they represent fundamentally different ideas. Islam is a personal faith practiced by nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, focused on worship, ethics, and community. Islamism, on the other hand, is a political ideology that seeks to impose a strict interpretation of Islam on all aspects of society, often in direct opposition to democratic values.

What is Islam?

Islam is the faith followed by nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, guiding personal beliefs and shaping cultural and social practices. For most, Islam remains a personal, spiritual journey centered on worship, ethics, and community.

As Christians, we recognize commonalities between our two religions: a shared patriarch in Abraham, a commitment to monotheism, and a joint affirmation of traditional values.

What is Islamism?

Islamism is a radical, modern political ideology that seeks to extend Islamic principles into all aspects of government, law, and daily life. Unlike Islam, which is primarily a personal faith, Islamism aims to control every aspect of society, often clashing with democratic values like individual rights and freedoms.

Islamists view the West as a corrupting force, advocating a return to a “pure” form of Islam that echoes the practices of Islam in the 7th c. to achieve their vision of an Islamic state.

Islamism and violence

Islamism promotes the use of violence to achieve its ideological goals, linking itself to the concept of jihad, which in this context refers to a militant struggle rather than the spiritual striving central to Islam.

Islamist groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, and others adopt this militant interpretation to justify acts of terrorism against those they deem enemies, including Western nations, moderate Muslims, Christians, Jews, and more.

By framing their cause as a divine battle, these groups attract followers and perpetuate violence under the guise of religious duty, making Islamism a global threat that distorts Islamic teachings for extremists.

Islamism clashes with Western values

Islamism poses a significant threat to the fabric of Western societies by challenging foundational values such as democracy, freedom of expression, and individual rights. Unlike Islam, which allows for diverse interpretations and integration into a variety of cultures, Islamism promotes a rigid worldview that rejects secular governance and Western ideals.

Islamist influence in the West pressures some Muslim immigrants to embrace more radical ideologies, leading to tension within communities and the erosion of social cohesion. By encouraging isolation and promoting anti-Western sentiment, Islamism seeks to undermine the principles of pluralism and inclusivity that are central to Western societies.

The Iranian regime’s imperialism and Islamism

Iran has become a major force in advancing Islamism through an imperialist agenda across the Middle East and beyond. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran’s leadership has promoted a strict Islamist ideology, aiming to export its revolutionary model to other countries. Through proxies like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militias in Iraq and Syria, Iran spreads influence by destabilizing governments, supporting terrorism, and fueling sectarian conflict.

This aggressive strategy not only extends Iran’s power but also spreads the influence of Islamism, posing a threat to regional stability, Western allies, and global security by emboldening extremist factions aligned with its agenda.

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