Tragedy stuck Paris a few days ago. ISIS wreaked havoc, murdering 129 innocent civilians and injuring many more. It is a time of mourning, so I am not particularly satisfied to divert our attention from that. But, to be sure, I write this piece not to win a theological debate. Rather, I write because I fear anti-Muslim bigotry rising in the West after this attack.

This is not the time for knee-jerk reactions. Yes, we have to encounter the threat of Islamofascism without being apologists. However, to say that ISIS represents “true Islam” and ignoring the vast majority of Muslims who do condemn terrorism is to play right into the hands of ISIS. We must not give them the religious legitimacy they so crave.

This is a must-watch discussion between Mehdi Hasan and Graeme Wood (author of the Atlantic piece “What ISIS really wants”)

RELATED:

Yes, You Are Taking Those Verses Out of Context

ISIS & Islam: An Atheist Examines A Simplistic Meme