Extremism and the battle of concepts

Abstract EN

This article deals with the issue of extremism, on which much research has been written in the East and West, and in Islamic and Western thought as well.

The various aspects, dimensions and manifestations of this concept have been analyzed and studied.

It has been brought to my attention that researchers usually focus on the real and political dimension in approaching this phenomenon without contemplating the early stages that precede the emergence of extremism in reality, especially at the level of psychological and cognitive awareness, then the level of language and discourse.

There, extremism arises in the form of feelings, emotions, and reactions before it is translated into concrete behaviors and practices.

This article has been limited to the field of language and discourse, where something like a battle of concepts, symbols and signs occurs.

Usually it is marked by semantic ambiguity, incorrect interpretation, and ideological use.

Therefore, the terms fundamentalism, radicalism and extremism, which are often used with the same connotation despite the visible difference between them, are investigated.

The correct meaning of the term extremism has been defined at the lexical and theological level, which reveals its incompatibility with the tolerant and moderate spirit of Islam.

This meaning is almost absent in some Western media and intellectual discourse, where concepts such as fundamentalism, orthodoxy, radicalism and extremism are confused.

Also, extremism is seldom presented as an unacceptable practice in Islam that is rejected by the Qur’an, Sunnah, the consensus of scholars and Islamic culture.