In Their Words: Islamists and Fundamentalists

Americans often hear the word “Islamist” or “Fundamentalist” and get scared. Certainly, there is a reason to be scared of some people who take those titles, but most Americans have a very fuzzy view of what those titles mean. I have asked people in America what it means for someone to be an “Islamic Fundamentalist,” and usually get an answer that basically says, “They want an Islamic world government.” As if that really said anything.

I interviewed a 22-year-old man in Talas who would definitely fit into the Islamist/Fundamentalist category. He became extremely religious about two years ago. He is now a regular everyday at the mosque. In out discussion, I asked him about the relationship between his religious and his government. I found it enlightening. I’ve included the transcript of that part of our conversation.

You will probably notice that this individual has a limited understanding of things like policy, law, and social inequalities. He’s 22. I think we can forgive him for being a bit naïve. It’s his point of view that I found important.

Researcher: What kind of country should this country be?

Informant: Basically, Kyrgyzstan should be Islamic.

Researcher: What does it mean that a country should be Islamic?

Informant: It’s better when a country is Islamic. It should be like Arabia. Not the way of life…

Researcher: The government.

Informant: Yes.

Researcher: How can you do that?

Informant: First of all, government officials need to be conscientious, living according to Shari’a [Islamic law—comprised of the Q’uran, additional commentary and instruction by the prophet Muhammad, as well as later commentary by religious scholars].

Researcher: If they did that, does that mean they have to have laws that correspond to Shari’a as well?

Informant: Shari’a…I can’t say. I mean, even the Arabs don’t live entirely according to the Q’uran.

Researcher: But they need to try as much as they can to make the laws Shari'a? If that happened, what would happen to the people who didn’t want to accept Islam?

Informant: They’d eventually accept it too.

Researcher: What if they didn’t accept it. I mean, say…

Informant: If the government is good, then the few who don’t accept the religion, those are the poor. In the city they get them to accept another religion by paying them money [this is unfortunately often true—many evangelical Christian denominations have been known to build people new houses if they convert]. Therefore, the people who convert to other religions are basically the poor. If the government is good, they won’t need to accept another religion for money.

Researcher: What if they wanted to accept Christianity or Buddhism, or some other religion. What would happen to them? If this country was Islamic, would there be a place for people who wanted to accept another religion?

Informant: Well, every person has to decide for himself.

Researcher: That means that if a person didn’t want to, he could not be a Muslim, even if the laws were all Shari’a?

Informant: Allah doesn’t force people into religion. He gave people freedom: live your religion, follow the path of Muhhammad and you will go to heaven. There’s no compulsion. If the government is rich, then each person will be rich and understand the religion, follow God, and will know what the other religions are and will not convert to them.

Researcher: And if people don’t live well?

Informant: That’s the situation we’re in now.

Researcher: But if they made the laws all Shari’a, everyone would live well?

Informant: I’m not thinking about the laws. Each person…

Researcher: If each individual person lived according to Shari’a, life would become better?

Informant: Better, yes.