It's all about salafi/wahabhism religious school education. I came from an ethiopian family who practiced Sufism, lots of ethiopian Muslims practice Sufism, it's a sect that is quite peacefully (when compared to Major Religious sects such as salafi Wahhabism) and its spirituality centric, there's a reason why despite being 40 million Muslims in Ethiopia, we don't have a problem of terrorism and extremism, actually Christians and Muslims got along fine for centuries in Ethiopia.
Now Not many Muslim parent teach their children islamic principles and most will put their children in madrasas or weekend islamic schools to learn about their faith. I went to an ethiopian Sufi madrasa, teachers tought Arabic but also taught islamic philosophy and the nuances of the Quran and hadeeths, lessons were centred on interpretation and context of quran revelation and philosophy. For example our teachers would recite a verse talking about "killing the infidels" and would explain the context of these verses being in wars and self defence against malevolent judeo christian tribes at the times of the prophet and how in peaceful times, Muslims are obligated to respect and foster healthy relations with other faiths, backed by verses in the Quran and hadeeths. Islamic Sufi education was mainly about becoming a spiritual and better person and being closer to god.tgere wasn't much focus on the malevolent and violent parts of the Quran.
I think when I was 13, my mother enrolled my siblings in salafi/Wahhabism based madrasah as they were cheaper(Saudi Arabia funds salafi/Wahhabism education around the world), and what I noticed in these lessons were a focus on non inclusiveness and hatred. Instead of an emphasis on spirituality, teachers and sheikhs would focus on literalism and politics, ignoring verses that didn't conform to their divisive ideology. Instead of having group discussions on islamic philosophy and itijihad(interpretation), we were "brainwashed" into believing in singular interpretation of islamic philosophy that was usually violent oriented, and dehumanised non believers. Some even justified terrorism. Students were encouraged to speak badly of the west and the kuffar. Classes were violent aswell, as these teachers would habitually abuse students who weren't conforming, (I was hit for having a "kuffar" haircut). They even taught us that other islamic sects such as Sufism is full of devil worshippers. I think it was during these lessons I found myself hating Islam, until I eventually became agnostic. Today, I don't find it surprising that most terrorism activities are committed by terrorists that are linked to salafi/wahabhism ideology, it's a sect of Islam that is abhorrent and inherently violent and divisive. Most islamic countries that practice Sufism, such as Turkey, Ethiopia, Kurdistan, and other places don't really have a problem of terrorism. Whilst countries such as Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia,Northern Nigeria, Yemen do have endemic extremism as a result of salafi Wahhabism ideology. Lots of notable extremists received free islamic education in Saudi Arabia salafi/wahabism universities, and they are training the next generation of extremist preachers and terrorists today.
Many Sufi mystics agree that salafi/wahabhism has hijacked the islamic faith since the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and Sufi communities are declining as Saudi Arabia brainwashes a new hen of preachers.
Now Not many Muslim parent teach their children islamic principles and most will put their children in madrasas or weekend islamic schools to learn about their faith. I went to an ethiopian Sufi madrasa, teachers tought Arabic but also taught islamic philosophy and the nuances of the Quran and hadeeths, lessons were centred on interpretation and context of quran revelation and philosophy. For example our teachers would recite a verse talking about "killing the infidels" and would explain the context of these verses being in wars and self defence against malevolent judeo christian tribes at the times of the prophet and how in peaceful times, Muslims are obligated to respect and foster healthy relations with other faiths, backed by verses in the Quran and hadeeths. Islamic Sufi education was mainly about becoming a spiritual and better person and being closer to god.tgere wasn't much focus on the malevolent and violent parts of the Quran.
I think when I was 13, my mother enrolled my siblings in salafi/Wahhabism based madrasah as they were cheaper(Saudi Arabia funds salafi/Wahhabism education around the world), and what I noticed in these lessons were a focus on non inclusiveness and hatred. Instead of an emphasis on spirituality, teachers and sheikhs would focus on literalism and politics, ignoring verses that didn't conform to their divisive ideology. Instead of having group discussions on islamic philosophy and itijihad(interpretation), we were "brainwashed" into believing in singular interpretation of islamic philosophy that was usually violent oriented, and dehumanised non believers. Some even justified terrorism. Students were encouraged to speak badly of the west and the kuffar. Classes were violent aswell, as these teachers would habitually abuse students who weren't conforming, (I was hit for having a "kuffar" haircut). They even taught us that other islamic sects such as Sufism is full of devil worshippers. I think it was during these lessons I found myself hating Islam, until I eventually became agnostic. Today, I don't find it surprising that most terrorism activities are committed by terrorists that are linked to salafi/wahabhism ideology, it's a sect of Islam that is abhorrent and inherently violent and divisive. Most islamic countries that practice Sufism, such as Turkey, Ethiopia, Kurdistan, and other places don't really have a problem of terrorism. Whilst countries such as Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia,Northern Nigeria, Yemen do have endemic extremism as a result of salafi Wahhabism ideology. Lots of notable extremists received free islamic education in Saudi Arabia salafi/wahabism universities, and they are training the next generation of extremist preachers and terrorists today.
Many Sufi mystics agree that salafi/wahabhism has hijacked the islamic faith since the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and Sufi communities are declining as Saudi Arabia brainwashes a new hen of preachers.
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let me go back and edit that