What is the historical thrust of Islam? Is that a benchmark to determine what is "normative" for Islam?

Reader comment on item: More on the Term "Islamic Fascists"

Submitted by Stephen (United States), Aug 14, 2006 at 22:26

Hello Daniel!
Given the historical thrust of Islam, is it not fair to say that Al-Qaeda
and the "Islamists" would correlate closer to that thrust than most other
Muslims alive today? That would mean that your average American Muslim
today is the aberration (albeit one for which I am thankful), not the norm.

regards,
Stephen Keeler

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Daniel Pipes replies:

No, they have taken Islam in unprecedented directions, bringing an ideological perspective than never existed before. Two examples:

(1) The burgeoning field of "Islamic economics," something that a century ago did not even exist.

(2) The major changes to the concept of jihad - on which, see "Jihad through History."