Tom Holland on the Birth of Islam: What is Islam

The video explores the dual nature of Islam as both peaceful and militaristic, contributing to its success as a civilization. It discusses the historical and contemporary tensions between Islam and Western liberal democracy, highlighting the lack of interest from Muslim scholars in the West and the shock of Western military and cultural dominance. The narrative covers the impact of Westernization on Islamic identity and law, leading to a rise in Jihadi Salafism, which seeks to purify Islam by returning to its origins. The video concludes with the notion that these movements aim to benefit humanity by aligning with divine approval.

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