Charlie Kirk was very unpopular among us Muslims, and not without reason, given his preconceived and ideological hostility against Islām. On the other hand, at least here in the editorial staff of Swordless Jihād, we may have made the mistake of underestimating him, of not fully understanding the relevance of his figure.
We considered him just another “Islamophobe”, like so many others, whereas in fact, reflecting more deeply after his death, Charlie Kirk had something different.
From a young man born and raised in such an extremist cultural environment as that of the American evangelical Christians, it was hardly possible to expect a more open and respectful attitude toward Islām. The allegation of “Islamofascism”, repeated again and again like a slogan, shows how much misguidance had been instilled into his mind and heart.
Yet, on closer inspection, there was light in him. A light long hidden in the dark, which has begun to shine more and more each day since his assassination, illuminating aspects that could not previously be glimpsed.
Indeed, Charlie Kirk had much in common with Muslims. First and foremost, his attachment to God. A mistaken God, yes, with a completely distorted vision of religion. At the same time, the fact that he deeply felt the call from above made him similar to the Muslims he lashed out against, with whom he also shared a vision of family and morality.
This means that, in an age of overwhelming jahiliyyah such as the one Western countries are going through, the flame of the fitra in Charles Kirk was alive and active, perhaps even more intensely than in many of us Muslims.
Barely thirty, he also showed great intellectual honesty by publicly revising his positions on the burning issue of Israel and Palestine, throwing off the blinders of the pro-Zionism typical of his background. This is a major development that ‘indicates how he was in the midst of a process of change in search of the “straight path”.
Had Allāh swt willed, all the conditions were in place for Charlie Kirk to return to Islām.
His soul then suddenly came into the presence of the ar-Raḥmān and ar-Raḥīm. Whether the Best of Judges accepted him or not, we do not know. But behind the terrible end of his brief earthly existence, there may be concealed a divine “sign”, reminding us that “truth” is often found beyond appearances.
Jihād senza Spada 