Islam
and Terrorism
By Ahmed Abdul Mujeeb Nadvi
(M. Owais Jafrey, tr.)
Peace is the basic need for society to prosper
and progress. The Holy Qur’an reminds us
of the two among many of Allah (SWT)’s favors:
One - that He (SWT) provided food to the inhabitants
of a famine stricken land, and (2) that He established
peace and security, where lawlessness was the
law of the land.
Who (Allah) provided them (Qureysh) food in the
days of famine and made them secure against fear.
[106:4]
Lack of security hinders progress; education comes
to a stand still, corruption seeps in, moral degradation
takes charge, and evils like suspicion, mistrust,
hatred, rage, cruelty, bad temper and emotions
create a hell on earth. Any individual with essential
human goodness and common sense should naturally
be concerned on such a state of affairs. No faith,
ideology or religion condones aggression and approves
inflicting pain on innocent civilians. Such acts
can originate only from a sick mind.
The edifice of Islamic society rests on two words
“Momin” and “Muslim”,
both reflect Islam’s emphasis on peace and
security. “Momin” is rooted in “Amn”,
that is peace. It means that Momin is a person
who secures peace for others and none of his words
or acts contradict peace. Muslim is rooted in
“silm”, which means “peace”,
“harmony” and “reconciliation”.
Hence a Muslim is a person who seeks peace and
provides security and safety to others. There
are many traditions of our beloved Prophet (SAW)
emphasizing the peace-loving nature of a Muslim.
He (SAW) said that he is a real Momin whose neighbors
are safe and live in peace. (Bukhari).
From the Islamic point of view, suicide and terrorism
are totally forbidden and Haraam. The Creator
of the heavens and the earth while commissioning
man as His vicegerent on earth commanded him to
keep the earth free of “fitna” mischief
and “fasaad”, brawl, discord, intrigue,
wickedness, riot, and war. Whoever commits and
incites others to indulge in such evil and Haraam
acts works against the very spirit of Islam. He
cannot and should not be called a Muslim by any
stretch of imagination. Allah (SWT) says in the
Holy Qur’an:
“…Be good to others as Allah has been
good to you, and do not seek mischief in the land,
for Allah does not love the mischief makers.”
[28:77]
Anyone who disrupts the peace either in his individual
or national interest is condemnable and punishable
in the sight of man and his Creator. The Qur’an
says:
“The punishment for those who wage war against
Allah and His Rasool and strive to create mischief
in the land is death or crucifixion or the cutting
off their hands and feet from opposite sides or
exile from the land (based on the gravity of their
offense)…”
[5:33]
In today’s democratic world, there is a
distinction between man and man. Rules of justice
and fair play are flexible and they vary from
man to man and nation to nation. The Holy Qur’an
holds the Law supreme without any distinction
of faith, color or nationality. Its total impartiality
is mentioned as such:
“O believers! Retaliation is prescribed
for you in the cases of murder: a free man for
a free man, a slave for a slave, and a female
for a female. But if anyone is pardoned by his
aggrieved brother, then blood money should be
decided according to the common law and payment
should be made with gratitude. This is the concession
and a mercy from your Rabb. Now, whoever exceeds
the limits after this, shall have a painful punishment.”
[3:178]
In yet another place the Holy Qur’an says:
“We ordained in Torah for them: A life for
life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an
ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth and for a
wound an equal retaliation. But if anyone remits
the retaliation by way of charity it will be an
act of atonement for him; those who do not judge
by the law which Allah has revealed, they are
the wrongdoers.” [5:45].
To take someone’s life is a rebellion against
the commands of Allah (SWT) and His Messenger.
To take law in one’s own hand and kill a
person is like killing the entire humanity. The
Holy Qur’an says:
“…We ordained for the children of
Israel that whoever kills a person, except as
a punishment for murder or mischief in the land,
it will be written in his book of deeds as if
he had killed all the human beins, and whoever
will save a life shall be regarded as if he gave
life to all the human beings…” [5:32]
During the life of the Prophet (SAW), when a Muslim
killed a non-Muslim, he was consequently killed
in Qisaas. He (SAW) said: “I will honor
the pledge of a non-Muslim, if he fulfills it.”
To him (SAW), the blood of a Muslim and that of
a non-Muslim was equal. The blood money of a Muslim
and that of a non-Muslim was also the same and
equal.
In the sight of Islam and that of its Prophet
(SAW), the respect and value of the wealth and
property of a Muslim and non-Muslim is the same.
He (SAW) said that it is not legal to unjustly
acquire, possess or confiscate the money and property
of a non-Muslim. This command, it should be remembered,
was given at the time of the battle of Kheybar
when after victory some Muslims tried to take
advantage of the situation. Similarly punishment
for theft is applicable in the same measure to
both, the Muslims and non-Muslims. It is Islam,
which defined the value of human life and taught
its respect. The Holy Qur’an uprooted the
very basis of preference of race and religion
by declaring that the entire humanity is the progeny
of one man, Adam (AS). The Holy Qur’an says:
“It is Our favor that We have honored the
children of Adam, blessed them with conveyances
on land and sea, provided them with good and pure
things and exalted them above many of Our creatures.”
[17:70]
The Qur’an emphasizes justice by declaring
that evil of a certain man or group should not
lead you to avoid justice. There should be no
element of bias or prejudice while justice is
administered.
“O believers! Be steadfast for the sake
of Allah and bear true witness and let not the
enmity of a people incite you to do injustice;
do justice; that is nearer to piety. Fear Allah,
surely Allah is fully aware of all your actions.”
[5:8]
With regards to religion, a degree of high restrain
and patience has been commanded.
“Say, Ya Muhammad: Would you dispute with
us concerning Allah, Who is our Rabb and your
Rabb as well? We shall be accountable to Him for
our deeds and you for yours; to Him alone we are
devoted.” [2:139]
Islam doesn’t permit to punish one person
for the crime of some one else, and to persecute
many unrelated uninvolved people for the crime
of a few.
“No bearer of a burden will bear another’s
burden, and if a heavy laden person cries out
for help, none will come forward to share the
least of his burden, even though he be a close
relative…” [35:18]
History attests that Prophet (SAW) has shown the
world an unparalleled example of mercy, kindness
and forgiveness when he entered Makkah as a conqueror.
You may recall that he (SAW) and his companions
were abused, persecuted, tormented and driven
away from their homes. Their wealth and property
were confiscated. Many of them were tortured to
death. That is why while defeating the Makkans,
Muslims were emotionally charged for vengeance
like the other conquering people of the past and
the present. But the Prophet (SAW) declared general
amnesty. Addressing his worst enemies, he said:
“Today is the day for mercy and kindness.
You are not being held accountable. You are all
free.” Instead of punishing Abu Sufiyan,
the chieftain of the Qureysh of Makkah, the Prophet
(SAW) honored him and guaranteed safety to whosoever
took refuge. Wahshi – the savage, who killed
the Prophet (SAW)’s dear uncle Hazrat Hamzah
(RA) was pardoned as he embraced Islam. The honor
of Prophet (SAW)’s companionship was bestowed
upon him.
The Prophet (SAW) said: “Allah (SWT) doesn’t
show kindness to the one, who is not kind to others.”
(Bukhari. #7376).
“The Merciful shows mercy to those who are
merciful to others. Be kind to the people of the
earth, the One in the Heavens will treat you with
mercy.” (Tirmidhi. #1924)
“The best among you is the one from whom
is expected good and people are safe from his
mischief. The worst among you is the one from
whom you don’t expect good, and people are
not safe from his mischief. “(Tirmidhi.
#2663)
Nowadays, the word “terrorism” resounds
all around and not a day goes by when we don’t
hear of it. It dominates the media, and the world
is torn by this “fitna” (scourge)
and its perpetrators. To eradicate this menace
once and for all, one has to get to its root causes
like injustice, unemployment, poverty, lack of
education, usurpation of civil or individual rights,
oppression, and exploitation of the weak by the
powerful. The state is similar to that of the
pre-Islamic Arabia, where lawlessness was the
law and life and property were at the mercy of
the then powerful and the greedy war mongers.
The Prophet (SAW)’s message of love and
brotherhood, justice and peace and its application
to the daily life not only brought discipline
and harmony to the then warn-torn society, but
made Muslims the very instruments to free man
from fear and oppression and give them freedom
and peace from exploitation and injustice. It
is sad that a religion which stands for peace
and justice is being maligned. The entire Ummah
of over a billion suffers for the criminal acts
of a few. Suicide is totally “Haraam”
in Islam and so is the taking of life of innocent
people. It is our duty to save Muslims from the
present unrelenting campaign of character assassination.
This is possible only by projecting the correct
image of Islam with our conduct and behavior,
by learning and living Islam, and by educating
others about Islam.
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