RELIGIOUS FATWA AGAINST TERRORISM

QUESTION: In modern times terrorism has made its presence felt in global circles. People find a camouflage of horrific incidents of militancy, violence, brutality, viciousness, discord and tyranny taking place every where. The act of bombing, hijacking of aircrafts and vehicles, suicidal attacks, kidnapping, targetting and killing of innocent people with the intention to cause death and injuries to people or damage or destruction to Government and private properties or disruption of supplies or services essential to the life of community and society as well as creating instability and insecurity in the society have become common.

Would you, religious clerics, please shade light on these subversive activities and its perpetrators? Is terrorism allowed in Islam or do the subversive activities have religious sanctions in a way on another?

ANSWER: Terrorism means the illegal transgression against the lives and property of people, creating instability and insecurity in the society and spreading violence, mischief and extremism in the land. Terrorism is characterised by invoking terror in the hearts of people and intimidating people restoring to illegal, immoral and inhuman activities.

Terrorism is carried out to accomplish certain objectivities and sometime to uphold some idealogies and principles through aggressive and cruel means against the opponents in the name of religion, race, colour or culture etc.

As a matter of fact, Islam is totally against Terrorism, terrorists and terrorising acts. Islamic Shariah does not approve it whether the perpetrators are Muslims or non-Muslims.

Islam is the fountainhead of peace and security. It is religion which ensures and promotes love, brotherhood and harmony among peoples whereas violence springs up from beastliness, barbarism and intimidation causing mass massacres and bloodshed. Islam attaches primary importance to the sanctity of human life, and the right to lead one’s life in peace and tranquillity with a sense of security and fearlessness.

Islam has given immense respect to human life. It has clarified that people who are engaged in instigating terror and bloodshed should not be spared. Islam has condemned mischief and deviltry as a more heinous crime than homicide.

Terrorism is undoubtedly unacceptable to any sensible person, let alone the believers and

Islam. It is not acceptable because it violates the provisions of the Glorious Qura’n and the Prophet’s Sunnah.

God said in the Glorious Qura’n : “On that account: We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people : And if anyone saved a life. It would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our Messengers with Clear Signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. The punishment of those who wage war against God and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucification, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.” (Surah Al-Maida, 5:32-33)

The above stated two verses of Glorious Qura’n stipulates Ordinances and Penalties in brief to serve as guidelines to punish criminal in accordance with the nature of crime and a righteous order of life be established on earth; an order that would provide peace and security to everyone found on earth.

Islam says that no human being, irrespective of his/her religion or community, can be subjected to capital punishment save and except two kinds of people: one, a murderer, and , the other a person who is held responsible for destroying peace in the society and country, and spreading mischief on earth.

The Glorious Qura’n has emphasised that killing a person is not the killing of only one person but is tantamount to killing of the entire human race; and similarly, saving the life of one person is giving life to the entire humanity. How grand and lofty are these teachings: It is on the basis of this one teaching that the entire humanity ought to be indebted to the Glorious Qura’n.

Almighty God further said:

“Among men there is a kind whose sayings on the affairs of the world fascinate you, he calls God again and again to bear testimony to his sincerity; yet he is most fierce in enmity. Whenever he attains authority, he goes about the earth spreading mischief and laying to waste crops and human life, even though Allah (whose testimony he invokes) does not love mischief.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:204-205)

The mischief makers return from sweat, all modes of endeavours, plans and apparently genuine talk, and engage in arrogant and destructive action. They stir up quarrels, and causes all sorts of mischief. They ignore Sharia’t and spread frauds and tricks, dishonesty, falsehood, treachery and breach of faith.

God again said in the Holy Quran:

“Believers! Be upright bearers of witness for Allah, and do not let the enmity of any people move you to deviate from justice. Act justly, that is nearer to God fearing. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is well aware of what you do.” (Surah Al-Maidah, 5:8)

It is not enough for believers to uphold justice

themselves : they are expected to be its standard bearers. They are supposed not merely to practice justice in their own dealings but to strive for its triumph.

Muslims are asked not to retaliate or return evil for evil. The hatred of the wicked does not justify hostility on their part. They have to help each other in righteousness and piety, not in perpetuating feuds of hatred and enmity. This must be in spirit of justice and righteousness to save hundreds and thousands of innocent lives and public and private properties from destruction.

God said in the Holy Quran:

“Surely God, enjoins justice, kindness and the doing of good, to kith and kin, and forbids all that is shameful, evil and oppressive. He exhorts you so that you may be mindful.” (Surah An-Nahl, 16:90)

This directive of justice provide the basis for the sound ordering of human society. Justice wards off the bitterness of discord and disharmony from human life. God forbids transgression. This stands for the exceeding on anyone’s part one’s proper limits and usurping the rights of others.

God further said:

“And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:58)

The Holy Prophet (may blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

1.         “Every thing belonging to another

Muslim, his blood, his honour and his property is sacrosanct to another Muslim.” (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

2.         “A Muslim is a person who does not harm another Muslim with his tongue and hands.” (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

3.         “A believer remains within the scope of his religion as long as he does not kill anyone unlawfully.” (Reported by Bukhari)

4.         “God has no mercy for one who has no mercy for other people.” (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

5.         “A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; do not hurt him, or look down upon him or bring shame on him.” (Reported by Muslim)

6.         “Your lives, your honour and your property are as sacred to each other as the sacredness of this day, in this your month, and in this your city.” (Reported by Muslim)

The above stated Verses of the Holy Qura’n and sayings of the Prophet clearly state that spreading mischief, violence, bloodshed, atrocity brutality, targetting and killing innocent people, committing oppressions, bombing, suicidal attacks, hijacking aircrafts and vehicles, destroying public and private properties, disrupting supplies and services essential to the country and society, creating instability and insecurity in the society, contradict the fundamentals of Islam and, therefore, are against Islam.

Islam has given immense respect to human life and commanded to strive hard to keep stability and security in the society. The perpetrators

of these subversive activities violate the teachings of Glorious Quran and Prophet’s Sunnah. They have no religious sanctions in any way. In short terrorism or subversive activities are against Islam.

Those who commit such criminal acts and those who support them in any way or form whatsoever can in no way claim to be Muslims.

Islam aims at building an integrated human

community which has only one concern: to build and develop the human life. How then can it permit such mischievous acts that contradict its basic rules?

(Issued by Jamiate Ahle Hadeeth, Hind, 4116 Ahle Hadeeth Manzil,

Jama Masjid, Delhi - 110006) Dated: March 18th, 2006