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“who soever from among the Muslims or the Jews or the Christians or
the Sabaeans believes in Allah (God) and the Last Day, and performs
good deeds, he will have his reward with his Lord and he will have no
cause for fear and grief.” Q 2: 62
But whoever slays a soul, unless it be for murder or for mischief in
the land, it is as though he slew entire mankind; and whoever keeps it
alive, it is as though he kept entire mankind alive; (Quran 5:32).
The above verses from the holy Quran certainly put to shame, all
terrorist groups claiming to be killing innocent people in the name of
Islam. These verses also established the fact that, all those who
attach these misguided sects to Islam are indeed themselves misguided.
In a plain text, the two verses above made it clear beyond any
reasonable doubt that provided you are a Muslim, Christian, Jew or
Sabaen, if you believe in God and the judgement day, perform good
deeds, certainly, your reward is with God and there is no cause to
fear or grief.
And if you slay a soul, your punishment before Allah is as thou you
slew the entire mankind.
That is the ultimate position as far as Islam is concerned.
So, be it Alqaeda, bokoharam or other terrorist organizations hiding
under the banner of Islam to commit enormous atrocities, certainly,
they cannot be doing it under the banner of jihad in Islam. They are
against Islam.
For the records, the reason why jihad was permitted in Islam was so
the Muslims could defend themselves against persecution and expulsion
from their homes. It is not to oppress, kill, create mischief or
coerce others.
Allah says: “To those against whom war is made, permission is given
(to fight back), because they are wronged and verily Allah is Most
Powerful for their aid – (They are) those who have been expelled from
their homes in defiance of right (for no cause) except that they say,
‘Our Lord is Allah’. Did Allah not check one set of people by means of
another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries,
churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is
commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who
aid his cause, for truly Allah is full of strength and might.” [Sûrah
al-Hajj: 39-40]
Many of the earliest scholars mention that these were the first verses
of the Qur’an that was revealed regarding jihad.
Thereafter the following verses were revealed:
“Fight in the cause of Allah THOSE WHO FIGHT YOU, but do not
transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And slay them
wherever you catch them and drive them out FROM WHERE THEY DROVE YOU
OUT, for oppression is worse than killing. But fight them not at the
sacred mosque unless they fight you there. But if they fight you, slay
them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith. But if they
cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until
there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and
faith in Allah. But if they cease, let there be no hostility except to
those who practice oppression.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 190-193]
So, before Muslims fight, they must have been fought. And when they
fight back, it must be against those who participated in fighting
against them. The reason why they must fight back is simple, to defend
themselves and prevent further attacks.
Had the purpose of jihad been to force the unbelievers to accept
Islam, the Quran would never have commanded the Muslims to refrain
from hostilities if the enemy relented. It would not have prohibited
the killing of women and children. However, this is exactly the
position of Islam.
During a battle, the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw people gathered
together. He dispatched a man to find out why they were gathered. The
man returned and said: “They are gathered around one slain woman.”
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “She should not have been
attacked!” Khâlid b. al-Walîd was leading the forces, so he dispatched
a man to him saying: “‘Tell Khâlid not to kill women or labourers”.
[Sunan Abî Dâwûd]
Therefore, even in the heat of battle against a hostile enemy, the
only people who may be attacked are those who are actually
participating in the fighting not innocent people.
Terrorism have no hidden place in Islam, their activities was clearly
captured in the Qur’an and so is their punishment.
The almighty Allah clearly describe the nature and punishment of
terrorists in the Qur’an as thus:
Q2[84-86] Remember also that We made another solemn covenant with you:
you shall not shed blood among yourselves nor expel one another from
your homes. And you confirmed it and you are a witness to it. But in
spite of this, you are killing your brethren and driving them out from
their homes and making unjust and aggressive alliances against one
another. And when they come to you as captives, you trade on their
ransoms whereas their expulsion itself was unlawful for you. Do you
then believe in one part of the Scriptures and disbelieve in the
other? 92 What other punishment do such people from among you deserve
except an ignominious life in this world and the most grievous doom on
the Day of Resurrection? Allah is not unaware of what you are doing.
These are the people who have preferred the worldly life to the life
in the Hereafter. Therefore their torment shall not be lightened nor
shall help be given to them (from any quarter).
What the above verse is saying is simple, those terrorists who claim
to be following the sacred book of Islam are not, but are merely
hiding under it to carryout their hidden agenda. They kill innocent
people, expel people from their homes and take ransom when they
capture some. For this reason, the punishment all terrorist deserve is
an ignominious life in this world and most grievous doom on the day of
The Qur’an didn’t stop, it tries to guide the lost terrorists to the right path:
Q2 [41-46] How is it that you enjoin others to follow the Right Way,
but forget it yourselves, though you read the Scriptures? Have you no
sense at all? Seek help with the Salat and fortitude:60 no doubt,
Salat is a hard task but not for those obedient servants, who realize
that ultimately they shall meet their Lord and shall return to Him.
Allah is aware that there are people who will claim to believe in God
and be fighting for Islam, but they are liars who are not only
tarnishing the image of Islam, but are also killing innocent souls.
Hear the Quran speak about them:
Q2[8-16] Then there are some who say, “We believe in Allah and the
Last Day”, whereas they do not believe at all. They thus try to
deceive Allah and the Believers, but they succeed in deceiving none
except themselves and they realize it not.11 In their hearts is a
disease which Allah has increased all the more12 and a painful doom is
in store for them for the lie they utter. Whenever it is said to them,
“Spread not disorder on the earth”, their reply is, “We only seek to
put things aright”.Beware! they do spread disorder but they realize it
not. And when it is said to them, “Believe sincerely as the other
people have believed”,13 they reply, “Should we believe as fools have
believed?”14 Beware! they themselves are the fools, but they know it
not. When they meet those who believe, they say, “We, too, are
believers”, but when they privily meet their evil geniuses,15 they
say, “Indeed we are with you: we are only mocking at these people”.
(Little do they realize that) Allah is mocking at them. He gives them
rope enough, and they wander on and on blindly in their mischief and
rebellion. These are the people who have bartered away Guidance for
error, but this is a profitless bargain that they have made, and they
are not at all on the right way.
Q2[204-210] There is a certain type of man who charms you in this
worldly life with his glib talk. He calls Allah to witness again and
again that he cherishes good intentions in his heart,223 whereas, in
fact, he is the deadliest opponent224 of the Truth. When he gets
power225 he directs all his efforts towards spreading mischief in the
land, destroying harvests and killing the human race whereas Allah
(Whom he makes his witness) does not like mischief. And when it is
said to him, “Fear Allah,” vanity seizes him and makes him adhere to
the sin. Hell is the proper place for such a person and it is a very
bad dwelling indeed.
The above verses clearly captures the delusional state of mind of
terrorists, terrorism can never be for Islam.
In 628 AD, a delegation from St. Catherine’s Monastery came to Prophet
Muhammed (SAW) and requested his protection. He responded by granting
them a charter of rights which is translated below:
“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullahi, as a covenant to those
who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.
Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them,
because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against
anything that displeases them.
No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed
from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to
destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything
from it to the Muslims’ houses.
Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and
disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure
charter against all that they hate.
No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The
Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a
Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be
prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be
respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor
the sacredness of their covenants.
No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the
Last Day (end of the world)… not just the truth for the people
living during the time of the prophet, but will continue to be true
until the day of Judgment.
From the above submission, it is obvious that, peace in Islam is the
‘rule’, while war is the ‘exception’. This is borne out by all the
teachings of Islam and the practical life of the Prophet of Islam.
One of the attributes of God described in the Qur’an is ‘As-Salam’,
which means peace and security.’ That is to say that God’s Being
itself is a manifestation of peace. Indeed, God is Peace (Al-Bukhari).
In the Qur’an, divine guidance is likened to the paths of peace.
(5:16)The Quran, avers that, ‘reconciliation is best’ (4:128), and
judging by the consequences, the way of peace is far better than that
of confrontation.
Whenever the Prophet had an option between two courses of action, he
always chose the easier (non-confrontational) one. (Bukhari)
This means that, violent activism should not be indulged in if
peaceful activism is an option. For, peace is the easier course as
compared to violence.
For instance, trying to change the status quo in the very first stage
of a movement is a hard option, while launching one’s activities in
the available sphere without doing so is an easier option.Going to war
in confrontational situations is a hard option while following a
conciliatory course in dealing with one’s rival is easier. Countering
aggression with aggression is a hard option, while countering
aggression with patience and forbearance is an easier option. An
agitational course of action is harder than employing quiet strategy.
Adopting a radical method of reformation is harder than that of
following a gradual method. Taking emotional, extreme steps without a
thought for their consequences creates difficulties. While a
well-considered method, keeping an eye on the consequences, gives much
better results. The policy of confrontation with a ruler is a harder
option, while initiating one’s action; by sidestepping the ruler in
the sphere of education and learning is an easier option. These
instances show us the easier and harder options, as demonstrated by
the Hadith. The mission of Islam is based on monotheism, its goal
being to make people realize the existence of the one and only God and
to strive to bring about a revolution in their hearts and minds of
individuals in order that they may love God as is His due. And the
greatest concern of man should be to fear and worship his Creator
(2:165).
Such a mission cannot afford wars and violent confrontations. When a
state of war and violence prevails, the normal atmosphere is vitiated
and such circumstances as would foster intellectual movements and
spiritual reformation cannot be effectively created. It cannot be
denied that peaceful circumstances produce a propitious environment
for Islam, while violent circumstances inevitably result in antagonism
towards Islam.
For any reason, if war must be fought In Islam, war is not the
prerogative of the individual but of an established government. Only
an established government can declare war. In other words, individuals
can pray on their own, but they cannot wage wars of their own accord.
Only when a war is declared by the ruling government, can the public
join in and support it, and not before that. Islam does not sanction
individual actions on this issue. Therefore no Non Governmental
Organization or terrorist group or what ever association can declare a
As a general principle, the Quran tells us that, even where an
external attack is feared, the common man should not act
independently, but should take the matter to the ruler, and then under
his guidance take proper counter measures. (4:83).
The Hadith also states that ‘the ruler is a shield, fighting is done
under him, and security is attained through him.’
This clearly shows that the decision to do battle and its planning are
the tasks of an established government. The common man can play his
role as need be under government orders, and not independently.
This Islamic principle shows that there is no room for non-state
warfare, which is what we generally call guerilla war. A guerilla war
is fought by individual organizations, not by the State. As far as the
state is concerned, if it wants to wage a defensive war against any
country it has first—in obedience to the Quran—to issue a proper
declaration. Only then can it wage a lawful war (8:58). In Islam,
there is only ‘declared’ war. Therefore, in accordance with this
principle, no proxy war in Islam can be lawful.
On this note as it has been established, any individual who engage in
terrorism, killing defenseless civilians, destroying goods and
properties is certainly destined for hell fire. There is no other way.
As the Quran said, who so ever slay a soul, unless it be for murder or
for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew entire mankind; and
whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept entire mankind alive;
(Quran 5:32).
Therefore, if who soever slay a soul get the punishment of slaying the
entire mankind as established by the Qur’an, certainly, those who slew
countless souls like the boko haram are destined to rot in hell and
suffer more grave consequences before Allah on the day of
–
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat writes from Abuja and can be reached on
discus4now@yahoo.com.
