Our View on Terrorism
Allah commands justice, doing good, and generosity towards relatives and He forbids what is shameful, evil and oppressive. He teaches you, so that may take heed. (Al-Nahl 16:90)
…Do not take a life Allah has made forbidden except for just cause… (AI-An’am 6:151; see also al-Isra’ 17:33; al-Furgan 25:68)
On account of this, we decreed to the Children of Israel that if anyone kills a person — unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land — it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life as if he saves the lives of all mankind Our messengers came to them with clear signs, but many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. (Al-Ma’idah 5:32)
There cannot be any stronger statement condemning violence and killing of the innocent civilian then this verse of the holly Qur’an.
One most important and basic objective (maqsad) of the Shari’ah, the law of Allah, is to protect human life. The life of every person is to be respected and honored. Islam protects life in two ways: by establishing the system of justice, charity and morality and by forbidding obscenities, evil and aggression. Justice and morality are as much needed for the protection of life as the laws and rules against murder and aggression.
Beside its extensive laws and rules for justice and morality, Islam has laid down clear rules against taking human life. It is totally forbidden in Islam to kill any person of any race or religion without a just cause. What is the meaning of `just cause?’ It is explained in Surah alMa’idah (5:32) that the just cause could be ‘first degree murder.’ A person knowingly and deliberately kills another person. In retribution or punishment of this crime, the murderer could be killed, unless the family of the victim accept compensation (diyah) or forgive the murderer. Killing of a murderer is allowed in Islam, not for the sake of revenge but for the sake of respect and protection of other lives. (“In the law of equality there is life for you…” (al-Baqarah 2:179). Here also Islam does not grant the right to any person to take life on the pretext that the other person has killed his relative or friend. This retribution also has to be decided by a competent legal authority after due legal process.
Similarly Islam allows taking life of a person who `spreads corruption in the land’ (fasad fi al-ard). This is also governed by strict rules. Only the state has the authority to punish an individual or group for what is known in the Shari’ah law as the crime of Hirabah (sedition, rebellion, armed robbery or killing innocent people, etc.) The states are also not allowed to exercise their authority without proper evidence or punishing by using excessive power. Although in this case some people will be killed, nevertheless this rule is in reality for the protection and security of the lives of many people.
The third case of taking life is in the case of war. Here Islam has also laid down very strict rules of war and fighting in the battlefield. The Wars are permitted only for the defense of life, land and liberty and religious freedom. Wars of aggression are not allowed in Islam. Islam does not allow wars to convert people to Islam, or to occupy their lands or control their resources or to colonize and subjugate other peoples and states. Islam does not allow any person or state to kill others because of personal grudge or gain. Islam also does not allow killing of another person because of the difference of race, color, language or religion. There is no permission in Islam at all to kill a person because he/she is not a Muslim, belongs to another religion or no religion at all.
Islam also laid down clear rules about wars.
Wars should be minimized. All efforts should be done to resolve the differences by peaceful negotiations and agreements. If was necessary, then it should be declared by a competent state authority. Individuals cannot take law in their own hands or declare war. War is only against those who fight, not against the noncombatants. Terrorism or blowing up while pretending to be friendly and peaceful is totally alien to Islam and its supreme values.
The basic objective of Islam is to protect and promote life; so that all people can live in peace and security. When Prophet Muhammad —peace be upon him- came the whole Arabia was plunged in inter-tribal feuds and wars. People were living in fear of each other. The Prophet – peace be upon him- predicted that with his work soon a time will come when a single woman will travel from Medina to San’a (Yemen) and will have no fear of attack from any human being. The history saw that how with the blessings of Allah and with the guidance of Muhammad – peace is upon him- the same Arabia was turned into a peaceful paradise within a short period of time. Throughout history whenever the just and peaceful principles are followed, individuals and states live in peace and security.
We stand for these principles and we remind ourselves and others to live by them.
