Islam And Terrorism: Debunking Extremist Myths – OpEd
Terrorism is one of the most important international matters of the 21st century. Unfortunately, various terrorist factions use Islam as a disguise for their brutality. In Pakistan, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JUA) are some of the devastating groups, with no section of the society spared. They have slaughtered more than 94,000 innocent lives, besieged schools, infrastructure, and communication towers, all in the name of Islam.
However, these groups are misrepresenting Islam and manipulating it wrongly to point out their brutality and hostility. They are manipulating the faith to advance their violent interests, but their actions not only amount to a betrayal of the fundamental teachings of Islam but also in the rise of Islamophobia in the whole world.
The real meaning of Islam is a peaceful, just, and stable religion. It is also a gross distortion of the real message of the religion to identify terrorism with Islam. Irrespective of the political and social causes, terrorism has no role in Islam. Those who carry out such violence are not only opponents of the state, but enemies of humanity, righteousness, and even the spirit of the Islamic doctrines.
Islam opposes the use of violence against innocent civilians categorically. It is also written in the Quran that one must not kill an innocent soul, and it is as stated: Whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul or for corruption done in the land, it is as if he had slain mankind entirely (5:32). This verse highlights the dignity of human life and the ethical need to safeguard it. However, these terrorist organizations, such as the TTP and IMP, flout this sacred value, continuing to kill innocent people. Such practices are not just un-Islamic, but the total opposite of Quran and Hadith teachings, which proclaim the need to uphold human dignity, peace, and justice.
During the war, there are explicit rules of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) forbade violence towards those who were not at war, such as women, children, and the elderly. In a famous hadith, Prophet (PBUH) said, “Do not kill any woman, any child, or any elderly or sick person (Sunan Abu Dawood). Terrorist groups like the TTP, however, still aim at these weak members of society without regard to the ethical values of Islam and devastating the moral fabric of society.
Islamic scholars have universally denounced the activities of the TTP, IMP, and JUA regardless of the sect. The declaration of the Paigham-e-Pakistan was one of the greatest denials, and it was signed by 1,800 thinkers of the various Islamic sects. This fatwa defined these terrorist groups as Khwarij (rebels), and this is a word that was used by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the past, referring to rebels who misquote the Islamic teachings. According to the Prophet (PBUH), there will be a group of people who will rebel against the righteous leaders, and they will be the worst of people under the sky (Sahih Muslim). The TTP, the IMP, and the JUA identify themselves with these rebel groups in their quest to cause mayhem and havoc in the name of Islam.
Such organizations and their violent ideologies have always been denounced by Islamic scholars such as Mufti Taqi Usmani and Tahir-ul-Qadri. Mufti Usmani strongly condemned ferocity against the Pakistani state and Muslims, declaring it illegitimate and a clear violation of Sharia. He confirms that Pakistan, as an Islamic state with an Islamic constitution and no violence in the form of jihad is justifiable.
Tahir-ul-Qadri has also ensured that it has been made clear that Islam denounces individuals or groups of people who pick up arms without state sanction. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) cautioned that such acts are not good, as he said, The Khwarij are the dogs of Hell (Sahih Muslim). In their power-seeking endeavors, these groups distort the meaning of jihad and employ violence as an instrument of terror, which is the direct opposite of the peaceful doctrine of Islam.
Besides this, terrorist groups have always been distanced by the Wifaq-ul-Madaris, the biggest confederation of madrasas in Pakistan. Recently, Wifaq-ul-Madaris rebranded the mission of madrasas as spreading knowledge, virtue, and moral education. The institutions try to inculcate peace and righteousness in their students and not violence or extremism. Wifaq-ul-Madaris condemned the violence and recalled its previous statement of 2010 that implementing sharia can only be done through a peaceful way and armed struggle is haram/forbidden.
Terrorism has both physical, moral, and spiritual effects. Terrorist groups are destroying the future of society by attacking schools, hospitals, and other infrastructural developments. This is evident in the Quranic verse that says, And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right (6:151). Groups that perpetrate the act of killing innocent people who did not contribute to the war are committing acts that are a direct betrayal of Islamic law and a denial of the human right to life in peace and dignity.
In addition, the violence committed by these groups leads to increased Islamophobia in the world. The war on terrorism is not just a war of survival, but it is also a war of defending the real teachings of Islam. Islam is a faith that has demanded justice, peace, and holiness of life. It is also important that Muslims should stand against these extremist outfits and embrace the true teachings of the religion, which preach peace, tolerance, and coexistence.
Quran orders us: Indeed, Allah orders you to observe justice (16:90), an appeal to perpetuate justice and ensure the rights of all humans. Our duty as Muslims is to fight terrorism, to spread peace, and to strive to ensure that we have a world where justice is done. The world should not accept the acts of the people who pretend to serve Islam, but they just cause devastation and chaos. We should renew our peace, justice, and the sanctity of human life.
Muslims in the world should rise to fight extremism and restore the original message of Islam. We can create a better future by accepting the message of peace and shunning violence, and creating a better future not only for ourselves but also for our future generations. The real Islam, which is based on peace and justice, will prevail over the misinterpretations of those who want to use religion as an instrument for their selfish end.
