Islam and Terrorism

(1)
Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism. In the Quran,
God has said:
God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with
those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you
out of your homes. God loves just dealers. (Quran, 60:8)

The Prophet Muhammad used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and
children,1 and he would advise them: {...Do not betray, do not be
excessive, do not kill a newborn child.}2 And he also said: {Whoever
has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell
the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of
forty years.}3

Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.4

He once listed murder as the second of the major sins,5 and he even
warned that on the Day of Judgment, {The first cases to be adjudicated
between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.6}7

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to
hurt them. Once the Prophet Muhammad said: {A woman was punished
because she imprisoned a cat until it died. On account of this, she
was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat
food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth.}8

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God
forgave his sins for this action. The Prophet was asked,
“Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards
animals?” He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every
living animal or human.}9

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are
commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright
and suffering possible. The Prophet Muhammad said: {When you slaughter
an animal, do so in the best way. One should sharpen his knife to
reduce the suffering of the animal.}10

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror
in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of
buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men,
women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to
Islam and the Muslims. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and
forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent
events some have associated with Muslims. If an individual Muslim were
to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of
violating the laws of Islam.

_______________________
 
Footnotes:
(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1744, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3015.  
(2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1731, and Al-Tirmizi, #1408.  
(3) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3166, and Ibn Majah, #2686.  
(4) Narrated in Abu-Dawood, #2675.  
(5) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6871, and Saheeh Muslim, #88.  
(6) This means killing and injuring.  
(7) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1678, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6533.  
(8) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2422, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2365.  
(9).  Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2244, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2466.
(10) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1955, and Al-Tirmizi, #1409  
(2)
Is Islam Really a Religion of Terror?
Every time speculation arises that a bomb is responsible for a
tragedy, such as the TWA Flight 800 crash, Non-Muslims & Muslims alike
suspect the Islamic connection. Of course the disclaimers abound, but
a lingering suspicion about Muslims is left in the general views of
terrorism, even if other groups are identified as the main culprits
for any particular incident.
This perception is not due to any intrinsic resentment of Islam by the
American people. It is understood that the mainstream of Muslims, the
vast majority of them, like in every other faith, is peaceful and pay
their taxes, trying to make America a better society, trying to
improve relations with neighbors and colleagues.
But images and terminology influence public opinion, and a bitter
taste is left when Islam is reported in the daily headlines. The term
"Islamic fundamentalism", whatever it means, has been repeated enough
times in relation to violent incidents that naturally, any thinking
human being has to be uncomfortable with the fact that America is home
to a vibrant Muslim community. The problem stems from negative images
about Islam. In the court of public opinion, Islam is guilty until
proven innocent.
Even though the Middle East was home to fewer terrorist incidents than
Latin America and Europe, for example, it is still regarded as the
region where terrorism is rooted. According to a recent US State
Department report, Patterns of Global Terrorism, issued earlier this
year, 272 terrorist events occurred in Europe, 92 in Latin America and
45 in the Middle East. Sixty-two anti-US attacks occurred in Latin
America last year, 21 in Europe and 6 in the Middle East. These
numbers represent the terrorist trend and not an anomaly, whereby the
majority of perpetrators are not linked to the Middle East or Islam.
The Red Army Faction in Germany, the Basque Separatists in Spain, the
Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the Shining Path in Peru and the National
Liberation Army in Columbia are not viewed with the same horror as
terrorist groups of Muslim background.
There is no moral justification for terrorism regardless of the ethnic
or religious background of the perpetrator or the victim, but the
factual basis of terrorism has been either hidden or twisted in the
public's perception of this policy problem, especially in
congressional hearings on terrorism. The countries with the worst
terrorist records in the world are not in the Middle East either. They
are not even Muslim countries outside the Middle East. They are
Columbia and Germany, havens for drug lords and neo-Nazis.
The negative association of Islam with terrorism exists, but no one
has ever asked "Why?". Could it be that American society cannot
overcome the Khomeini phobia, even though he is dead? The US Congress
found it necessary to push $20 million towards covert operations in
toppling the Iranian government even at the dissent of people in the
CIA. The Arab countries, both friend and foe, are run by tyrants who
kill more of their own people than those outside their countries. The
presumption that these countries represent a threat to American
interests or that any one of them can dominate the region or even
rival the only remaining superpower is indeed generous. So the issue
is not these countries' hegemony in their region or the world, but
about who can dominate their people and exploit their resources.
The perception in the Middle East is that US policy does not serve the
peoples interests; it protects Israel and friendly Arab dictators even
when they violate human rights, while it slaps sanctions on and takes
military actions against countries whose dictators misbehave,
resulting in suffering, starvation and even slaughter, all in the name
of teaching the tyrants a lesson. The priorities in the Middle East
for the US are not human rights and democracy, but rather oil and
Israeli superiority. Consequently, anti-American sentiment increases.
This mood of the general public is then characterized as "Islamic
fundamentalism", even though the resentment is not rooted in religion.
When it turns violent, it is termed "radical Islamic fundamentalism"
or "Islamic terrorism." The various "terrorism experts" promote
linkage to the Middle East before any other possibility every time
terrorism is speculated. They exploit the human suffering of the
victims, their families, and the fears of the American public.
Indeed, extremists of Muslim backgrounds are violating the norms of
Islamic justice and should be held accountable for their criminal
behavior, but we in America should not be held hostage to the politics
of the Middle East or biased reporting.
An Israeli journalist, Yo'av Karny, reporting on the events in
Chechnya made a striking observation about this development: "The West
will be told--and will be inclined to believe--that the oppression of
the Chechens is part and parcel of a cosmic struggle against 'Islamic
extremism' that rages from Gaza to Algeria, from Tehran to Khartoum.
Russians will seek Western sympathy. They should not be given it." The
issue is not Chechnya, and it is not even about Islam and the West.
Debates about religious wars and cultural clashes only distract us
from the real issue: the powerful want to continue dominating the
powerless, manipulating facts to influence public opinion, hence
maintaining the status quo.
ATTACK ON USA
THE MUSLIM RESPONSE
Whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul, or for corruption done in the
land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves
one, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely
[Qur'an 5:32] 
One of the core meanings of Islam is peace. Therefore, the inhumane
and horrific events at the World Trade Center which caused innocent
casualties - including many Muslim victims - is clearly, without a
doubt, completely un-Islamic.
However, it should be noted that the actions of an individual or a
small group do not necessarily represent the beliefs of a particular
religion, nor is that religion responsible for such actions.
Therefore, the media’s labeling of those who are allegedly
responsible for these actions as “Islamic Terrorists” and
the linking of such actions to Islam or the Qur’an, is
incorrect. Rather, such inhumane actions clearly contradict the
teachings of Islam - just as the bombing at Oklahoma City by Timothy
McVeigh and the killings that occurred at Ibrahim Mosque, Hebron by
Dr. Baruch Goldstein clearly contradict the teachings of Christianity
and Judaism, respectively.
It is inconceivable that the religion of Islam, which takes its
teachings from the noble Prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and
Muhammad - peace be upon all of them - would ever teach terrorism or
suicide missions. In reality, Islam not only condemns terrorism and
suicide missions, but also prohibits them completely. Thus, many
Muslim nations, organizations, and communities all around the world
have condemned such actions, hoping never to see its like again. The
yellow journalism of the media showing the views of a small group of
Palestinians (mostly children), who have been terrorized for years,
does not represent the true feelings of Muslims worldwide.
It is also unfortunate that harassment of various kinds (including
shootings, beatings, stone throwing, robberies, vandalism, death
threats and hate language) has occurred against innocent Muslims
resident in the United States – the elderly, women and children
alike. In addition, Islamic places of worship and Muslim owned
businesses have now become the targets of some peoples’ anger
and ignorance, just as the American people had become the targets of
the anger and ignorance of the perpetrators of the World Trade Center
attacks. Such bigotry and hatred is inhumane and unjustified.
We denounce the killing of innocent civilians in the United States,
just as we have patiently for many years denounced the killing of
innocent civilians in Bosnia, Chechnya, Kashmir, Palestine, India and
other countries.
May God, Almighty, the One without any associates or partners in His
Divinity, guide us all to the Truth and spread peace throughout the
earth. Ameen.
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