Terrorism Has Nothing to Do With Islam

Wherever and whenever the terrorist groups such as ISIS attack the western cities, and kill innocent people, many of the western analysts and journalists mistakenly accuse Islam and Muslims of violence and terror. Whereas no one can prove that such terrorist groups have anything to do with Islam. Because caring out a horrific and brutal attack on innocent or ordinary people in places like gym, stadium, bazar, market and etc. exactly means intimidation and browbeating which is categorically and totally forbidden and haram in Islamic Sharia.

The Holy Quran explicitly forbid Muslims from intimidating the people saying that "Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment" [1] According to this verse of the Holy Quran killing innocent people and intimidating them is the same as waging war against Almighty Allah (J) and His apostles, that is why they must be given harsh and severe punishments.  

Studying the Prophet Muhammad's ethical and social conduct proves that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P), his companions and successors were substantially opposed to terror and did not permit anyone to strike terror into the hearts of people. According to a narration from the Holy Prophet (P) a true Muslim and believer do not commit any acts of terrorism. [2] Due to this tradition of the Prophet (P) his companions and successors did not commit terror and also did not allow their followers to do it.

According to the historical sources, many of the great and well-known companions of the Prophet (P) such as Ali Ibn Abitaleb, Ibn Abbas, zubair Ibn Awam, Ayesha, Muawiyah, and Muslim Ibn Aqil did not commit terror and also did not permit anyone to do it. For instance when Muawiyah was visiting medina as a caliph of that time, in one of his trip to medina, he went to Ayesha's house to meet her. Ayesha asked him that didn’t you fear that I might kill you here? Muawiyah recite the same sayings of the prophet and told Ayesha that she would never do such because of the prophet's tradition. [3]

Now the important question is that if the terrorist groups like ISIS, Al-Qaida, and Taliban are Muslims, as they name themselves as such, why their deeds and practices completely contradict Islam and the traditions of the Prophet (P)? It shows that these kinds of so called Muslim groups do not have anything to do with Islam, rather they are categorically opposed to Islamic teachings and principles.            

Notes:
[1] Al-Ma'idah, verse 33.  إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن يُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ يُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ يُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ ذَلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْيٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
[2] محمدباقر مجلسی، بحارالانوار، ج 47، ص 137. الایمان قیدالفتک، المؤمن لایفتک
[3] See: الغدیر فی الکتاب و السنه و الادب، ج ،۱۰ ص ۴۸۶