Introduction

As Muslims, we strongly condemn all the terrorist attacks around the world, including those on two major cities of the United States of America on September 11, 2001, which caused the death and injury of thousands of innocent people.

For centuries, various acts of terrorism have been carried out in different parts of the world by different groups for a variety of purposes. Sometimes a communist organisation, sometimes a fascist group, and sometimes radical and separatist factions assume responsibility for these acts. 17 November in Greece, the RAF and Neo-Nazis in Germany, ETA in Spain, the Red Brigades in Italy and many other organisations killed innocent and defenceless people through terror and violence. The PKK has been carrying out terrorist attacks for the past 30 years in Turkey resulting in the martyrdom of tens of thousands of people.

The 9/11 attacks propelled the important issue of the true source of terrorism to the forefront of the world agenda. Thus, it has been announced to the entire world that Islam is a religion of peace and love that summons individuals to compassion and justice. Many world leaders, leading media organisations, television and radio stations said that the Islam defined in the Qur'an by no means permits any terrorist attacks on innocent people, and commands peace between people and between nations. The Western circles that have come to a full grasp of the morality of Islam and are well-informed about Islam as commanded by God in the Qur'an noted clearly that the words "Islam" and "terror" cannot stand side by side, and that no Divine religion permits terrorist attacks.

This book maintains that the source of the terror that we condemn is definitely not from a Divine religion, and that there is no room for terrorism in Islam. This is made clear in the Qur'an, the sole source of Islam, and in the practices of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and many other Muslim rulers. However, surely there have been groups throughout history that interpreted the religion of Islam according to fabricated hadiths and superstitions that were produced after the Qur'an. As a result of following such superstitions that justify violence, these groups have carried out many terrorist atrocities that our beautiful religion strictly forbids.

This book reveals, in the light of the verses of the Qur'an and the practices of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) with examples from history, that terrorism is forbidden and bringing peace and security to the world is aimed in Islam.

As is known, for centuries, various acts of terrorism have been carried out in different parts of the world by different groups for a variety of purposes. Sometimes a communist organisation, sometimes a fascist group, and sometimes radical and separatist factions assume responsibility for these acts. While some countries like America have recently often become the target of attacks by racist and marginal terrorist groups, the European countries have been centre stage for violent acts carried out by terrorist groups. 17 November in Greece, the RAF (Red Army Faction) and Neo-Nazis in Germany, ETA in Spain, the Red Brigades in Italy and many other organisations killed innocent and defenceless people through terror and violence. The PKK, a Marxist and Stalinist terrorist organisation, has been carrying out terrorist attacks for the past 30 years in the south-eastern part of Turkey resulting in the martyrdom of tens of thousands of people. The nature of terrorism changes with changing world conditions and increases its impact and power with the new means made possible by high technology. In particular, mass communication tools such as the Internet extend the scope and influence of the terrorist activities considerably.

Besides the Western organisations, there are also other terror organisations of Middle East origin. Terrorist attacks are carried out by these groups in all corners of the world. The fact that the perpetrators of various terrorist acts carry Christian, Muslim or Jewish identities cause some people to put forward claims which do not concur with Divine religions. The truth is that even if terrorists have Muslim identities, the terror they perpetrate cannot be labelled "Islamic terror", just as it could not be called "Jewish terror" if the perpetrators were Jews or "Christian terror" if they were Christians. That is because, as will be examined in the following pages, murdering innocent people in the name of a Divine religion is unacceptable. These people grossly misinterpret the holy Scriptures that God sent to people for peace and brotherhood, and through their self-invented superstitions, work to legitimize violence against people from different beliefs and thereby completely violate their faith in the process. We need to keep in mind that, among those who were killed, for example in New York and Washington on 9/11, there were people who loved the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) (Christians), the Prophet Moses (pbuh) (Jews) and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (Muslims). Unless forgiven by God, murdering innocent people is a great sin that leads to torment in hell. No one who is religious, and loves and fears God would do such a thing.

The aggressors, regardless of which faith they claim to be a member of, may commit such violence either out of ignorance or with the intention of misusing religion for their own ends, or out of their enmity against religion. This violence divorces people from religion and generates hatred towards those who are religiously inclined. Consequently, every attack on innocent people having a so-called religious facade is actually an attack made against religion.

Religion commands love, mercy and peace. Terror, on the other hand, is the opposite of religion; it is cruel, merciless and demands bloodshed and misery. This being the case, the origins of a terrorist act should be sought in disbelief or in radical views that misinterpret the commands of religion rather than in religion itself. People with a fascist, communist, racist, materialist or radical outlook on life should be suspected as potential perpetrators. The name or the identity of the triggerman is not important: If he can kill innocent people without so much as batting an eye, then he cannot possibly represent a Divine religion. For this reason, "Islamic terror" is an erroneous concept which contradicts the message of Islam. The religion of Islam can by no means countenance terrorism. On the contrary, terror (i.e. murder of innocent people) in Islam is a great sin, and Muslims are responsible for preventing these acts and bringing peace and justice to the world.