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As Muslims, we strongly condemn
the terrorist attacks 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, and we offer our condolences to the American nation.
These attacks propelled the important issue of the true source of
terrorism to the top of the world agenda. Thus, it has been announced to
the entire world that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance that
summons individuals to compassion and justice. Many world leaders, leading
media organizations, television and radio stations said that true Islam
forbids violence, and encourages peace between people and between nations.
The Western circles that have come to a full grasp of the religion 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 violence.
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 main source of
Islam, and in the practices of all true Muslim rulers, the Prophet
Muhammad being the foremost of them. This book reveals, in the light of
the verses of the Qur'an and with examples from history, that Islam
forbids terrorism and aims to bring peace and security to the world.
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 organization, sometimes a fascist group,
and sometimes radical and separatist factions assume responsibility for
these acts. While countries like America often became the target of
attacks by racist and marginal terrorist groups, the European countries
have been center stage for violent acts carried out by terrorist groups.
17 November in Greece, RAF (Red Army Faction) and Neo-Nazis in Germany,
ETA in Spain, Red Brigades in Italy and many other organizations seek to
make their voices heard through terror and violence by killing innocent
and defenseless people. The nature of terrorism changes with changing
world conditions and increases its impact and power with the new
means made possible by developing technology. In particular, mass
communication tools such as the Internet extend the scope and influence of
the terrorist activities considerably.
If one is looking for the cause of an act of terrorism, one must look for
its source in anti-religious ideologies. Religion enjoins love,
compassion, forgiveness, peace and living according to high moral
standards. Terrorism, on the other hand, is on the side of cruelty and
violence, causing pain, bloodshed and committing murder.
Besides the Western organizations, there are also other terror organizations
of Middle East origin. Terrorist attacks are carried out by these groups
in all corners of the world. Sadly, 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 labeled "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. We need
to keep in mind that, among those who were killed in New York and
Washington, there were people who loved the Prophet Jesus (Christians),
the Prophet Moses (Jews) and the
Prophet Muhammad (Muslims). Unless forgiven by God, murdering innocent
people is a great sin that leads to torment in Hell. No one who is
religious and fears God would do such a thing.
The aggressors can commit such violence only with the intention of
attacking religion itself. It may well be that those who carried out this
violence did so to present religion as evil in the eyes of people, to
divorce people from religion and to generate hatred towards those who are
religiously inclined. Consequently, every attack on American citizens or
other innocent people having a 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 rather than in religion. People with a fascist,
communist, racist or materialist 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 blinking an eye, then he
is a nonbeliever, not a believer. He is a murderer with no fear of God,
whose main ambition is to shed blood and to cause harm. 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.
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