Combating Terrorism

By:

Dr. Ali S. Awadh Asseri

(Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon)

     In the perspective of Islamic Shariah, terrorism is a crime against humanity and warrants capital punishment. Spreading terror by way of random killing, injuring people, sabotaging public and private property and doing mischief in the land is a crime. The holy Qur’an says:

The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and make mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified, or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or they be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment in theirs in the Hereafter.[1]

The offenders should be fought only until they cease hostilities towards Muslims, implying that those not initiating hostilities cannot be targeted. And last, if an enemy requests peace, it must be given: ‘And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing’.

The holy Qur’an continues:

And when he turns away (from you O’ Muhammad, (pubh), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief.[2]

But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world; and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corruptors).[3]

And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.[4]

[1] Ibid., Surah 5, Verse 33

[2] Ibid., Surah 2, Verse 205

3.Ibid., Surah 28, Verse 77

4. Ibid., Surah 4, Verse 93