Islam, Terrorism and the Truth: Setting The Record Straight

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By Editorial Team

Terrorism remains one of the greatest threats to global peace today. From bombings to suicide attacks, the world has seen horrific acts of violence wrongly justified in the name of religion. Sadly, Islam, a religion of peace has often been unfairly linked to terrorism. Misinterpretation of Islamic texts and biased reporting by some sections of the Western media have further worsened the situation, leading to rising Islamophobia and unjust profiling of Muslims worldwide.

In this article, we explore what Islam truly says about terrorism using direct references from the Qur’an and the authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We also look into how misinterpretation of some Qur’anic verses contributes to false narratives and how Islam, in its purest form, condemns all forms of terrorism.

What is Terrorism? What is Islam?

Terrorism is defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, to pursue political, religious or ideological goals. It includes attacks on innocent people, destruction of properties, and spreading fear in societies.

Islam, on the other hand, is an Arabic word that means “peace” and “submission to the will of Allah.” It is a complete way of life that promotes justice, mercy, kindness, and peace in all human interactions. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a mercy to all the worlds, as stated in the Qur’an:

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”
— Qur’an 21:107

Clearly, there is a sharp contradiction between the principles of Islam and the acts of terrorism committed in its name.

Islamic Position on Killing Innocent People

The Qur’an strictly prohibits the killing of innocent people. In fact, Allah compares the killing of one soul to the killing of all humanity:

“Whoever kills a person [unjustly]… it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.”
— Qur’an 5:32

This verse alone is a direct condemnation of terrorism in all its forms. Islam does not allow indiscriminate killings, bombings, or revenge attacks on civilians.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reinforced this in several authentic Hadiths. In one narration, he said:

“A woman was punished in Hell because of a cat which she had confined until it died. She did not give it food or water, nor did she free it to eat from the earth.”
— (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2365)

If such punishment was for mistreating an animal, how much more severe would it be for harming innocent human beings?

The Misinterpreted Verse: “Kill them wherever you find them“

One of the most abused and misquoted verses by extremists and anti-Islam critics alike is:

“And kill them wherever you find them…”
— Qur’an 2:191

This verse is often quoted out of context to support violence. But when read in full context, it becomes clear that it was referring to a specific historical situation during a war when Muslims were under attack in Makkah.

Let us look at the full passage:

“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors. And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you…”
— Qur’an 2:190–191

The first part clearly says: “Do not transgress.” This means Muslims are only permitted to defend themselves, not to attack unjustly. The permission was only given in the context of self-defence. Misusing this verse to justify terrorism is therefore a major distortion of the Qur’an.

Prophet Muhammad’s Teaching on War and Peace

Even during war, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) set strict rules. He prohibited the killing of women, children, elderly, and non-combatants. He also warned against destroying crops, trees, or places of worship.

One Hadith clearly states:

“Do not kill any child, any woman, or any elder or sick person.”
— (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 2614)

Another narration says:

“Do not betray, do not be excessive, and do not kill a newborn child.”
— (Sahih Muslim)

These instructions prove that terrorism, especially the killing of innocent civilians, has no place in Islam.

Islamophobia: Fear Without Facts

Islamophobia is the irrational fear, hatred or prejudice against Islam and Muslims. It has increased over the years, especially after the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Unfortunately, many people now associate Islam with terrorism, despite overwhelming evidence that terrorists represent only a tiny, misguided fraction of the Muslim population.

There are over 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, the vast majority of whom are peaceful, law-abiding citizens. Yet, due to the actions of a few, the entire religion is wrongly blamed.

This generalisation leads to discrimination, violence, hate speech, and exclusion of Muslims in many societies.

Media Bias and the Double Standard

Another major factor fuelling Islamophobia is the biased reporting by some sections of media. When a Muslim commits a violent act, the media is quick to label it “Islamic terrorism” or “Jihadist attack.” But when a non-Muslim commits similar or worse crimes, it is often referred to as “lone wolf,” “mentally unstable,” or “random shooting.”

This double standard creates the impression that violence is a Muslim problem, which is false. According to several reports and academic research, the majority of terrorist attacks are not committed by Muslims.

Also, violent acts by extremist groups like Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda are often used to define Islam in the media, ignoring the condemnation of such groups by the majority of Muslims and Islamic scholars.

Islam’s True Message: Peace, Justice and Compassion

Islam teaches peace not only with Muslims, but with all of humanity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) lived peacefully with Jews, Christians, and Pagans. In the Constitution of Madinah, he guaranteed the safety and religious freedom of non-Muslims.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression…”
— Qur’an 16:90

This verse is recited in mosques every Friday during Jumu’ah prayers. It is a constant reminder that Islam stands for justice, kindness and peace not terror.

It is important to separate the actions of criminals from the teachings of a religion. Islam does not promote terrorism; it condemns it in the strongest terms. Those who kill and destroy in the name of Islam are not representing the religion, they are betraying it.

Don’t Judge Islam by Terrorists

The Qur’an and Hadith are clear: Terrorism has no place in Islam. It is time for the world to stop blaming over a billion peaceful Muslims for the actions of a few extremists.

It is also time for Muslims to continue educating others about the true, peaceful message of Islam with words, actions and patience. Let truth and understanding defeat hatred and fear.