Jihad Vs Terrorism

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Of late, the Indonesian society was again enthusiastic in debating the issue of terrorism. A few days ago, an Ustadz was seen being interviewed on one of the private TV stations in Indonesia, he was asked what could approximately inhibit and remove terrorism that currently is getting more visible in Indonesia. The Ustadz answered that only a fatwa from the ulama's could inhibit it. That is when the ulama's issue a fatwa to stop the acts of terrorism.

Since that moment, the private TV station was getting more intense in its endeavours to bring in ulama's, be it from overseas or local, to issue a fatwa regarding terrorism. Until it came to its peak when there appeared A Fatwa of the Ulama' that “Terrorism” = “Kufr”. This further caused many from amongst the Muslim community who later blurted out and said that the Qur'an has never discussed anything about the issues of terrorism.

Terrorism itself is an absorbed word that originates from the English language. Coming from the base word 'terror', where the verb is 'to terrorize' and the actor is known as 'a terrorist'.

In the contemporary Indonesian language, Terrorism could be meant as the use of violence or threats to reduce the spirit, to frighten and cause fear especially for political objectives. Whereas, Hafid Abbas, Director General of HR protections, Department of Justice, said that terrorism is the usage of strength or invalid violence in fighting the person or property in order to intimidate or pressure the government, civil society or the parts of them, to enforce the social and political objectives.

According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary (1996), terrorism is “the use of force or threats to demoralize, intimidate, and subjugate.” Terrorism is divided into two types of definition i.e. the definition of the terrorism act and the terrorism actor. Agreed by a majority of experts that any act that is classified as terrorism is an act which has the elements of: violence, political objectives, terror/intended audience.

Muh. Kurniawan BW S.Ag, SH, MH from the ISAC (Islamic Study and Action Center) wrote in an article that 'terrorism is the apex of violence'. A violence could be done without terror, but there is no terror without violence. Terrorism is not the same as intimidation or sabotage. The targets of intimidation and sabotage are generally direct, whereas in terrorism they are not.

Dr. Thahir Qadri argues, "Terrorism is terrorism and violence is violence. These acts has no place in the teachings of Islam and there is no justification for them."

About the fatwa on terrorism as such, a majority of the inventors of fatwa are not the ulama's who are in the midst of a jihad arena and not the ulama's who had condcuted jihad when their countries are attacked by the kafir. Meanwhile, Sheikh Utsaimin himself wrote in his Fatwa in Majmuatu Durus wa Fatawa al-Haram al-Makki juz 3 page 354-355, "The salafs (sahabah, tabiin, tabiit tabiin) always refused to issue fatwas because of the seriousness of this matter and the heaviness of the responsibility, as well as the feeling of fear for speaking under Allah's name without 'ilm (knowledge). Because a giver of fatwa (mufti) is conveying the information from Allah and clarifying His shari'ah. If one speaks under Allah's name without knowledge, then he could fall into a trap that leads to shirk."

Just refer to the verse of Allah SWT: “Say: the things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge. ” (Qur'an al-A’raf : 33)

Therefore, how could those ulama's dare to give a fatwa that all actors of terrorism are evenly entitled to the title of KUFR, a title that includes the Mujahideen who are in the process of struggling for the rights of the Muslims in their countries, the moment their rights are under attack? Whereas, those ulama's i.e. the inventors of fatwa themselves had never tasted the sweetness of iman in performing jihad and being in the midst of a jihad arena.

And how could a fatwa like that inhibit the acts of the terrorists, from their acts of terrorizing; trembling the enemies of Allah and the enemies of Rasulullah when the rights of the Islamic Ummah in the form of a Khilafah ‘ala manhaj Nubuwwah are still not returned?

Is It True That There Is No Ayah In Al-Qur’an That Discusses It?

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says in the Qur'an, surah Al Anfal ayah 60

وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَمِنْ رِبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لا تُظْلَمُونَ (٦٠)

Yusuf Ali translated the ayah in English as follows :

“Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know,but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.”

The above verse is clearly a command from Allah; a call by Allah to every Muslim who still have iman in their hearts. And this specific call defeats all the definitions that had been invented by the experts in the above various dictionaries. The verb mentioned in the Qur'an Surah Al Anfal verse 60 is “turhibuun” (to strike terror), then when there are Muslims who practice this verse, they would carry the title “irhabiyyun” (the actors of terror – towards specific objects i.e. the enemies of Allah and they who are mentioned in this verse are; terrorists).

This command is clearly coming from Allah, so are all the actors of terrorism towards specific objects i.e. the enemies of Allah and they who are mentioned in this verse, in the right time, in the right way and compatible with shari’ah, simply be branded as terrorists who are qualified to the title “KUFR” as well?

Indeed, how true are the words of Allah in surah Az Zumar: 9

“قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الألْبَاب”

"Say: 'Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.'" (Qur'an 39:9)

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