As-Salaamu Alaykum wa rahmat-Allah

This post is intended to begin a thread of thinking for Muslims dealing with the horrible acts perpetrated recently by so-called "Muslims" against innocent civilians. How do we treat this problem in our communities? Do we realize what we are up against? It is so easy for our community to look at events in Iraq or Chechnya or Palestine and to be upset for their fellow muslims. Are we upset because these are muslims or because these are human beings? A true believer hates for the sake of Allah, and should hate all forms of unjustified killing or injustice no matter who it is perpetrated against. There are way too many narrow-minded imams and 'scholars' who try and justify the taking of innocent life. This attitude will bring only more fighting and more death. We have the tools at our disposal, but we each seem to be working for ourselves in some way. We want to write a book or to become famous scholars. These ideas are great, but the most important thing in life is to fear Allah and do good deeds! We should have a more universal vision than just seeing ourselves as a victim and not understanding our situation. In truth, the situation that Muslims find themselves in is indeed their own making. Each country has a specific history and timeline that shows the progression of events and it makes perfect sense why these places face the conditions that they are in. It is time for us, as Muslims, to make small - even tiny steps to making the world a more peaceful and wonderful place, as it was during the Caliphate. Our great ancestors never tolerated injustice, and neither should we. If some idiots decide they want to do some outrageous acts "in the name of Islam", we should distance ourselves from their destructive ideas and try to protect others from what they are doing. We cannot live happily and be grateful to Allah while clinging to these feelings of hatred. We have to do our best and may Allah reward each believer and give them the paradise and protect them from the evil in our community and outside our community. 

Bismillah

The first thing one can do is begin familiarising him/ herself with the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah and most importantly act upon them.

In today's world, Muslims are being armed and decieved into fighting their own brother Muslims. The African scenario. All we have to do is drop the weapons (lest we hurt each other)... seek refuge of Allah and stick to the Quran and Sunnah. 

Abu Bakra reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There would soon be turmoil. Behold! there would be turmoil in which the one who would be seated would be better than one who would stand and the one who would stand would be better than one who would run. Behold! when the turmoil comes or it appears, the one who has camel should stick to his camel and he who has sheep or goat should stick to his sheep and goat and he who has land should stick to the land. A person said: 'Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion about one who has neither camel nor sheep nor land? Thereupon, he said: He should take hold of his sword and beat its edge with the help of stone and then try to find a way of escape. O Allah, I have conveyed (Thy Message) ; O Allah, I have conveyed (Thy Message) ; O Allah, I have conveyed (Thy Message). A person said: Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion it I am drawn to a rank in spite of myself, or in one of the groups and made to march and a man strikes with his sword or there comes an arrow and kills me? Thereupon he said: He will bear the punishment of his sin and that of yours and he would be one amongst the denizens of Hell. (Sahih Muslim, Book 041, No. 6896)

The highlighted portion of the hadith does not mean making the edge of the sword blunt, but it is a metaphorical expression for remaining away from the scene of battle in which Muslims are drawn against one another.

Bismillah,

Islaam is the best religion because Allah, SWT, rejects human blood sacrifices.  It is a religion where men and women are equal in piety before Allah.  Women have had the vote and the voice to speak publicly and own property since the time of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Allah, our Loving, Generous, Creator will punish wrong doers.  He is neither male nor female.  (We can't say It, because that would be disrespectful.  Nevertheless, "He" is not male.)

Muslims, let's pray against terrroristic behavior from all sources.  People who kill indiscriminately will be punished in hell by our Wrathful Lord.

Oh, and to answer your question about getting into the mind of a terrorist:  No, thank you.  That would be a dark, evil place, and I and other Muslims should not try to understand such evil.  We just need to pray to Allah, SWT, against them and their destructive ways.

herjihad,

Thank you, for your response.  I indeed pray every night that peace will come to the Middle East and for the families who have lost so much. 

Bismillah,

I am not around anyone who justifies terrorism, except those who agree with the Iraqi war.  No one I know would venture to say anything in support of Al-Qaeda to the slightest degree.  Anyone in Phalasteen who straps a bomb to themselves and tries to kill non-combatants is misguided if they think any Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Vadantan, or Jew supports them.

There are wars in the world now, you know.  Combat is different.  Defending your home from invaders honors and dignifies Muslims. Muslims who die defending their homes go straight to heaven.

We boldly say that murderers of innocents are not blessed by Allah, SWT!  While a person is in the act of committing a major sin, at that moment, he is not Muslim, not blessed by Allah, SWT, in any way!

 So when people die murdering innocent non-combatants, they are doomed to hell.  This is for all people who destroy others indiscriminately with bombs and guns. People can call themselves whatever they like:  Muslim, Christian, Jew.  We can just repeatedly say that mass murderers do not qualify for those esteemed titles.