Assalamu Alaykum / Peace be upon you

Yesterday, a young Muslim couple shot and killed 14 and injured 17 innocent civilians in San Bernardino, California. It was the deadliest mass murder in the past three years. In 2015 alone, 56 individuals have been arrested in the US and charged with ISIS-related activities. It is a fact that a few Muslims are bent on causing harm and, through their criminal actions, endanger us all.

This Islamic position on terrorism is self-evident and obvious to the vast majority of Muslims. The Fiqh Council of North America defines terrorism as “any act of indiscriminate violence that targets innocent people, whether committed by individuals, groups or states.” In July 2005, the Council issued a fatwa (religious ruling) stating, “Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism”. This fatwa was issued “following the guidance of our scripture, the Qur’an, and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him”.

Further, the fatwa “confirmed the following salient principles:
[1] All acts of terrorism, including those targeting the life and property of civilians, whether perpetrated by suicidal or any other form of attacks are haram (forbidden) in Islam.

[2] It is haram for a Muslim to cooperate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or prohibited violence.

[3] It is the civic and religious duty of Muslims to undertake full measures to protect the lives of all civilians, and ensure the security and well-being of fellow citizens.”

The complete declaration is here: link

This is the clear stance of our religion on mass murder, senseless violence and terrorism. Any other stance by individual and lost members of the Muslim community is invalid, is sinful and should be forcefully rejected

Jazakum-Allah-khairan / Thank you

Mahmood Khadeer
MAPS President