What is the reality of the term terrorism?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
I ask Allah for you, Honorable Shaykh, there are many questions that have come asking about the term terrorism: what is its meaning?
The Shaykh:
About what?
The questioner:
About the term terrorism, what is its meaning and its reality? And does it contradict the saying of Allah[Al-Anfal 8:60]?
The Shaykh:
Terrorism is instilling fear, from the root "rahab" which is fear. So the one who terrifies people and frightens them is considered a terrorist; he frightens people, terrifies them, and strikes fear into them. This is not permissible; this is not permissible. It is not permissible to terrify Muslims or to terrify the people of faith.
Nor is it permissible to terrify the non-Muslims who have a treaty with us, if there is a covenant or agreement between us and them, or if they are people of dhimmah who pay the jizyah, or if they are non-Muslims granted safe conduct in our lands. They have what we have, and we have what they have, in fulfillment of the covenant. It is not permissible for us to terrify them or to betray them in their blood or their wealth, because they are people of dhimmah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever kills a person with whom there is a treaty will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, because he betrayed the covenant of the Muslims."
This is a distortion of Islam, an aggression against Islam, and a betrayal of its covenant. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:[An-Nahl 16:91] And He (Exalted is He) says: [Al-Isra 17:34] Allah commanded His Prophet that if there was a covenant between him and the disbelievers, and he saw from them any sign of failing to fulfill the covenant, he should warn them.
And he does not break their covenant without a warning[Al-Anfal 8:58]. He announces to them that the covenant between him and them will end and that he will declare war on them. Islam is explicit; there is no treachery in it, no betrayal, and no destruction. Rather, Islam is explicit: if it makes a truce, it makes a truce and fulfills its covenant; and if it fights, it fights openly, not through treachery, betrayal, and destruction. War is declared, and it has leadership from the Muslims; it has an army, and they attack the disbelievers openly. So Islam is explicit: if it makes a truce and covenants, it fulfills the covenant and does not betray; and if it fights and declares war, it declares war, and the disbelievers are aware that the Muslims will fight them. So Islam is a clear religion; there is no secrecy in it, no betrayals, or treachery. As for the saying of the Exalted [Al-Anfal 8:60], the jihad referred to here is not the terrorism that involves betrayal and treachery. Rather, the meaning is: prepare the means for jihad so that you may terrify your enemy. Because this is the preparation for jihad. Yes.
I ask Allah for you, Honorable Shaykh, there are many questions that have come asking about the term terrorism: what is its meaning?
The Shaykh:
About what?
The questioner:
About the term terrorism, what is its meaning and its reality? And does it contradict the saying of Allah
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْThe Shaykh:
Terrorism is instilling fear, from the root "rahab" which is fear. So the one who terrifies people and frightens them is considered a terrorist; he frightens people, terrifies them, and strikes fear into them. This is not permissible; this is not permissible. It is not permissible to terrify Muslims or to terrify the people of faith.
Nor is it permissible to terrify the non-Muslims who have a treaty with us, if there is a covenant or agreement between us and them, or if they are people of dhimmah who pay the jizyah, or if they are non-Muslims granted safe conduct in our lands. They have what we have, and we have what they have, in fulfillment of the covenant. It is not permissible for us to terrify them or to betray them in their blood or their wealth, because they are people of dhimmah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever kills a person with whom there is a treaty will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, because he betrayed the covenant of the Muslims."
This is a distortion of Islam, an aggression against Islam, and a betrayal of its covenant. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have taken it, [O believers], and do not break oaths after their confirmation while you have made Allah, over you, a witness. Indeed, Allah knows what you do.
وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدتُّمْ وَلَا تَنقُضُوا الْأَيْمَانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَAnd fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.
وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًاAnd he does not break their covenant without a warning
If you [have reason to] fear from a people betrayal, throw [their treaty] back to them, [putting you] on equal terms. Indeed, Allah does not like traitors.
وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَانبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَاءٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْخَائِنِينَAnd prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حقيقة مصطلح الإرهاب؟ لمعالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.