Page 16 - Only Love Can Defeat Terrorism

Only Love Can Defeat Terrorism

contrary, it was on order for every single Muslim and that
obligation still stands, to take great care to ensure the safety of

non-combatants. In the Qur'an, only war for defensive
purposes is lawful. A Muslim exposed to an active assault can
defend himself against it, but he can never use that as an
excuse to attack anyone else apart from the parties engaged in
that assault. He cannot attack civilians. Under the laws of

Islam, anyone doing such a thing has committed a crime.

2) Destroying Peace: If no state of war exists, then
terrorism can also include attacks on military or official
targets. Attacks intended to break down peaceful relations
between countries or communities are also acts of terrorism,

even when aimed at military targets.
All attacks that threaten peace, or that are aimed at
civilian targets, even in a state of war, are terrorism. There can
be no question of defending, approving or justifying such

attacks. However, such violence is very widespread in the
modern world. That is why any war on terrorism needs to be
wide-ranging. Its every stage should be carefully planned,
with its final aim the total eradication of the entire concept.
That, in turn, requires individuals in every nation to totally
distance themselves from terrorism. Every form of terrorism

must be unequivocally condemned, whatever its causes or
aims, no matter what its targets, where it arises or how it is
carried out. A devout Muslim opposes both individual and
state terror. Similarly, anyone sincerely opposed to terrorism

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