There is no meeting point between Islam and terrorism as practised by terrorist groups in different parts of the world. Terrorism involves the indiscriminate use of force to achieve certain objectives. In Islam, the use of force is allowed only in special situations, particularly when hostile forces threaten the Muslim community. Then again, the leader of the Muslim community determines the use of force in a campaign of Jihad in a very orderly way. The enemy will be well identified, and the use of force is only a last resort. However, what is happening in some parts of the Muslim world today involving some groups which are often described as ‘fundamentals’, is not always accurately reported or portrayed.  

Islam does not allow the use of force against peaceful civilians. Moreover, using military tactics against an established government and causing in the process the loss of life among civilians is a very serious matter. There will be some people who will try to justify it on the basis of Islamic principles. What we have learned from trusted authorities on Islam is that such use of force is not acceptable at all. We must remember that Almighty Allah did not allow the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and his companions to use force against the non-believers in Mecca, despite the fact that the believers were subjected to a campaign of persecution that caused the death of several people and subjected many to enormous torture. 

Moreover, Almighty Allah stopped the Muslims from fighting the non-believers in Mecca at the time of Hudaybiyah stating in the Holy Quraan that had a fight taken place, the Muslims would have been victorious ad the non-believers would have run away. Yet, Almighty Allah ordered the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to accept the peace agreement which seemed to be unjust to Muslims. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) declared to his companions that he would accept any conditions, which would prevent bloodshed. 

Therefore, resorting to terrorist campaign in order to change a government is not acceptable although the government may be a bad one and follows un-Islamic policies. 

However, we must also recognize that there is a sustained effort to associate Islam and the advocacy of implementing Islam with terrorism. This is part of the worldwide campaign to prevent Islamic revival. Therefore, we must not believe any report about Muslims resorting to terrorism tactics, unless we are absolutely certain of what has taken place and why it took place in the way it happened. There is much at fault with news reporters and media coverage of such events.