Muslim attitudes toward terrorism

Last updated

There is a wide range of Muslim attitudes towards terrorism .

Contents

The killing of innocent human beings (whether Muslim or non-Muslim) and unlawful confiscation of property are major sins in Islam and strictly forbidden by sharia. [1] [2]

Condemnation and opposition

In the article "Why are there no condemnations from Muslim sources against terrorists?" Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance summarizes: [3]

A common complaint among non-Muslims is that Muslim religious authorities do not condemn terrorist attacks. The complaints often surface in letters to the editors of newspapers, on phone-in radio shows, in Internet mailing lists, forums, etc. A leader of an evangelical Christian para-church group, broadcasting over Sirius Family Net radio, stated that he had done a thorough search on the Internet for a Muslim statement condemning terrorism, without finding a single item. Actually, there are lots of fatwas and other statements issued which condemn attacks on innocent civilians. Unfortunately, they are largely ignored by newspapers, television news, radio news and other media outlets.

Some Muslims have spoken out against 9/11. [4] [5] [6]

A 2007 Pew Research Center study of several nations throughout the Muslim world showed that opposition to suicide bombing in the Muslim world is increasing, with a majority of Muslims surveyed in 10 out of the 16 of the countries responding that suicide bombings and other violence against civilians is "never" justified, though an average of 38% believe it is justified at least rarely. Opposition to Hamas was the majority opinion in only 4 out of the 16 countries surveyed, as was opposition to Hezbollah. [7] The Pew Research Study did not include Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria in the survey, although densely populated Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, and Bangladesh were included.

A YouGov survey for the Daily Telegraph, [8] published two weeks after the July 2005 bombings in the London Underground, showed that 88% of British Muslims were opposed to the bombings, while 6% (about 100,000 individuals) fully supported them, and one British Muslim in four expressed some sympathy with the motives of the bombers. [9] A 2007 poll found that one Muslim in four thought the Government had staged the bombings and framed the Muslims convicted. [10] A 2011 study by Pew Research showed that 64% of Muslim Americans thought that there was not much or no support among them for extremism, while 6% thought there was a great deal, and 15% thought there was a fair amount. [11] A 2015 survey showed that most people in many nations with significant Muslim populations view the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria unfavorably; these views were especially common in Jordan and Lebanon. However, in Pakistan, 62% of people polled offered no opinion, while 20% of Muslims in Nigeria and 12% of those in Malaysia had a favorable view of ISIS. The survey did not include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sudan and Libya. [12]

In 2010 Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri issued the Fatwa on Terrorism, endorsed by Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.

In 2008 the 9 killed Mumbai militants who perpetrated the 2008 Mumbai attacks were refused an Islamic burial by influential Muslim Jama Masjid Trust who stated 'People who committed this heinous crime cannot be called Muslim'. [13]

Northwest Airlines Flight 253

The bombing attempt on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 was condemned by Muslim groups. In Canada, a group of Canadian and U.S. Islamic leaders issued a fatwa, or religious edict, condemning any attacks by extremists or terrorists on the United States or Canada and declaring that an attack by extremists on the two countries would constitute an attack on Muslims living in North America. "In our view, these attacks are evil, and Islam requires Muslims to stand up against this evil," said the fatwa signed by the 20 imams associated with the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada. [14] It concludes that Muslims "must expose any person, Muslim or non-Muslim, who would cause harm to fellow Canadians or Americans". One of the imams was reported saying: "it is religious obligation upon Muslims, based upon the Qur'anic teachings, that we have to be loyal to the country where we live". The fatwa also indicated that religious leaders have a duty to show others around the world that Muslims in Canada and the U.S. "have complete freedom to practice Islam" and that "any attack on Canada and the United States is an attack on the freedom of Canadian and American Muslims." [15] [16]

2011 Alexandria bombing

As gesture of solidarity with the country's Coptic Christian minority, Egyptian Muslims showed up at churches on the eve of the Coptic Christmas on 6 January 2011 during mass service forming a "human shield" against any possible further attacks. [17] In the days before the mass, Muslims and Copts joined together in a show of solidarity that included street protests, rallies, and widespread Facebook unity campaigns calling for an "Egypt for All". [18] In Lebanon, separate condemnations came from the Sunni Mufti of the Republic Mohammad Qabbani and Deputy Head of the Shiite Supreme Council Abdul Amir Qabalan. [19] Hamas has also condemned the bombing in Alexandria, assigning the blame to hidden hands that do not wish well for Egypt and its Muslim and Christian people and seek to inflame sectarian strife. Hamas in its statement sent condolences to Egypt and the victims' families, and hoped that facts would be disclosed the soonest and that those responsible would be brought to justice. [20]

In response to the attacks, Amr Khaled, an influential Egyptian Muslim preacher, launched a campaign to fight sectarian incitement made on the internet, which he believed to be a cause of the violence witnessed on New Year's Eve. [21]

Yemen

In November 2010, thousands of Yemeni tribesmen vowed to back the government's efforts in its battles against Al-Qaeda and promised to fight alongside the troops. Chieftain Naji bin Abdul-Aziz al-Shaif of the powerful, northern Bakeel tribe and the organizer of the rally stated: "We will fight against al-Qaida group as it harmed the reputation of the country, Yemeni tribes and Muslims...We expressed our sorrow to all countries and people who were harmed by al-Qaida and we demanded President Ali Abdullah Saleh to handle the situation and we will stand by him." [22]

Islamism

Iranian Ayatollah Ozma Seyyed Yousef Sanei issued a fatwa (ruling) that suicide attacks against civilians are legitimate only in the context of war. [23]

Abdelrahman al-Rashid, a Muslim and the managing director of Arab news channel Al-Arabiya, stated that "It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims" and blamed radical clerics for hijacking the peace-loving and tolerant religion of Islam. [24] Statistics compiled by the United States government's Counterterrorism Center present a more complicated picture. 21% of fatalities of known and specified terrorist incidents in 2006 were attributed to Islamic extremists. [25] A majority of over-all incidents were considered of either "unknown/unspecified" or a secular political nature. [25] The vast majority of the "unknown/unspecified" terrorism fatalities did however happen in Islamic regions such as Iraq, Afghanistan and India. [25]

According to the Country Reports on Terrorism 2011 published in 2012 by the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), "Sunni extremists accounted for the greatest number of terrorist attacks and fatalities for the third consecutive year. More than 5,700 incidents were attributed to Sunni extremists, accounting for nearly 56 percent of all attacks and about 70 percent of all fatalities." [26] The report said that in 2011, a total of 10,283 terrorism attacks across the world killed 12,533 people. Terrorism was also blamed for 25,903 injuries and 5,554 kidnappings. According to the NCTC, of the 12,533 terrorism-related deaths worldwide, 8,886 were perpetrated by "Sunni extremists", 1,926 by "secular/political/anarchist" groups, 1,519 by "unknown" factions, and 170 by a category described as "other" [26]

Demonstrations in support

Upon Osama bin Laden's death, some Muslims in the UK came out on the streets in support of bin Laden, praising him as an Islamic hero and condemned the role of the US and the West in killing him. The protest was organised by the activist Anjem Choudary, who earlier praised both 7/7 and the September 11 attacks, and was later jailed for his support of ISIS. [27]

Polls

Gallup polls

A Gallup poll published in 2011, "suggests that one's religious identity and level of devotion have little to do with one's views about targeting civilians." [28] The results of the survey suggested that "human development and governance - not piety or culture" were the strongest factors in explaining the public's view of violence toward civilians. [28] In a Gallup World Poll in 2011, residents of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states were less likely to justify the targeting and killing of civilians than residents of non-OIC states: [28]

In a regional breakdown, Gallup found that North Americans were most likely to justify military attacks on civilians, while residents of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region were most likely to oppose them. When asked about whether it is justifiable for the military to target and kill civilians: [28]

In another 2011 Gallup poll, they surveyed Americans, and found that Muslim Americans were less likely to justify the targeting and killing of civilians than other Americans. [29]

John Esposito, using poll data from Gallup, wrote in 2008 that Muslims and Americans were equally likely to reject violence against civilians. He also found that those Muslims who support violence against civilians are no more religious than Muslims who do not. [30] A later 2011 Gallup World Poll found that, in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, "those who reject military and individual attacks on civilians are more likely to say religion is an important part of their daily lives." [28]

Other polls

According to an ICM Research poll in 2006, 20% of British Muslims felt sympathy with the July 7 terrorist bombers' "feelings and motives", although 99% thought the bombers were wrong to carry out the attack. [31] In another poll by NOP Research in 2006, almost one in four British Muslims believe that the 7/7 attacks on London were justified. [32]

In a Pew Research study from 2006, at least 1 in 4 respondents in six Muslim-majority nations surveyed, except Turkey where it was 4%, had at least some confidence in Bin Laden. In Jordan, 24% expressed at least some confidence, in Pakistan, 38%, and in Nigeria, 61%. In the 4 European countries surveyed, it varied greatly. 5% of Muslim in France and 7% in Germany expressed at least some confidence, in United Kingdom and Spain however this number was 14 and 16% respectively. [33]

Pew has shown a large drop in confidence in Bin Laden from 2003 to 2011 amongst nations it surveyed. Confidence in him decreased to 34% in 2011 in Palestine, from a high of 74% in 2003. The same trend was observed in other nations: 26% in Indonesia as compared to 59% in 2003, 13% in Jordan in 2011 as compared to 56% in 2003, 3% in Turkey in 2011 as compared to 15% in 2003. The lowest was in Lebanon where only 1% had any confidence in him, down from 19% in 2003. Change compared to 6 countries surveyed in 2010 was minimal. Egypt however showed a confidence of 22% as compared to 19% in 2010. [34]

A 2010 Zogby poll reported that 69% of American Muslims supported stronger laws to fight terrorism. [35]

A 2013 Pew Research Center poll asked Muslims around the world whether suicide bombings and other forms of violence against civilians are justified to defend Islam. Globally, 72% of Muslims said it is never justified (compared to 81% of those in the US, according to a 2011 survey). [36] About 14% of Muslims in the nations surveyed (and 8% of Muslims in the US) said violence against civilians is "often" or "sometimes" justified. 46% of Muslims in Bangladesh believe attacks are either somewhat justified or often justified or rarely justified, 28% in Malaysia, 15% in Iraq, 44% in Jordan, 57% in Egypt, 57% in Afghanistan and 55% in the Palestinian territories. [37] [38] [39] The survey did not include some Muslim nations, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, and Libya, but did include densely populated Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria and Indonesia. [40] According to a 2007 poll conducted by the PolicyExchange think tank in Britain, nearly 60% said they would prefer to live under British law, while 37% of 16- to 24-year-olds said they would prefer sharia law, against 17% of those over 55. [41] Also 36% of 16- to 24-year-olds British Muslims believed that those converting to another religion should be executed. Less than a fifth of those over 55 think so. [42]

In 2004, a year after the invasion of Iraq, Pew Research Center survey found that suicide bombings against Americans and other Westerners in Iraq were seen as "justifiable" by many Jordanians (70%), Pakistanis (46%), and Turks (31%). At the same time, the survey found that support for the U.S.-led War on Terror had increased. [43] [44]

A 2005 Pew Research study, that involved 17,000 people in 17 countries showed support for terrorism was declining in the Muslim world along with a growing belief that Islamic extremism represents a threat to those countries. [45] A 2005 Daily Telegraph survey [46] showed that 88% of Muslims said the July 2005 bombings in the London Underground were unjustified, while 6% disagreed. However it also found that 24% of British Muslims showed some sympathy with the people who carried out the attacks.

Polls taken by Saudi owned Al Arabiya and Gallup suggested moderate support for the September 11 terrorist attacks within the Arab world, with 36% of Arabs polled by Al Arabiya saying the 9/11 attacks were morally justified, 38% disagreeing and 26% of those polled being unsure. [47] A 2008 study, produced by Gallup, found similar results with 38.6% of Muslims questioned believing the 9/11 attacks were justified. [48] Another poll conducted, in 2005 by the Fafo Foundation in the Palestinian Authority, found that 65% of respondents supported the September 11 attacks. [49]

Suicide bombings

In a 2006 Pew poll in response to a question on whether suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets to defend Islam could be justified, [50]

In Europe

  • (35 vs 64) 64% of Muslims in France believed it could never be justified, 19% believed it could be justified rarely, 16% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.
  • (24 vs 70) 70% of Muslims in the UK believed it could never be justified, 9% believed it could be justified rarely, 15% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.
  • (13 vs 83) 83% of Muslims in Germany believed it could never be justified, 6% believed it could be justified rarely, 7% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.
  • (25 vs 69) 69% of Muslims in Spain believed it could never be justified, 9% believed it could be justified rarely, 16% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.

In mainly Muslim countries

  • (53 vs 45) 45% of Muslims in Egypt believed it could never be justified, 25% believed it could be justified rarely, 28% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.
  • (26 vs 61) 61% of Muslims in Turkey believed it could never be justified, 9% believed it could be justified rarely, 17% thought it could be justified often or sometimes
  • (57 vs 43) 43% of Muslims in Jordan believed it could never be justified, 28% believed it could be justified rarely, 29% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.
  • (69 vs 28) 28% of Muslims in Nigeria believed it could never be justified, 23% believed it could be justified rarely, 46% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.
  • (22 vs 69) 69% of Muslims in Pakistan believed it could never be justified, 8% believed it could be justified rarely, 14% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.
  • (28 vs 71) 71% of Muslims in Indonesia believed it could never be justified, 18% believed it could be justified rarely, 10% thought it could be justified often or sometimes.

In 2007, 17% of Muslims in Palestinian territories believed it could rarely or never be justified, and 70% thought it could be justified sometimes or often. [51] In comparison, 32% stated in 2014 it was never justified, while 13% said it was rarely justified, 46% said it is often or sometimes justified. [52] A 2011 report by Pew Research stated that 81% of American Muslim thought it was never justified, 5% said rarely, 7% sometimes and 1% often. [53]

In a 2013 poll, 91% of Muslims in Iraq said suicide bombings to defend Islam from enemies could never/rarely be justified while 7% said it was often/sometimes. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 96% said it was never/rarely justified while 3% said often/sometimes. In Albania, 93% said it was never/rarely justified while 6% said often/sometimes. In Russia, 90% said never/rarely while 4% said often/sometimes. In Kosovo, 82% said it was never/rarely justified while 11% said often/sometimes. In Azerbaijan, 96% said it was never/rarely while 1% said often/sometimes. In Tajikistan, 85% said never/rarely while 3% said often/sometimes. In Kazakhstan, 95% said never/rarely while 2% said often/sometimes. In Kyrygztsan, 82% said never/rarely while 10% said often/sometimes. In Afghanistan, 58% said never/rarely and 39% often/sometimes. In Morocco, 74% said never/sometimes and 9% said often/sometimes. [54]

A 2014 Pew poll showed that support for suicide bombings had fallen to a great degree in Muslim-majority nations over the last decade: [55]

  • (46 vs 45) In Lebanon, 45% it could never justified, 25% rarely and 29% said often/sometimes.
  • (59 vs 38) In Egypt, 38% said it could never be justified, 35% rarely while 24% said often/sometimes.
  • (29 vs 58) In Turkey, 58% said never, 11% rarely while 18% said often/sometimes.
  • (44 vs 55) In Jordan, 55% said never, 29% rarely while 15% said often/sometimes.
  • (8 vs 90) In Tunisia, 90% said never, 3% rarely while 5% said often/sometimes.
  • (61 vs 33) In Bangladesh, 33% said never, 14% rarely and 47% said often/sometimes.
  • (33 vs 60) In Malaysia, 60% said never, 15% rarely and 18% often/sometimes.
  • (22 vs 76) In Indonesia, 76% said never, 13% rarely and 9% often/sometimes.
  • (7 vs 83) In Pakistan, 83% said never, 4% rarely and 3% often/sometimes.
  • (34 vs 60) In Nigeria, 60% said never, 15% rarely and 19% often/sometimes.
  • (31 vs 56) In Senegal, 56% said never, 16% rarely and 15% often/sometimes.

In mostly non-Muslim nations:

  • (45 vs 50) In Tanzania, 50% said never, 19% said rarely and 26% said often/sometimes.
  • (46 vs 48) In Israel, 48% said never, 30% rarely and 16% said often/sometimes.

Western perspectives

Michael Scott Doran wrote in the journal Foreign Affairs that Islam seemed to be polarised between pro-Western and pro-jihadi mentalities, enabling a clear divide between opponents and proponents of violent action. [56] The International Crisis Group wrote in their 2005 report Understanding Islamism that Islamic ideological and political spectrums were far more diverse than this idea suggests. American policy is unpopular among some Muslims, the report argued, yet this hostility did not directly translate to support for or participation in global jihad, and for political Islamists who support non-violent measures it could not be assumed that they are in agreement with Western agendas. [57] Researchers have studied the condemnation of terrorism by European Muslim representatives, committees, and umbrella organizations, but also the everyday resistance to violent extremism in various Muslim communities. [58]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hezbollah</span> Lebanese political party and militant group

Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, led since 1992 by its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese Parliament.

War against Islam is a term used to describe a concerted effort to harm, weaken or annihilate the societal system of Islam, using military, economic, social and cultural means, or means invading and interfering in Islamic countries under the pretext of the war on terror, or using the media to create a negative stereotype about Islam. The alleged perpetrators are non-Muslims, particularly the Western world and "false Muslims", in collusion with political actors in the Western world. While the themes of the "War against Islam" mostly concern general issues of societal transformations in modernization and secularization as well as current international power politics, the Crusades are often given as its starting point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in the United States</span> Presence of the religion of Islam in the United States of America

Islam is the third largest religion in the United States (1%), behind Christianity and Judaism, and equaling the shares of Buddhism and Hinduism. A 2017 study estimated that 1.1% of the population of United States are Muslim. In 2017, twenty states, mostly in the South and Midwest, reported Islam to be the largest non-Christian religion. In 2020, the U.S. Religion Census found there to be 4.45 million Muslim Americans, or roughly 1.3% of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yusuf al-Qaradawi</span> Egyptian-born Qatari imam (1926–2022)

Yusuf al-Qaradawi was an Egyptian Islamic scholar based in Doha, Qatar, and chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars. His influences included Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Qayyim, Sayyid Rashid Rida, Hassan al-Banna, Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi, Abul A'la Maududi and Naeem Siddiqui. He was best known for his programme الشريعة والحياة, al-Sharīʿa wa al-Ḥayāh, broadcast on Al Jazeera, which had an estimated audience of 40–60 million worldwide. He was also known for IslamOnline, a website he helped to found in 1997 and for which he served as chief religious scholar.

al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya Egyptian Sunni Islamist movement

al-Jamāʻah al-islāmīyah, is an Egyptian Sunni Islamist movement, and is considered a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom and the European Union.al-Jamāʻah al-islāmīyah was removed from the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the United States in May 2022. The group was dedicated to the overthrow of the Egyptian government and replacing it with an Islamic state; the group has committed to peaceful means following the coup that toppled Mohamed Morsi.

Islamic terrorism refers to terrorist acts with religious motivations carried out by fundamentalist militant Islamists and Islamic extremists.

Criticism of the war on terror addresses the morals, ethics, efficiency, economics, as well as other issues surrounding the war on terror. It also touches upon criticism against the phrase itself, which was branded as a misnomer. The notion of a "war" against "terrorism" has proven highly contentious, with critics charging that participating governments exploited it to pursue long-standing policy/military objectives, reduce civil liberties, and infringe upon human rights. It is argued by critics that the term war is not appropriate in this context, since there is no identifiable enemy and that it is unlikely international terrorism can be brought to an end by military means.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1566</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2004

United Nations Security Council resolution 1566, adopted unanimously on 8 October 2004, after reaffirming resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), the Council condemned terrorism as a serious threat to peace and strengthened anti-terrorism legislation.

Opposition to the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) stemmed from numerous factors, including the view that the United States invasion of Afghanistan was illegal under international law and constituted an unjustified aggression, the view that the continued military presence constituted a foreign military occupation, the view that the war did little to prevent terrorism but increased its likelihood, and views on the involvement of geo-political and corporate interests. Also giving rise to opposition to the war were civilian casualties, the cost to taxpayers, and the length of the war to date.

Martyrdom videos are video recordings, generally from Islamist jihadists who are about to take part in a suicide attack and expect to die during their intended actions. They typically include a statement by the person preparing to be a martyr for their cause. They can be of amateur or professional quality and often incorporate text, music, and sentimental clips. The people in these videos typically sit or stand in front of a black Islamic flag, in their explosive-rigged vehicles, or media or other symbol of their allegiance. Suicide bombers considered themselves religiously justified by sharia and consider themselves to be shahid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrorism in Egypt</span> List of terrorist attacks in Egypt from the 1940s to the present day

Terrorism in Egypt in the 20th and 21st centuries has targeted the Egyptian government officials, Egyptian police and Egyptian army members, tourists, Sufi Mosques and the Christian minority. Many attacks have been linked to Islamic extremism, and terrorism increased in the 1990s when the Islamist movement al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya targeted high-level political leaders and killed hundreds – including civilians – in its pursuit of implementing traditional Sharia law in Egypt.

Istishhad is the Arabic word for "martyrdom", "death of a martyr", or "heroic death"..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suicide attack</span> Violent attack in which the attacker accepts their own death

A suicide attack is a form of attack in which the perpetrators accept their own death as an inevitable consequence of their chosen method. Often associated with terrorism or military conflicts, suicide attacks are a form of murder–suicide. Suicide attacks often involve explosives, in which case they may be referred to as suicide bombings; in the context of terrorism, suicide attacks are also commonly referred to as suicide terrorism. Although generally not regulated under international law by themselves, many suicide attacks violate international laws of war such as perfidy or targeting civilians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reactions to the September 11 attacks</span> Reaction to 2001 terrorist attacks

The September 11 attacks were condemned by world leaders and other political and religious representatives and the international media, as well as numerous memorials and services all over the world. The attacks were widely condemned by the governments of the world, including those traditionally considered hostile to the United States, such as Cuba, Iran, Libya, and North Korea. However, in a few cases celebrations of the attacks were also reported, and some groups and individuals accused the United States in effect of bringing the attacks on itself. These reports have been uncorroborated and many have been linked to unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.

<i>Fatwa on Terrorism</i>

The Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings is a 600-page, 512 page Islamic book by scholar Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri which demonstrates from the Quran and Sunnah that terrorism and suicide bombings are unjust and evil, and thus un-Islamic. The book was published in London. The English edition was published in the UK by Minhaj-ul-Quran Publications. Qadri released the book on 2 March 2010.

The use of politically and religiously-motivated violence dates back to the early history of Islam. Islam has its origins in the behavior, sayings, and rulings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his companions, and the first caliphs in the 7th, 8th, and 9th centuries CE. Mainstream Islamic law stipulates detailed regulations for the use of violence, including corporal and capital punishment, as well as regulations on how, when, and whom to wage war against.

Takfir wal-Hijra, was the popular name given to a radical Islamist group Jama'at al-Muslimin founded by Shukri Mustafa which emerged in Egypt in the 1960s as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. Although the group was crushed by Egyptian security forces after it murdered an Islamic scholar and former government minister in 1977, it is said to have "left an enduring legacy" taken up by some Islamist radicals in "subsequent years and decades."

Moderate Islam and moderate Muslim are labels that are used within counterterrorism discourse as the complement of "Islamic extremism" and imply that supporting Islamic terrorism is the characteristic of a "radical" faction within Islam, and a "moderate" faction of Muslims denounces extremist violence such as Islamic terrorism, militant jihadism and radical Islamism.

Several notable opinion polls have been undertaken on Islam and related topics, including fundamentalism, and Islamic terrorism. Polls have interviewed both Muslim respondents and other groups.

References

  1. ↑ "Surat Al-Baqarah [2:188] - The Noble Qur'an - القرآن الكريم". legacy.quran.com. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
  2. ↑ "The Quranic Arabic Corpus - Translation". corpus.quran.com. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
  3. ↑ "Why are there no condemnations from Muslim sources against terrorists?". Religioustolerance.org. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  4. ↑ Fethullah Gülen (2001-09-12). "Gülen's Condemnation Message of Terrorism". Gülen Institute. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  5. ↑ Charles Kurzman (2012-03-15). "Islamic Statements Against Terrorism". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  6. ↑ "Muslims Condemn Terrorist Attacks". Muhajabah.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  7. ↑ "A Rising Tide Lifts Mood in the Developing World". Pew Global Attitudes Project. Pew Research Center. 2007. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  8. ↑ King, Anthony (2005-07-23). "One in four Muslims sympathises with motives of terrorists". News. London: Telegraph Group Limited. Retrieved 2006-06-25.
  9. ↑ "Muslims Poll" (PDF). ICM Research. February 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "7/7 bombs staged, say one in four Muslims". The Daily Telegraph. 2007-06-05. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  11. ↑ "Muslim Americans: No Signs of Growth in Alienation or Support for Extremism". Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  12. ↑ "In nations with significant Muslim populations, much disdain for ISIS".
  13. ↑ Mumbai killers to be denied a muslim burial, The Scotsman , 2008-12-01
  14. ↑ "Attack on Canada and the United States is Attack on Muslims Too". Islamic Supreme Council of Canada. 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  15. ↑ "Twenty imams issue fatwa against attacks in Canada or the U.S." Toronto Star. Jan 8, 2010. Retrieved Jan 29, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Attack on Canada, U.S. is attack on Muslims: imams". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 9, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Egypt's Muslims Attend Coptic Christmas Mass, Serving as 'Human Shields'". Fox News Channel. January 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  18. ↑ "In Egypt, ministers and movie stars turn out for trouble-free Christmas mass". Al-Ahram . 7 January 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Lebanese Leaders Condemn Alexandria Church Massacre". iLoubnan. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  20. ↑ "Hamas condemns Alexandria church bombing". Ahlul Bayt News Agency. 2011-01-02.
  21. ↑ "Amr Khaled calls for Facebook users to fight sectarianism". Al-Ahram. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Yemeni tribesmen voice support for fight against al-Qaida". People's Daily Online. November 9, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Iran: Ayatollah Issues Fatwa Against Suicide Attacks". adn kronos international. 2006. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved 2006-06-25.
  24. ↑ "Arab journalist attacks radical Islam". 2004-09-07.
  25. 1 2 3 "Excerpt: NCTC Report on Terrorist Incidents – 2006" (PDF). National Counterterrorism Center. 2007-04-30.
  26. 1 2 National Counterterrorism Center (31 July 2012). "Country Reports on Terrorism 2011". United States Department of State . Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  27. ↑ "Radical cleric Anjem Choudary guilty of inviting IS support". BBC News. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 "Views of Violence". Gallup. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  29. ↑ Naurath, Nicole (2 August 2011). "Most Muslim Americans See No Justification for Violence". Gallup.
  30. ↑ "Excerpt: 'Who Speaks for Islam?'". NPR. 2008-03-04.
  31. ↑ "Poll reveals 40pc of Muslims want sharia law in UK". The Daily Telegraph. 19 February 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  32. ↑ "Many British Muslims Put Islam First". CBS News. 14 August 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  33. ↑ "The Great Divide: How Westerners and Muslims View Each Other" (PDF). Pew Global Attitudes Project. Pew Research Center. 2006. p. 25. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  34. ↑ "Osama bin Laden Largely Discredited Among Muslim Publics in Recent Years". Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center. 2006. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  35. ↑ Zogby, John (26 August 2010). "American Muslims Have Mainstream Values". Forbes .
  36. ↑ "Appendix A: U.S. Muslims — Views on Religion and Society in a Global Context". 30 April 2013.
  37. ↑ Trumbull, Mark (2013-05-01). "How US Muslims are different: Pew poll sheds light on global contrasts". The Christian Science Monitor.
  38. ↑ Wike, Richard; Smith, Greg (17 December 2009). "Little Support for Terrorism Among Muslim Americans". Pew Research Center.
  39. ↑ Yen, Hope (2011-08-30). "Poll: Muslim-Americans feel targeted by terror policies". NBC News. Associated Press.
  40. ↑ "Executive Summary". The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society. Pew Research Center. April 30, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Bishop warns that Muslims who convert risk being killed". TheGuardian.com . 16 September 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  42. ↑ "More young Muslims back sharia, says poll". TheGuardian.com . 29 January 2007.
  43. ↑ "A Year After Iraq War – Mistrust of America in Europe Ever Higher, Muslim Anger Persists". Survey reports. The Pew Research Center. 2004. Retrieved June 25, 2006.
  44. ↑ "Bin Laden more popular with Nigerian Muslims than Bush". Daily Times of Pakistan. AFP. 2003. Archived from the original on August 15, 2003. Retrieved June 25, 2006.
  45. ↑ "Islamic Extremism: Common Concern for Muslim and Western Publics". Pew Global Attitudes Project. Pew Research Center. 2005. Retrieved June 25, 2006.
  46. ↑ King, Anthony (23 July 2005). "One in four Muslims sympathises with motives of terrorists". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  47. ↑ Arab polling, Al Arabiya
  48. ↑ Just Like Us! Really?, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
  49. ↑ 65% of Palestinians Applaud Terror Attacks on US and Europe IsraelNationalNews.com
  50. ↑ "Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream" (PDF). Pew Research. 22 May 2007. p. 53. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  51. ↑ "Support for Suicide Bombing - Is suicide bombing justifiable?". Pew Research. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  52. ↑ "Muslim Views on Suicide Bombing". Pew Research. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  53. ↑ "Appendix A: U.S. Muslims — Views on Religion and Society in a Global Context". Pew Research. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  54. ↑ "The World's Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society". Pew Research. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  55. ↑ "Concerns about Islamic Extremism on the Rise in Middle East". Pew Research. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  56. ↑ Michael Scott Doran (January 2002). "Somebody Else's Civil War". Foreign Affairs (January/February 2002). Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  57. ↑ International Crisis Group. Understanding Islamism: Middle East/North Africa Report. No 37, March 2005
  58. ↑ Josefsson T, Nilsson M, Borell K (2017). "Muslims Opposing Violent Radicalism and Extremism: Strategies of Swedish Sufi Communities". Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. 37 (2): 183–195. doi:10.1080/13602004.2017.1339498. S2CID   148877705.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.