INTRODUCTION
There are several myths linking Muslim with global terrorism. Such myths only demonize Muslim community contrary to what Islam doctrines stand for.
Islam prohibits terrorism and does not support terrorism under any circumstances. Islam prohibits a Muslim from attacking an innocent civilian.
Therefore it is right to say any group engaging in acts of terrorism is not following Islam but only using the name for political or financial gain.
Throughout history, Muslims never allowed the killing of civilians, even in the midst of wars such as the Crusades.
There is no respected Islamic scholar in Arab countries or anywhere in the Muslim world that would support such fatwa.
According to Hamza Yusuf, an Islamic scholar, who has made several comments about Islam and terrorism, in his teachings; “The Prophet Muhammad said, ‘Do not kill women or children or non-combatants and do not kill old people or religious people….'”
“Suicide is haram in Islam. It’s prohibited, like a mortal sin. And murder is haram. And to kill civilians is murder.
The Islamic scholar further quotes Hadith “It’s prohibited to burn anyone in Islam as a punishment.” No one can grant these attackers any legitimacy. It was evil.
Hamza Yusuf also teaches on the virtue of tolerance and cites the Prophet Muhammad said, “Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees and do not poison the wells of your enemies.
TODAY MEDIA MISREPRESENTATION OF MUSLIMS AND ISLAM
In the wake of terrorist attacks across the world, there is increased use of “Islamist” or “Islamists” or “jihadists” by media, online publications describing outlawed groups such as Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, and Al-Qaeda is giving Muslims a bad name.
The use of such terms to describe criminal terror groups is at times undesirable and offensive in the eyes of the majority of upright law-abiding Muslims in Kenya and around the world.
Negative stories essentially reproduce the notion that Muslims and Somalis are alien and are responsible for terrorist activities; a myth that Kenyan Muslim community have proved time and time again they are our Kenyan brothers and sisters.
Following scenarios and examples are indicative of Muslim community in Kenya and Somalia coming together and fighting the ill vice of terrorism.
- MUSLIM WOMAN CAPTURED COMFORTING STUDENT SURVIVORS OF GARISSA UNIVERSITY ATTACK
The captured images of a Muslim woman comforting female student survivors of Garissa University attack trended in various online publications.
What stood from the photo is a true testimony that terrorism knows no religion, the terrorists who attacked Garissa University targeted Christians students but at the end of it all, Muslim community came out strongly condemning the attack. The facial emotions of the woman shows pain and shun efforts of terrorist trying to divide Christians and Muslims.
- KENYA ATTACK SURVIVORS SAY CAMPUS BLOODBATH WAS PLANNED, TARGETED CHRISTIANS BUT SAY THEIR ALL KENYAN AND STAND UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM
A small group of male demonstrators walked down a main road in Garissa with signs that read “We are against the killing of innocent Kenyans!!!! We are tired!!” and “Enough is enough. No more killing!! We are with you, our fellow Kenyans.”
“We feel very sorry for them and we condemn the attack,” demonstrator Abdullahi Muktar said of the victims.
- KENYAN MUSLIMS SHIELD CHRISTIANS IN MANDERA BUS ATTACK
A group of Kenyan Muslims travelling on a bus ambushed by Islamist gunmen protected Christian passengers by refusing to be split into groups, according to eyewitnesses.
They told the militants “to kill them together or leave them alone”, a local governor told Kenyan media.
At least two people were killed in the attack, near the north-eastern village of El Wak on the Somali border.
The bus was travelling from the capital Nairobi to the town of Mandera.
Unlike in Garissa University College attack in April, where the militants reportedly singled out Christians and shot them, while freeing many Muslims, this time Kenya Muslim stood by their brothers and sisters defying the militants orders of dividing them along their religious line.
- PRAYER MOST POTENT WEAPON FOR KDF IN SOMALIA BATTLE
Even as they battle the Al Shabaab in Somalia, the 4,660 Kenyan soldiers remain a very prayerful lot.
Both Muslims and Christians stick to their prayer schedules in the morning, evenings, during and after meals.
They are also given time for Koran and Bible study sessions at their military camps.
- AMISOM PEACEKEEPERS IN KISMAYU OBSERVING HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN
Just as Muslims across the globe AMISOM soldiers in Kismayu pictured observing sacred month as well as taking part in their peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
Over 400 AMISOM peacekeepers from mainly Kenya, Sierra Leone and a few from Burundi observe the holy month in Kismayu alone as thousands of other peacekeepers scattered across Somalia also fast.
- AFTER TERRORIST ATTACK IN EL ADDE, NOMADIC SOMALI FAMILY NEAR EL ADDE TOWN SHELTERS 4 KDF SOLDIERS
After the Friday 15th January 2016 terrorists attack on a KDF base in El Adde, nomadic Somali family near El Adde town provided shelter for the KDF soldiers though Al-Shabaab later executed them together with the Somali family, the scenario represent many Somali people who are facing the challenge of Al-Shabaab insurgency indicate they cooperation against a common enemy.
- MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD SPEAK OUT AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS IN PARIS
Several Muslim religious and political leaders officially denounced the attacks before the group took responsibility, including Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, who called them a “crime against humanity,” and Qatari foreign minister Khaled al-Attiyah, who said they were “heinous.”
Muslims around the world took to social media to condemn the perpetrators and defend Islam as a faith of nonviolence.
Islam is Against Terrorism And The Islamic Legal Rulings On Terrorist Acts And Those Who Commit Them
