Question: How can we differentiate
between terrorism and struggle for freedom?
Answer: The basic difference
between the two is that the struggle for freedom is always non-violent
while the latter is generally not. To be free and be part of a free country
is one’s basic right. However, Islam does not allow a person to resort
to violence in achieving this end. If a certain country is under the occupation
of governments in which Muslims are oppressed and subjected to injustices
and persecution, then they must try to bring a change in the political
leadership in a democratic manner by uniting under a single leadership
and then trying to win the majority in their favour.
If this struggle for freedom is to
assume the shape of an armed uprising, then it should meet certain conditions
of which the foremost is availability of a state – whether it is established
for this purpose or whether an already established one is used to achieve
this objective. If they are not able to meet this and other conditions
of an armed uprising, then they are not authorized to resort to militancy
in any form.
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