“The misuse of religious language by extremists does not represent Islam. Terrorism is fuelled by injustice, bad governance, poverty, manipulation, and political grievances—not by the teachings of Islam. Muslims have lived peacefully with Christians and Jews for centuries. Historically, Islam produced societies that welcomed refugees, supported learning, and encouraged peaceful coexistence.”
Terrorism is one of the most controversial words in global public discourse. It is used in newspapers, policy briefs, political speeches, and public debates with great frequency but often with limited historical context. Today, the term is routinely associated with Muslims, even though its origins have nothing to do with Islam or the Muslim world. The misuse of the term has created fear, misunderstanding, and prejudice, especially in countries where communities of different faiths live side by side.
At a time when Nigeria is grappling with Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnappings, and violent extremism, the question becomes urgent: What does Islam actually say about terrorism? And equally important: where did the word “terrorism” come from, and who were the first people described with it?
This article revisits the origins of the term, traces its historical evolution, examines global drivers of terrorism, and places these in the Nigerian context. It also explains Islam’s official position on terrorism, using evidence from the Qur’an, the Hadith, and the consensus of Islamic jurists. The article further discusses the concept of jihad, clarifies major misconceptions, and examines how Muslim communities historically lived peacefully with Christians and Jews for centuries. Finally, it reflects on global atrocities often ignored in contemporary conversations, showing that terrorism is not linked to any faith, race, or region but to injustice, oppression, and the failure of governance.
The Word “Terrorism”
The modern political meaning of “terrorism” began in 18th-century Europe. The term is derived from the Latin word terror, meaning fear, fright, or great dread. But “terrorism” as a political label first appeared during the French Revolution, specifically the era known as the Reign of Terror (1793–1794).
During that period, Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobins authorised mass arrests, summary executions, and widespread violence in the name of saving the French Republic. Public guillotinings became common, and fear dominated the society. The revolutionary government itself used the word terror to describe its policies. In French archives, the phrase La Terreur appears repeatedly, meaning rule by fear.
Thus, the first “terrorists” ever recorded in world history were European revolutionaries, non-religious political actors, members of a Western government, and people targeting their own citizens, not foreigners.
It is important to state this clearly: the word “terrorism” did not begin with Muslims, Arabs, Africans, or any non-Western group. Its birthplace was Europe. Its earliest use described state violence. And its earliest victims were European civilians.
Earlier Groups Called Terrorists
As the 19th and 20th centuries unfolded, the label “terrorist” was applied to a wide range of groups, often depending on the political perspective of the reporting authority.
The IRA
In the United Kingdom, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was described repeatedly in newspapers as a “terrorist group” because of bombings and assassinations during the long Irish struggle against British rule. Meanwhile, many Irish nationalists considered them freedom fighters.
Zionist Militias
In the 1940s, two Zionist groups in British-ruled Palestine—the Irgun and Stern Gang—were labelled “terrorist organisations” by the British government. The famous King David Hotel bombing of 1946, which killed over 90 people, was described in British newspapers as an act of terrorism.
The KKK
In the United States, the Ku Klux Klan was widely called a terrorist organisation because it carried out lynchings, arson, harassment, and targeted killings aimed at African Americans after the Civil War.
Anarchists
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, anarchist groups in Europe and America carried out bombings and assassinations, including the killing of U.S. President William McKinley in 1901. Newspapers at the time frequently used the term “anarchist terrorists”.
State Actors
In Latin America, military juntas in Chile, Argentina, and Guatemala used death squads and enforced disappearances. Scholars later referred to these as acts of “state terrorism”.
The meaning of terrorism broadened with time, but one fact remained clear: there is no religious monopoly over terrorism. It has appeared in Christian societies, secular societies, monarchies, republics, socialist states, and capitalist states.
What Causes Terrorism?
Research by the United Nations, the Global Terrorism Index, and major academic studies shows that terrorism usually arises from a combination of social, economic, political, and ideological factors. The major causes include:
Political oppression
Injustice and marginalisation
Foreign occupation or perceived occupation
State brutality or corruption
Poor governance and weak institutions
Poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunity
Illiteracy and lack of civic education
Ethnic manipulation by political elites
Identity-based grievances
Extremist ideology—religious or secular
Across the world, from Colombia to Palestine, from Northern Ireland to Afghanistan, these factors frequently appear in places where terrorism takes root.
Nigeria’s Situation
Nigeria’s terrorism challenges—Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping syndicates, and militant groups—did not emerge from a vacuum. They grew out of:
Long years of neglect in the North-East;
High poverty levels among rural youth;
Slow response to early warning signs;
Corruption in the distribution of public resources;
Proliferation of small arms across West Africa;
Collapse of local governance structures;
Infiltration of extremist ideologies;
Communal tensions between farmers and herders;
Radicalisation fed by misinformation; and
Weak policing and border security.
In the case of Boko Haram, extremist preachers deliberately twisted Islamic teachings to exploit vulnerable youth. Meanwhile, banditry in the North-West grew from rural poverty, easy access to weapons, and unresolved land conflicts.
The key point is that Islam is not the cause of terrorism in Nigeria. Rather, terrorism grows where governance is weak, justice is absent, and economic opportunities are scarce.
Islam’s Position on Terrorism
Islamic teachings are clear and straightforward. Terrorism is forbidden.
*Qur’anic Teaching on Life
The Qur’an states:
“Whoever kills a soul… it is as if he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all mankind.” – Qur’an 5:32
This verse is fundamental and frequently cited by scholars to demonstrate Islam’s strict respect for human life.
Protection of Innocent People
Another verse states: “Do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred except by right.” – Qur’an 6:151
Islamic law recognises only certain strict legal processes where capital punishment may apply, and even then, it must follow proper judicial procedures.
Rules of Fighting
Islam allows fighting only in self-defence: “Fight those who fight you, but do not transgress. Allah loves not the transgressors.” – Qur’an 2:190
The verse sets a clear boundary: defensive fighting is allowed, but excess or targeting non-combatants is strictly forbidden.
Teachings of Prophet Muhammad
The Hadith literature contains numerous warnings against harming the innocent.
“Do not kill women or children.” – Sahih Muslim
“Do not kill monks in monasteries.” – Musnad Ahmad
“Do not kill traders or farmers who are not part of the fighting.” – various narrations
“A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand people are safe.” – Sahih Bukhari
These statements remove any possibility of interpreting Islam as permitting terrorism.
*Terror, Image Credit: Oyakhamoh Y. Carl-Abu’Bakar-Pegasus Reporters ©
Islamic Jurists and Consensus
Across centuries, Islamic scholars in all major schools of jurisprudence—Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali—have agreed on certain principles:
It is absolutely forbidden to harm innocent people.
Terrorising civilians is a major sin.
Suicide bombing is forbidden because suicide is forbidden.
Violence without legitimate authority is rebellion, not jihad.
The consensus is clear: terrorism is against Islamic teachings.
Understanding Jihad
Many contemporary misunderstandings come from confusion about the word jihad.
Meaning
The term comes from the Arabic root J-H-D, which means to strive, to struggle, or to exert effort. The primary meaning of jihad is moral and spiritual effort, not violence.
*Types of Jihad
Islamic scholars classify jihad into several types:
Jihad of the self (jihad al-nafs) – struggle against one’s ego and desires.
Jihad of knowledge – seeking education and spreading truth.
Jihad of the tongue – speaking out against injustice peacefully.
Defensive jihad (jihad al-qital) – armed struggle only when a community faces aggression.
Misconceptions
There is no Qur’anic verse or authentic Hadith promising paradise for killing innocent people. The claim about “virgins in paradise for killing others” is an invention with no basis in Islamic scriptures.
Islamic fighting is bound by strict rules:
no killing of civilians,
no destroying of crops,
no harming of animals,
no demolition of houses,
no burning of trees,
no harming of prisoners,
no compulsion in religion.
This is why many scholars say terrorism cannot be called jihad under any circumstances.
Muslims and Peaceful Coexistence
History records many examples of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and other religious communities.
Islamic Spain
From the 8th to the 15th century, Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived together in Al-Andalus. The society produced scholars, poets, scientists, and philosophers. Jewish historians refer to the period as “the Golden Age of Jewish culture”.
The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II welcomed Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. They found refuge in Istanbul and other cities and lived peacefully for centuries.
Historic Middle Eastern Cities
Cities such as Baghdad, Damascus, Aleppo, Fez, and Cairo hosted diverse communities for generations, with synagogues, churches and mosques standing close to each other. These examples contradict claims that Islam is incompatible with peaceful coexistence.
The Mongol Atrocities
In the 13th century, the Mongol invasions devastated the Muslim world. The sack of Baghdad in 1258 resulted in almost 800,000 deaths.
Libraries, schools, hospitals, and mosques were destroyed.
This massacre, one of the worst in medieval history, was not labelled “terrorism” in modern discussions—showing that the use of the term is selective and political.
The Phrase “Holy War”
The term “holy war” does not exist in the Qur’an or in Hadith. It originated from Christian Europe during the Crusades. Latin records use the term bellum sacrum. Preachers like Pope Urban II used the phrase when mobilising Christians to fight in the First Crusade (1095).
Muslims never used this term historically. They used jihad, which does not mean holy war.
Top Global Killers in History
Public discussions often associate Muslims with terrorism, yet history’s deadliest figures were mostly non-Muslim leaders. Their actions led to millions of deaths:
Adolf Hitler – over 17 million
Mao Zedong – 45–75 million
Joseph Stalin – around 20 million
Genghis Khan – 30–40 million
Leopold II of Belgium – about 10 million in Congo
Emperor Hirohito’s Japan – several million across Asia
Pol Pot – around 2 million
European colonial regimes – tens of millions globally
These figures demonstrate that terrorism, mass killing, or genocide is not tied to any one religion or civilisation.
World War Lessons
First World War: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered it, but deeper causes included nationalism, imperial rivalries, and alliances.
Second World War: It began with the invasion of Poland but was rooted in economic hardship, fascism, and unresolved grievances from the First World War.
These wars killed over 70 million people, yet no one claimed that Western religions or cultures were inherently violent.
Global Injustice and Terrorism
Across continents, injustice is a major driver of terrorism. Communities react to oppression, exclusion, or marginalisation. Research consistently shows that terrorism flourishes where justice is absent and declines when justice is restored.
*Solutions for Nigeria
Drawing from global lessons, Nigeria’s solutions must be comprehensive.
Justice: Fair treatment, equal opportunities, and fair distribution of resources.
Education: Quality education, especially in the North, to counter extremist ideas.
Economic Reforms: Job creation, skills training, and investment in rural communities.
Security Reform: Better training, equipment, and intelligence coordination.
Community Engagement: Traditional rulers, clerics, and local leaders must be part of the solution.
Border Control: Better monitoring of weapons entering from the Sahel.
National Unity: Avoid politicising religion and ethnicity.
Deradicalisation: Use credible Islamic scholars to counter extremist ideologies.
Conclusion
Islam’s position on terrorism is clear. It condemns the killing of innocent people, the spreading of fear, and the destruction of life and property. The Qur’an prohibits murder. The Prophet forbade harming non-combatants. Islamic jurists across centuries condemned terrorism.
The misuse of religious language by extremists does not represent Islam. Terrorism is fuelled by injustice, bad governance, poverty, manipulation, and political grievances—not by the teachings of Islam.
Muslims have lived peacefully with Christians and Jews for centuries. Historically, Islam produced societies that welcomed refugees, supported learning, and encouraged peaceful coexistence. The challenges of terrorism in Nigeria and the world can be overcome through justice, education, economic reforms, and inclusive governance.
Islam stands for peace, justice, and the sanctity of human life. Terrorism stands against all these values.
