THE REVIVAL CONDEMNS THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN MADRID

'A totally barbaric and in-humane attack on innocent people'

The Revival condemns the terrorist attacks in the Spanish capital Madrid that lead to the death of almost 200 people and the injury of 1500. It was a totally barbaric and in-humane attack on innocent people.

The Revival also wishes to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the victim's relatives and loved ones and our wishes to all those injured for a speedy and full recovery.

If the attackers are Al-Qaeeda or not it should be crystal clear that terrorism and bombing innocent civilians has absolute no place what so ever in Islam. All kinds of terrorism is totally forbidden by the Islamic faith. Perpetrators of this attack have nothing to do with Islam and the Muslims; rather they are enemies of Muslims.

Terrorism is not the case of religion, it is neither Islamic nor Jewish nor Christian. Terrorism is a social problem, a political, and an economic problem. There are many tribulations in a society and terrorism maybe committed due to any of those reasons. It is found right from the far East to the far West. Everywhere and every society possesses this crime.

Islam is a faith of peace and submission and stresses on the sanctity of human life. A verse in the Quran says, [Chapter 5, verse 32], that "anyone who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the whole of mankind and anyone who has killed another person it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind."

It should be clear that even in war, according to Islam a Muslim is still not allowed to harm or kill traders, merchants, and contractors if they do not take part in actual fighting. It is totally against Islam for a Muslim to kill non-combatants, women, minors, servants, the blind, monks, elderly, those physically incapable of fighting and the insane or delirious. Combatants are only those who are physically capable of fighting. Even prisoners of war are given protection and cannot be harmed. Are these the rules, laws and etiquettes of terrorists and fanatics?

We should not let our anger cloud our judgement and get the better of our reasoning. Even if the perpetrators of these sickening acts are proven to be Muslims it does not give us the right to hold the 1.2 Billion Muslims responsible and link this attack to any teachings of Islam. The ordinary Muslim in the UK and the rest of the world condemns the attacks and should not have to pay for the criminal acts of a few extremists.

Sajid Iqbal, Editor The Revival