“Islamic Extremism” continues to be portrayed as the biggest threat to humanity through the lens of the media. While it is undoubtedly a big threat to world peace but it is not the only threat and definitely not the biggest. Furthermore, “extremism” or “terrorism” more aptly, is anything but Islamic irrespective of the affiliations of the people involved in these activities.

Those that ascribe to the militant ideology of Islam are quick to pass “fatwa” regarding the apostasy of the vast majority of the leaders ruling the Muslim world. They claim them to be corrupt and “not ruling according to the Shariah” and thus outside the pale of Islam. It is based on such fatwas that they embark on their unholy cause of liberating the Muslim lands from these evil apostate rulers. The self appointed saviours of Islam conveniently fail to acknowledge what Islam has to say about rebelling against the government and continue to wage their so-called Jihad against an unholy regime. And the saddest part is that all along the way they claim to be following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad!

But what did the Prophet actually have to say about this issue? Do we find anything in the Quran and Hadith (the two sources of Islamic law which the terrorists claim to be following to the hilt) on how to deal with corrupt and un-Islamic rulers? Yes, there’s plenty and it’s not what the militants would have you believe!

In an authentic narration Hudhaifa bin al-Yaman narrated, “The Prophet (saws) said, ‘There will be after me leaders who do not follow my guidance and do not follow my sunnah and there will be among them men whose hearts are like those of Satan in the body of a human being.’ And I asked the Prophet (saws), ‘What I should do at that time if I reach it?’ He said, ‘listen and obey the ruler, even if he lashed your back and took your money, listen and obey.’

Listen and obey while they lash your back and take your money! Now, that’s something that the common man would also have to struggle to do, let alone the militants! Next thing you know people will start criticizing Islam for being too passive!

In another narration, Auf bin Malik said, “O Prophet of Allah, do you recommend that we fight them?” He said, “No, don’t fight them as long as they do not prevent you from your prayers. And if you see from them something that you dislike, dislike their acts, do not dislike them. And do not take your hand out from obedience to them.”

Ok so no fighting but no disliking either! C’mon you’ve got to be kidding me! And I am sure the current president nor the ones before him have ever stopped anyone from their prayers, albeit the terrorists have!

The two most reliable collectors of hadith, Bukhari and Muslim also share a quote from the revered companion of the Prophet, Abdullah ibn al-Abbas which states, “if someone dislikes his ruler, he must be patient, because if he comes against the ruler in a rebellious or destructive manner by only a hand span and dies, he dies in a state of pre-Islamic ignorance (jahiliyyah) and sin.”

So all you wannabe martyrs- Think again before you blow yourselves up!

In addition to the sources mentioned above you will be able to find quotes of many imminent Islamic scholars throughout history stressing on the importance of obeying your leaders irrespective of their “piety” and degree of religiousness. Al-Bahjouri says “It is an obligation to obey the leader, even if he is not fair or trustworthy or even if he committed sins or mistakes.” Similarly Imam Abu Hanifa says that the head of the state, the Imam, cannot be expelled for being a corrupt person.

You need not be a rocket scientist (read: Mullah) to correctly interpret the above mentioned sources. Islam clearly advocates the people to obey their leaders and live peacefully while prohibiting taking up arms against the government. Rebellion against the ruler is considered to be a great iniquity in Islam. But before you start criticising Islam for being too passive and granting absolute immunity to rulers and allowing them to suppress and loot the masses; let’s see what Islam advocates as the right approach to adopt when it comes to correcting a corrupt government. A hadith states “The most excellent Jihad is when one speaks a word of truth in the presence of a tyrannical ruler.” Note that the hadith does not advocate the use of violence against the ruler but rather praises the one who attempts to correct a ruler by speech.

Let it be very clear, that an armed and violent opposition to a state regime can and never will be recognized as Jihad in the way of Allah, despite the claims made by groups involved in such activities. Today we find many groups instigating a rebellion against the government under the banner of Islam. In fact, such groups have stepped so far over the line that they do not only fight against the government but also seek to punish anyone associated with the “corrupt government” in any way whatsoever. Hence you find people such as government officers, public servants and members of the police and armed forces losing their lives to their terrorist activities. Of course they claim that people in such positions are actually helping the rulers to fulfill their evil fantasies but I would strongly recommend such people to read the story of a companion of the Prophet, Hatib Ibn Abi Balta. The man assisted the enemies of Islam during the life of the Prophet after having accepted Islam and passed on valuable secret information to them. Upon finding out, the Prophet demanded an explanation and was given one where Hatib Ibn Abi Balta explained he only aided them because he feared for his family back in Makkah, and hoped that they would give his family protection in return of his help. The Prophet, after hearing this explanation did not punish the companion nor did he consider him to be outside the fold of Islam. Thus, the legitimacy of the militant groups’ claim regarding people working for the government deserving punishment is also rendered null and void under the real banner of Islam.

With such solid text in place prohibiting Muslims to take up arms against the rulers, one wonders how so many groups today freely label the government and those working for it as apostates and issue “fatwas” to kill them. Maintaining peace and harmony in the society is more important to Islam than the removal of corrupt rulers with the use of violence and thus disturbing that peace.

Oh and by the way, Islam also tells us to pray for our leaders so that they may be guided to good. I wonder how many of us good Muslims (i.e non-terrorists) would ever raise our hands up to the heavens and pray for the likes of Zardari, Giliani, the Sharif brothers and who knows maybe even Musharraf! I take it, not many.

Rishadullah Shaikh is the New-Media Manager at Dawn.com

* Illustration by Feica

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.