With terrorism dominating the world agenda, the definitions of terror, terrorist and terrorism assume a whole new importance. Many countries define terrorism, draw up terrorist profiles and publish lists of terrorist organizations in the light of their own national interests. "Terrorist organizations" to some countries are freedom fighters to others. What one country sees as "terrorist nations," another welcomes as "loyal allies." Therefore, who defines terrorism? Who decides—and how do they decide—what a terrorist is? To establish a criterion, one can point to two distinct characteristics of terrorism:
1) Targeting civilians: Any occupied country has the right to resist an army occupying its territory. But if that resistance includes attacks on civilian targets, any justification ceases to apply, and terrorism begins. As we shall see later on in this book, this definition is entirely in accordance with Islamic rules of war. The Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded his followers to do battle against those who declared war on them. But he also ordered them to never regard civilians as targets. On the contrary, it was on order for every single Muslim and that obligation still stands, to take great care to ensure the safety of non-combatants. In the Qur'an, only war for defensive purposes is lawful. A Muslim exposed to an active assault can defend himself against it, but he can never use that as an excuse to attack anyone else apart from the parties engaged in that assault. He cannot attack civilians. Under the laws of Islam, anyone doing such a thing has committed a crime.
2) Destroying Peace: If no state of war exists, then terrorism can also include attacks on military or official targets. Attacks intended to break down peaceful relations between countries or communities are also acts of terrorism, even when aimed at military targets.
All attacks that threaten peace, or that are aimed at civilian targets, even in a state of war, are terrorism. There can be no question of defending, approving or justifying such attacks. However, such violence is very widespread in the modern world. That is why any war on terrorism needs to be wide-ranging. Its every stage should be carefully planned, with its final aim the total eradication of the entire concept. That, in turn, requires individuals in every nation to totally distance themselves from terrorism. Every form of terrorism must be unequivocally condemned, whatever its causes or aims, no matter what its targets, where it arises or how it is carried out. A devout Muslim opposes both individual and state terror. Similarly, anyone sincerely opposed to terrorism should show the same empathy for the thousands of innocent people it has slaughtered—not only at the World Trade Center, but in attacks in Japan, Spain, East Turkestan, and Indonesia, in the massacre of more than half a million Hutus in Rwanda, in the murder of defenseless people in Palestine, Israel and all across the globe.
Once every form of terrorism is fiercely condemned, then no longer will its perpetrators receive support from any country or be allowed to seek shelter inside its borders. Quite literally, terrorists will have nowhere to hide.
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