Islam allows Jihad with conditions, bans terrorism

Those who confuse jihad (holy struggle), which is recommended by God, and terrorism are either ignorant or feigning ignorance, said Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mohammad Sayed Tantawi. In his speech late Tuesday marking the celebration of Lailatul Qadr, Sheikh Tantawi said Jihad is an act of defence while terrorism is an aggression on souls and money.

Jihad is necessary to support the oppressed and deter oppressors, said Sheikh Tantawi. That there are rules that should be observed when one should embark on Jihad as Islam bans man killing unless in cases when the target had previously killed someone, said the Grand Imam.

Islam bans killing children, women, old men, sick people and prisoners of war and prohibits mutilation of bodies, he added. Islam also orders captors to care for their prisoners of war, feed them and treat them in a human way, Sheikh Tantawi added.

The holy Quran is a good basis for a great human civilization as it defines right and wrong and shows human beings that they were born to build, not destruct, to do good, not to spread evil and to learn and teach things that serve humanity, said Sheikh Tantawi.

He added that the Holy Quran rejects oppression, intimidation of people, vandalism, freedom restrictions or any aggression on any country or breaching of human dignity.

Concluding his speech, Sheikh Tantawi supplicated to God to help the Palestinian people and support them till they establish their independent state.