Photo: Collected
One of the main features of a beautiful and benevolent society is that people’s lives, wealth and honour remain safe there. But terrorism, extortion, intimidation, oppression and the unjust seizure of wealth severely destroy that security and peace of society.
Terrorism means such activities through which the security and normal life of an individual or society are disrupted with the help of intimidation, violence, weapons, killing, attack or threat. And extortion is forcibly collecting money or wealth from a person or institution through intimidation, threat, influence, use of force or abuse of power. The important similarity between the two crimes is that in both cases the rights of others are taken away by creating fear. In terrorism, people’s lives and security are affected; in extortion, people’s wealth and economic security are affected.
Creating fasad in society is forbidden
The importance of the sanctity and security of human life is extraordinary. Terrorism and extortion create fear, instability, injustice and insecurity in society. So these are deeply related to the concept of ‘fasad fil-ard’ in the language of the Quran, or creating disorder on earth. Almighty Allah says, ‘Do not seek to create fasad on earth. Surely Allah does not love those who create fasad.’ (Surah: Qasas, Ayat: 77)
Taking people’s wealth unjustly is forbidden
It is forbidden to collect the wealth of others by applying fear, threat, force or pressure without lawful business, exchange of labour or voluntary consent. This is extortion, which is a clear example of consuming wealth unjustly. Allah Ta’ala says, ‘Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly.’ (Surah: Baqarah, Ayat: 188)
A blow to wealth and honour is extremely grave
A Muslim cannot unjustly interfere with the life, wealth and honour of another Muslim.
Extortion is a direct blow to people’s wealth, and in many cases also an attack on their honour and security. In the Farewell Hajj sermon, Rasulullah (SAW) declared – ‘Your blood and your wealth are haram (sacred) for you, as they are haram (sacred) on this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this city of yours.’ (Muslim, Hadith: 1218)
The consequence of oppression is extremely severe
Oppression lies at the root of terrorism and extortion. When a terrorist frightens people, destroys their security or puts their lives under threat, he commits oppression. Likewise, when an extortionist collects money from people by frightening them, he too commits oppression. Narrated from Jabir (RA), Rasulullah (SAW) said, ‘Stay away from oppression. Surely oppression will turn into darknesses on the Day of Qiyamah.’ (Muslim, Hadith: 6741)
Warning about those who collect money unjustly
Collecting money from people unjustly is an extremely grave crime in Islam. Abdullah ibn Buraidah (RH), on the authority of his father, narrated the statement of the Prophet (SAW) regarding the tawbah of a repenting female companion – ‘She has made such a tawbah that if even a taker of maks had made such a tawbah, he would have been forgiven.’ (Muslim, Hadith: 4324)
In the hadith, ‘sahibu maks’ refers to a person who unjustly collects money or tolls from people.
If rights are violated, tawbah alone is not enough
The rights of fellow human beings are involved in extortion. If someone takes money from anyone unjustly, merely making tawbah by word of mouth is not enough; if possible, that money must be returned and the rights of the affected person must be fulfilled. The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘If any person has committed any oppression and wrong against his Muslim brother in respect of his honour or anything else, he should free himself from him today (by seeking forgiveness or giving recompense) before that day comes.’ (Bukhari, Hadith: 2449, 6534; Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2419)
In conclusion, it can be said that terrorism and extortion are a terrible curse for a peaceful society. Terrorism puts people’s lives and security under threat, while extortion takes away people’s wealth and economic freedom. At the root of both lie oppression, intimidation, injustice and the taking away of people’s rights.
Writer: Professor, Department of Arabic, University of Rajshahi
