The Qur’an has strictly condemned terror and has qualified anarchy and mischief-making as most horrible things.

Islam prohibits every kind of terror, oppression, and treachery and opposes every kind of anarchy and ill-conduct. Islam does not requite evil with evil. The religion of Islam has been sent by Allah Almighty in order to set up justice, to break the despotism and arbitrary oppression of fierce evil selves, to make human conscience temperate. So Islam is very sensitive about it. The Qur’an regards the murder of an innocent person as the most horrible murder committed against the whole of the humanity.

Allah Almighty announces: “…if anyone slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people… (Al-Maidah, 32) The Qur’an also curses every kind of mischief. The Qur’an draws our attention to the incitements and mischief-making of those who start discord, cause discord in the life of society, and sow discord while in power, and also clearly reveals the horror of mischief-making, and seriousness of discord: “When he turns his back, his aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and cattle. But Allah loveth not mischief.” (Al-Baqarah, 205) 

The Qur’an has prohibited mischief. In Al-Baqarah, 217, Allah Almighty announces: “Mischief, tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.” (Al-Baqarah, 217)

In a Muslim’s soul, who makes use of these Qur’anic verses to full extent, there are no enmity, hatred and brutality. There is some kind of brotherhood even between his most fierce foe. A Muslim accepts the truth, which is, “we tolerate the creature just because of the Creator.” A Muslim is a defender of love. He has no time for hostility. In Holy Qur’an, Allah Almighty draws the attention of believers to the prevention of damages to the worship places, by indicating that worship places are protected against some people as a result of the intervention by some other people: “…For had it not been for Allah's repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down.” (Al-Hajj, 40) 

The Prophet Muhammad is a prophet of mercy and compassion. In the Holy Qur’an, Allah Almighty declares: “We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples” (Al-Anbiya,107) The Prophet (PBUH) revealed all manners of good morality in the best way in his life and advised his community to be far from mischief. He ordered to be away from mischief in a remarkable seriousness and sensitivity:

Beware of mischief ! For at that moment, tongue is like the sword blow. (Ibn-i Mace, Fiten, 24)

“Here is certain that there will appear mischief, diversity and controversity. When this situation takes place, go to Uhud with your sword. Hit it on the rock till it breaks into pieces. Then remain in your home. (Never leave your home) till there is a sinful hand on you or death visits your house.” (Ibn-i Mace, Fiten, 24) Just before the Doomsday, there is mischief like the pieces of dark nights. During that mischief, a person reaches morning as a believer, but ends up in disbelief at night; he reaches night as a believer but ends up in disbelief in the morning. During that mischief, the one sitting is better than the one standing up. So break your bows, smash your arrows, hit your swords on the rock. If they get into the house of one of you, be the better one of the two sons of Adam (be the killed one not the killer). (Abu Davud, Fiten 2, Tirmidi, Fiten 33)

Şener Dilek (Prof. Dr.)