Extremist groups have been using Islamic terms since the last few years to maintain their right to conduct violent attacks and terrorist activities. The group commonly known as FAK uses the term “jihad” to mask its violent operations. The Islamic scholarly research together with Islamic ethical principles establish that his narrative fails to hold up against their examination. The activities of these groups do not represent jihad because their actions follow the historical pattern of the Khawarij sect which Islamic authorities throughout history have condemned because of their violent behavior and insurrection. Islam as a system based on fairness and peaceful existence and ethical accountability forbids all types of violence which Islamic law defines as fasad-fil-ard (corruption on earth).

Islamic law has always established strict moral and legal boundaries which govern the concept of jihad in Islam. The classical Islamic scholarship study of jihad shows that violent acts do not exist as its purpose but instead exist as a controlled battle which needs approval from proper authorities and must follow specific moral rules. The Qur’an and the Sunnah emphasize human life protection and non-combatant safety and the prohibition of disorderly behavior which leads to chaos. FAK and similar groups misrepresent Islamic principles by claiming terrorist activities serve as religious obligations while their actual conduct violates Islamic principles.

The leading Islamic scholars of Pakistan have already explored this topic in complete detail. The national decree Paigham-e-Pakistan which was established as a landmark decree has received approval from over 1,800 Islamic scholars who represent various Islamic schools of thought to declare terrorism and suicide attacks and armed rebellion against the state as haram. The agreement represents one of the most authoritative modern Islamic responses to the problem of extremism. The declaration........

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