Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has described terrorism as a foreign creation designed to tarnish the image of Muslims, arguing that followers of Islam are largely the victims of terror attacks. Gumi made the assertion while speaking on the activities of terrorist groups and the perception of Muslims in relation to terrorism. He maintained that the widespread association of terrorism with Islam had created a negative image of the religion and its adherents.
According to the scholar, Muslims have suffered significantly from terrorist attacks despite the perception that they are responsible for acts of terrorism. He said the violence perpetrated by extremist groups should not be regarded as a representation of Islam or its teachings, stressing that the religion does not promote the killing of innocent people. Gumi further argued that the activities of terrorists should be examined within the context of their origins and motivations rather than being attributed to Muslims as a whole.
The Islamic scholar noted that the portrayal of terrorism as an Islamic phenomenon had contributed to discrimination and suspicion against Muslims in different parts of the world. He said such perceptions had made it difficult for people to distinguish between ordinary Muslims and individuals or groups involved in extremist activities. Gumi therefore urged the public to avoid generalising the actions of terrorist organisations to the wider Muslim community.
He also called for greater attention to the factors responsible for the emergence and spread of terrorism, rather than focusing solely on the religious identity of those involved.
According to him, understanding the forces behind terrorism would help in developing more effective approaches to addressing insecurity and preventing further attacks. He stressed that Muslims should not be collectively blamed for the actions of groups whose activities contradict the principles of Islam.
Gumi maintained that terrorism should be treated as a security and political challenge rather than an issue that could be attributed to an entire religion or community. He urged governments, religious leaders and members of the public to promote greater understanding and cooperation in tackling terrorism, while rejecting narratives that portray Muslims generally as perpetrators of terror.
