What is meant by terrorism? Is it exclusive to Muslims? Is there anything in the language of the Sharia that indicates its meaning? What is the ruling of the Sharia on terrorists? And how can Muslims protect their society from the evil of this terrorism?

The term "terrorism" is neither legitimate nor jurisprudential, and Muslims must use legitimate terms and avoid ambiguous terms that carry multiple meanings. Scholars have warned about the importance of detailing the meanings of these terms, so what is true is accepted, and what is false is rejected.

Terrorism is an ambiguous term that may be used to describe actions condemned by both Sharia and reason, such as killing innocents, or to stigmatize those who defend their legitimate rights. This ambiguity has been exploited to falsely accuse those who disagree or reject injustice. The Islamic Fiqh Council has called for a specific definition of terrorism to regulate its meaning and noted that the noble verse: {You awe thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy} means preparing strength to deter enemies, not what is commonly understood as terrorism today.

The Council defined terrorism as: aggression practiced by individuals, groups, or states, unjustly against humans in their religion, life, intellect, property, and honor, and it includes all forms of intimidation, harm, threat, and unjust killing, and forms of brigandage and highway robbery, and every act of violence aimed at instilling fear among people, or endangering their lives, freedoms, and security, and harming the environment and public or private facilities.

The lack of agreement on a specific definition of terrorism has been used as a pretext to attack the rulings of Islamic Sharia and persecute those who defend their rights, which is vehemently rejected, while condemning the accusation of terrorism being attached to Islam, the religion of mercy and peace.

The term terrorism can be replaced with precise legitimate terms such as: 1. Injustice ( الظلم): This is the transgression of rights. Allah has forbidden it upon Himself and made it forbidden among His servants, and He has promised severe punishment to the unjust. 2. Brigandage and Corruption on Earth ( الحرابة والإفساد في الأرض): A grave crime for which Allah has promised severe worldly and otherworldly punishments to its perpetrators. 3. Aggression/Transgression ( البغي): This is injustice and assault, and Allah has strictly forbidden it. Aggressors have detailed rulings in Islamic jurisprudence.

As for the means of protecting societies from these crimes, they include: Implementing Sharia and establishing justice. Spreading correct Islamic da'wah (invitation) and legitimate knowledge. Educating people on piety that magnifies the rights of servants. Protecting societies from moral decay and immorality. Supporting the causes of oppressed Muslims and condemning the crimes of aggressor states.