Nazra fi Mafhum al-Irhab wal-Mawqif minhu fi al-Islam
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- The book is published on the website of the Saudi Ministry of Awqaf without publication details
Nazra fi Mafhum al-Irhab wal-Mawqif minhu fi al-Islam (A Look at the Concept of Terrorism and the Stance Towards It in Islam) is a scholarly treatise by the Saudi sociologist and religious official Abd al-Rahman al-Matrudi (b. 1374 AH / 1954 CE), analyzing the linguistic, legal, and sociopolitical definitions of terrorism and detailing the perspective and countermeasures of Islamic law against violent extremism .
Background and Publication
The work originated as a research paper originally titled Wajhat Nazar fi Mafhum al-Irhab wal-Mawqif minhu fi al-Islam (A Point of View on the Concept of Terrorism and the Stance Towards It in Islam), presented at an academic conference organized by the King Fahd Chair for Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London in Sha'ban 1424 AH / October 2003 CE . Upon finalizing the study, the author adjusted the title to reflect its scope more accurately . It was published by the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh .
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into four main chapters:
- Chapter One: The Concept and Definition of Terrorism (Mafhum al-Irhab wa-Ta'rifuh): Explores the linguistic roots of the term irhab (derived from r-h-b, denoting fear or intimidation) and compares conventional modern definitions across international bodies, Western legal codes, and Arab statutes . The author identifies common elements among contemporary definitions—chiefly the deliberate use of violence or intimidation against non-combatants—and distinguishes between three related facets: terrorist ideology (fikr al-irhab), intellectual coercion (irhab al-fikr), and terrorist acts (a'mal al-irhab) .
- Chapter Two: Terrorism in Human Society, Its Roots and Origins (al-Irhab fi al-Mujtama' al-Bashari, Judhuruhu wa-Nash'atuh): Examines terrorism as a long-standing historical phenomenon, citing early accounts such as the murder of Abel by Cain and the persecution of early Muslims, as well as historical sectarian movements like the Kharijites and the Qarmatians . It categorizes the causes of terrorism into domestic dimensions (educational, social, economic, and political factors) and international dimensions (the absence of a universally agreed-upon definition, misuse of charitable cover, technological advances, and sensationalist media coverage) . It also delineates the core characteristics of terrorist acts, such as targeting public infrastructure, rejecting societal consensus, and undermining legitimate authority and scholars .
- Chapter Three: Terrorism from the Islamic Perspective (al-Irhab fi al-Manzur al-Islami): Refutes allegations linking terrorism inherently to Islamic doctrines, contrasting Quranic terminology with modern technical usages of the word . The author describes Islam's two-pronged approach to combating terrorism: a preventive educational track focused on spiritual and intellectual immunity, and a curative penal track grounded in statutory punishments against banditry and social disruption (hirabah and fasad fil-ard) . The chapter defines modern terrorism from an Islamic legal standpoint as any act or speech deviating from the divine law that harms individuals, communities, or public assets while instilling fear among people .
- Chapter Four: The International Stance on Terrorism (al-Mawqif al-Dawli min al-Irhab): Discusses international treaties, legal frameworks, and challenges hindering collective global action against terrorism . It includes a focused case study on the counter-terrorism policies of Saudi Arabia, surveying its accession to regional and international conventions, as well as formal rulings and declarations issued by the Council of Senior Scholars condemning bombings, hijackings, and acts of sabotage .
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