The killing of innocent people is terrorism irrespective of the fact whether they are Muslims or not. It is also terrorism to murder the peaceful people regardless of their being in state of war even if they are not fighting a war with you directly. Victimizing the children, the old, the women and also targeting the worship-places and hospitals fall in the domain of terrorism. It also includes the efforts aimed at spreading harassment, creating disturbance, staging sit-ins, forcing people to go on strikes and targeting the worship-places of other religions. Attacking human, religious, political, social and cultural rights is also terrorism.

Jehad and terrorism have no relationship with each other, nor is there anything in common between them. Rather, jehad stands for the eradication of terrorism. “Jehad-bil-qital” is characterized by ending terrorism. If threats are posed to human life, property and honour, fighting for defending these areas is called Jehad. It is not meant for grabbing wealth. Expansionist designs have nothing to do with the Islamic concept of jehad. Every Charter of Human Rights terms taking up of arms against injustice and unwanted blood-letting, crushing down of rebellion and revolt, uprooting of conspiracies, violence and mischief-mongering as not only being legal but also making it binding. All that is done with a view to making the earth safe. When any individual or party transgresses its limits and encroaches upon others' rights, only in that case the Holy Quran enjoins upon believers to wage jehad, so that mischief-mongering is halted and peace comes to our planet earth.

The concept of Jehad is one of the highly misunderstood Islamic concepts. Unfortunately, the West sees it as mere fighting against disbelief and the West. Some extremist religious groups who declare their activities as Jehad, are presenting Islam in a fanatic and emotional way giving a distorted picture of Islam. So the West has wrongly conceived terrorist activities as Islamic Jehad. Islamic concept of Jehad has absolutely no link with terrorism, extremism or barbarism. Jehad means struggle for good and elimination of evil. The spiritual struggle for self-purification of the soul is the greatest Jehad declared by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). This is known as Jehad-e-Akbar. According to the Prophet's tradition this is an exclusive struggle for moral excellence, ethical perfection and spiritual purification of mankind.

Another form of Jehad is for the promotion of knowledge. Similarly, spending wealth for the poor is "jehad bill maal". Providing jobs, economic stability and prosperity falls in the same category. Humanitarian activities are also fighting for "Haq". Haq means truth and lawful rights. The armed Jehad doesn't allow killing of the innocent, women, aged, children and patients. Moreover, Jehad does not allow destruction of property and inhumane acts of cruelty. Jehad is not allowed without the permission of Islamic government. And, if there is no Islamic government at least there should be consensus of Ummah, a Shoora, or a national meeting.

If Ulema and religious organizations, without adopting proper legal and juristic way, independently start declaring Jehad, it would lead to "Fitna", disintegration and disruption. There will be no limits and the followers of various scholars and religious leaders will start fighting against one another on any point. This undisciplined and unorganized way is neither recognized by Islam nor accepted and supported by any authentic Islamic source.

That is one of the reasons why majority of the Muslims around the globe have not accepted this form of call for Jehad by religious extremists and fanatics. They understand that they cannot be caught away with the Mulla's emotional speeches and that it is more a political game rather than saving faith and the faithful.