Terrorism has no place in Islam, Abdulkareem says at the Vanguard Ramadan lecture

By Ishola Balogun

Islamic Scholar, Dr Nurudeen Abdulkareem, has said that the evil acts of terrorism as seen in some parts of the country are completely incompatible with Islamic teachings and modern international law.

Speaking at the maiden Ramadan lecture on the topic: “Terrorism not part of Islam” organised by the Vanguard Newspaper Muslim Ummah held at its headquarters, Lagos yesterday, Dr. Abdulkareem explained that Islam places strict ethical and legal restraints on the use of force and does not permit violence outside clearly defined moral and legal boundaries.

The lecture was attended by the chairman of the media house, Mr. Sam Amuka; the Editor and President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba; the General Manager, Mrs. Omasan Dudu; the Teaching Consultant, Mr. Patrick Oduone; and other management staff who are non-Muslims. Others are Naib Imam, the visiting Imam, Dr Haroon Razaq, Imam Lukman Olowo, media practitioners and members of the public.
Dr. Abdulkareem noted that one of the major drivers of global misunderstanding about Islam is the persistent misrepresentation of jihad as terrorism. He clarified that jihad linguistically means “to strive” or “to exert effort in the path of God,” and primarily refers to spiritual and moral self-discipline.
According to him, what Islamic scholars describe as the greater jihad is the inner struggle against moral weakness, injustice and sin, while armed struggle, known as the lesser jihad, is permitted only under strict conditions such as self-defence, resistance to aggression and protection of the oppressed.
He cited Qur’an 2:190, which permits fighting only against aggressors and expressly forbids transgression, stressing that Islam does not allow individuals or non-state actors to declare war.
The lecturer further explained that Islamic laws of war (Ahkām al-Ḥarb) constitute a comprehensive legal framework developed centuries before modern international law. These laws, he said, require legitimate authority before warfare can be declared and strictly prohibit aggression, expansionism and indiscriminate violence.
Dr. Abdulkareem emphasized that Islam places strong protection on non-combatants, forbidding the killing of civilians, women, children, the elderly and religious clerics, as well as the destruction of crops, animals and civilian infrastructure. He added that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) expressly commanded Muslim armies not to harm non-combatants.
On the treatment of prisoners of war, he explained that Islam mandates humane treatment, allowing prisoners to be released freely, ransomed or exchanged, while torture, abuse and execution are prohibited. He added that the use of force in Islam is governed by proportionality and necessity, with collective punishment strictly forbidden.
Comparing Islamic principles with Modern International Humanitarian Law (IHL), particularly the Geneva Conventions, Dr. Abdulkareem noted strong convergence between both systems. He observed that both emphasize the distinction between combatants and civilians, proportionality, the humane treatment of prisoners, and the protection of civilian infrastructure.
He pointed out that while Islamic law derives its authority from divine command and moral accountability, modern international humanitarian law is grounded in state consent and international treaties. Nonetheless, he said both systems categorically reject terrorism and indiscriminate violence.
Dr. Abdulkareem concluded that terrorism violates both Islamic law and international law, making it erroneous and misleading to associate such acts with Islam.
In his remarks, the Editor of Vanguard Newspapers and President of the Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba, stressed that mutual respect remains critical to peaceful coexistence in society.
“Mutual respect is very important, where a man’s social standing is in concert with rights and respect for humanity, not by his position as an Islamic scholar or a pastor,” he said. “Let us imbibe a position where you are not defined by your religion or spiritual standing, but by how you see other people in society.”
He urged religious leaders to adopt mutual respect as the foundation for peace and social order, adding that the presence of the chairman added honour to the event.
The General Manager of Vanguard Newspapers, Mrs. Omasan Dudu, thanked the Vanguard Muslim Ummah for organising the maiden Ramadan lecture and called for its sustenance as an annual programme. She assured that management would continue to support Islamic initiatives, just as it supports Christian programmes within the organisation.
In recognition of their support and contributions to Islam within the media house, the Editor, Mr. Eze Anaba, was honoured with the Muslim name AbdulMalik, while Mrs. Omasan Dudu was named Amirah, the women’s leader of the Muslim community.
Earlier, the Chairman of Muslims in the media house, Alhaji Munirudeen Dada Adekola, who is also Vanguard’s cartoon editor, gave a brief history of the Vanguard Mosque, noting that it was established through the generosity and religious tolerance of the organisation’s leadership.
The Imam of the Vanguard Mosque, Imam Haroon Ishola Balogun, who is also the Facing Kaaba columnist, thanked the lecturer for clearly dissecting and explaining the topic for better understanding. He also appreciated the visiting imams and their teams and expressed gratitude to Vanguard management for its support of the programme.
The lecture ended with prayers for the development of the media house, peace, religious harmony and national development.

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