This is to inform all members, affiliates, and concerned citizens that Minhaj-ul-Quran International India, in its recent central executive council meeting held on 29th April 2025, unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
Under this resolution, we are issuing this circular titled “NOT IN OUR NAME, NOT IN OUR FAITH”, as an official declaration of our uncompromising rejection of terrorism and reaffirmation of Islamic teachings rooted in peace, justice, and compassion.
“NOT IN OUR NAME, NOT IN OUR FAITH”: A SPIRITUAL REJECTION OF TERRORISM FROM THE HEART OF ISLAM
A Faithful Response to the Pahalgam Tragedy by Minhaj-ul-Quran International India, Upholding the True Teachings of Peace, Mercy, and Justice in Islam
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians and caused deep sorrow among communities, stands as a stark and painful reminder of the ideological crisis facing humanity. As a movement rooted in Islamic scholarship, spirituality, and service to humanity, we stand united in grief and absolute condemnation of this atrocity. Such an act has no place in our religion, heritage, or conscience of any believer. It is neither a religious act nor resistance—it is pure evil, and we reject it completely, in both word and spirit.
Islam is not a religion of bloodshed, retaliation, or hatred. It is a divine path of mercy, justice, and harmony. The sanctity of human life is one of the most emphasized values in the Qur’an, where it is stated, “… whoever killed a person (unjustly), except as a punishment for murder or (spreading) disorder in the land, it would be as if he killed all the people (of society)…”. This noble verse establishes a universal moral principle: human life is sacred and inviolable. No ideology, grievance, or cause can override this foundational truth. The victims in Pahalgam were peaceful civilians and tourists. Their lives were precious.
Their blood was unlawfully spilled. And such actions, no matter who carries them out or claims responsibility, are crimes in the sight of Allah and humanity.
The noble Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whose life is the perfect embodiment of Islam, never took the path of violence against the innocent. Even in times of war, he forbade the killing of women, children, the elderly, travellers, monks, and those who did not bear arms. He taught his companions that a true believer is one from whose hand and tongue others are safe. His was a mission of healing, reconciliation, and compassion. When he entered Makkah victorious after years of persecution, he forgave his oppressors instead of seeking revenge. This is our Prophet ﷺ — a mercy to all the worlds. This is our example, and this is the light we must follow.
Our land, especially Kashmir, has been a cradle of Sufi Islam, where saints like Sheikh Nooruddin Wali and Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani spread the message of Islam not through swords, but through love, prayer, and service. Their hearts were open, their hands were generous, and their message united communities. It is their legacy that we cherish and inherit, not the dark path of terrorism, fear, and death. Those who carried out the Pahalgam attack do not represent this legacy. They represent its violation.
As students and followers of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, we have been nurtured in a spiritual and intellectual tradition that has consistently and courageously opposed terrorism and all forms of extremist ideology. In 2010, Shaykh-ul-Islam authored the historic Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings, a comprehensive scholarly verdict spanning over 600 pages, drawn from the Qur’an, Hadith, and classical jurisprudence. It categorically declared terrorism and the killing of innocents as haram, forbidden in Islam under all circumstances. This fatwa left no room for ambiguity and served as an intellectual and moral weapon against the distorted ideologies that extremists attempt to impose on vulnerable minds.
Not only this, Shaykh-ul-Islam developed the Islamic Curriculum on Peace and Counter-Terrorism, a groundbreaking educational initiative designed to immunize youth against radicalization by providing them with sound, traditional Islamic teachings rooted in mercy, wisdom, and moderation. This curriculum is being taught in seminaries and educational centers worldwide, empowering imams, teachers, and young people with the tools to reject hate and embrace the true spiritual path of Islam.
We believe that such heinous acts as the Pahalgam terror attack stem not from faith, but from ignorance and misguidance. Terrorists are not defenders of Islam—they are rebels against it. They do not act in defense of the ummah—they act in betrayal of it. Their ideology is not jihad—it is Fasad, corruption in the land. Islam stands for peace, justice, coexistence, and human dignity. These principles are not modern inventions; they are embedded in the very foundation of our sacred tradition. The Qur’an commands justice, the Prophet modeled mercy, and our spiritual ancestors spread light. Those who bomb, kill, and destroy in the name of our faith desecrate its name and must be confronted intellectually, theologically, and spiritually.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. We grieve with them. We pray for their healing. And we reaffirm our commitment to spreading a faith that heals wounds, not deepens them—a faith that invites, not intimidates—a faith that uplifts, not oppresses.
We call on scholars, youth, and all people of conscience to rise above silence and take an uncompromising stance against those who distort Islam to justify terror. We must educate, enlighten, and embrace the prophetic legacy of justice and love. We must reject all forms of hatred, whether religious, political, or ideological. We must build bridges, not burn them.
Terrorism is not a religious problem. It is a human problem, and it must be addressed by restoring the spiritual, intellectual, and ethical teachings that unite us. The true jihad of our time is the struggle for hearts and minds, the purification of the soul, and the service of humanity. That is the Islam we know. That is the Islam we follow. That is the Islam the world needs to see.
May Allah guide us to the truth, protect our hearts from hatred, and bless us with the strength to stand firm against all forms of injustice, violence, and extremism. May the mercy of the Prophet ﷺ shine upon the world, and may our actions reflect his noble example.
