Scholars reject extremist group's claim to Islam, condemn violence, distortion of faith

For over three decades, al-Qaeda has carried out crimes and terrorist attacks while claiming to defend Islam and Muslims worldwide.

The group has repeatedly exploited Islam as a tool for political goals and has deceived many Muslims.

Prominent scholars across the Islamic world have firmly rejected al-Qaeda’s claim to represent Islam and accused it of dangerously distorting religious teachings.

Religious scholars in Afghanistan say the group’s terrorist actions and takfiri ideology lack any religious legitimacy and contradict Islamic teachings.

Mufti Ghulam Rasool Mawlawizada, a scholar in Herat, cited Quranic verses and prophetic teachings to condemn suicide attacks and killing civilians.

"To deceive Islamic societies, al-Qaeda links its terrorist acts to Islam. This claim is fundamentally false and contradicts Islamic values," he told Salaam Times.

"Al-Qaeda’s approach is killing and destruction, which is against the spirit of Islamic law."

Mawlawizada emphasized that Islam forbids killing innocent non-Muslims, yet al-Qaeda has repeatedly massacred innocent Muslims and non-Muslims without justification.

Most Muslim communities reject the group and consider it a source of instability, violence, and global defamation of Islam.

An anti-Islamic group

Religious scholars, citing Islamic teachings, describe al-Qaeda as anti-religious and contrary to core Islamic moral and legal principles.

Khairullah Mohammadi, a religious scholar from Badghis, described the group as extremist and anti-human, driven by political rather than religious motivations.

"Islam is a moderate religion that opposes extremism and strongly condemns it. But al-Qaeda is an extremist and militant group that pursues its goals through force and violence and does not observe any religious principles," he said.

"Through misinterpretation of religion and innovation, al-Qaeda has caused bloodshed and widespread killing of Muslims in different countries."

Muslim communities worldwide have also expressed strong rejection of terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, describing their activities as anti-religious.

An online Salaam Times poll in Afghanistan found more than 60% of respondents consider al-Qaeda a serious threat.

Surveys by the Pew Research Center show Muslims across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia also widely condemn the group.

Rejection of violence

Scholars say Islamic law is based on justice, mercy, and protection of human dignity, not violence or fear.

They emphasize that al-Qaeda has caused widespread violence, including killing innocent Muslims across multiple Islamic countries.

They stress that killing civilians is strictly forbidden and violates a central Islamic principle of protecting innocent life.

Islamic jurisprudence protects civilians during war, and leading institutions like al-Azhar and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have condemned suicide attacks and targeting civilians.

Al-Qaeda’s violence lacks religious legitimacy and damages Islam’s reputation while harming Muslim communities worldwide.