The murderous group Boko Haram today claimed responsibility for attacks upon five churches in Nigeria.
Boko Haram’s targeting of civilians is not only repugnant and against Islam, but their attacks are even more deviant because of their targeting of houses of worship.
The Qur’an (22;47) says:
Those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, “our Lord is Allah”. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been destruction of monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause);- for verily Allah is The Strong, The Mighty.
Furthermore it should be clear that just as Al-Qaeda has killed more Muslims than Christians and the Taliban continues to kill Muslims, it is a fact that Boko Haram murders Muslims not just attacking Christians, who are viewed as “Westerners.”
Murder & terrorism are acts of disbelief (kufr) in Islam.
The Qur’an (5:32) says:
…if someone kills another person – unless it is [punishment] for murdering someone or for causing corruption in the earth – it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone saves a life, it is as if he has saved all mankind…
The Qur’an (4:93):
And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is hell; he shall abide in it, and Allah will send His wrath on him and curse him and prepare for him a painful chastisement.
Prophet Muhammad (Prayers & Peace be upon him & his family) stated, “To curse a Muslim is corruption (fusooq), and to murder him is disbelief (kufr).”
Boko Haram’s acts are outside of the bounds of Islam, and they do not represent the authentic teachings of Islam anymore than the radical Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda represent Christianity.
And Allah knows best.