Preamble
There is no doubt that the terror, killing, and displacement that have afflicted—and continue to afflict—the Muslims in our times at the hands of their oppressive unbelieving enemies, together with the ignorance of many Muslim youths of Islam’s rules of war and its legal provisions on jihad, have driven some of them—impelled by emotion, compassion, and love for their ummah—to rash behavior and the perpetration of atrocious, repugnant deeds: the destruction of residential buildings and commercial establishments, the murder of treaty-holders and those granted safe-conduct, and the killing of people who are not lawful combatants—women, children, hired workers, and any weak person who does not fight—indeed, even the killing of some innocent Muslims.

They then labelled their actions “jihad” and “terrorising the enemy,” yet—by Allah—Islam and the Muslims are completely innocent of such deeds. Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.

For all these reasons, I have wished to pause with my brothers who cherish jihad