Praise be to Allah!
May the peace and blessings of Allah be on the noblest of mankind Muhammad ibn Abdullah and all those who follow him till the last day!
Today is Yawmul Jumu'ah (Friday), 21st of Jumada Athani 1447 Hijriyyah — corresponding to 12th December 2025.
What is Insurgency?
Insurgency refers to an organized, armed rebellion against established authority, often involving violence, terror, and disruption of public order. It is a global challenge, affecting many countries, including developed nations where illegal arms trade and gun-running are prevalent.
Types of Insurgencies in Nigeria
Nigeria faces a complex security crisis with various forms of insurgency and violent crime, including:
1. Armed Robbers – Individuals or groups attacking people, homes, and businesses with weapons.
2. Kidnappers – Abducting people for ransom or political leverage.
3. Fulani Herdsmen vs Farmers/Citizens – Communal clashes over land and resources, sometimes escalating into violence.
4. Bandits – Armed gangs attacking villages, highways, and markets for loot and ransom.
5. Thieves – Both petty thieves and corrupt officials stealing public resources.
6. Ethnic Insurgencies / Settlers vs Indigenes – Conflicts rooted in ethnicity, land disputes, and political marginalization.
7. Unknown Gunmen – Masked or unidentified armed groups targeting civilians and security forces.
8. Terrorists – Groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, IPOB, using ideological violence and terror tactics.
The Islamic Legal Framework Against Insurgency and Terrorism
The Qur’an explicitly addresses the punishment for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and spread corruption on earth:
"Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment."(Qur'an 5:33)
This verse forms the foundation of Islamic criminal law regarding terrorism, banditry, and armed rebellion, known as ḥirābah — waging war against society.
The Historical Incident Behind Qur’an 5:33
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrate a significant event involving a group from the tribe of ‘Ukl (or in some narrations, ‘Uraynah). These eight men came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, embraced Islam, and pledged allegiance. However, the climate of Madinah did not suit them, and they fell ill.
The Prophet ﷺ advised them to go with his shepherd to drink the milk and urine of his camels — a traditional remedy at the time. After recovering, instead of gratitude, they betrayed the trust: they killed the shepherd, gouged out his eyes, and stole all the camels.
When the Prophet ﷺ learned of this treachery, he sent men to capture them. Upon capture, the Prophet ﷺ ordered their hands and feet to be cut off on opposite sides, their eyes branded with heated iron, and they were left in the sun until they died. Some narrations mention they were denied water during this punishment.
This incident is directly linked to the revelation of Qur’an 5:33, establishing the severe punishments for those who commit such heinous crimes.
Scholarly Interpretations and Punishments
The great companions and scholars, including Ibn Abbas, Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib, Mujahid, ‘Ata’, al-Hasan al-Basri, Ibrahim al-Nakha‘i, and Ad-Dahhak, have explained this verse as giving the Muslim ruler discretion to choose the appropriate punishment based on the crime’s severity.
The punishments include:
-Killing or crucifixion: For those who kill and spread terror. Crucifixion here is understood as displaying the body after execution as a deterrent, not prolonged torture.
-Cutting off hands and feet from opposite sides: For those who commit armed robbery and theft without murder.
-Exile or banishment: For those who cause corruption but whose crimes do not reach the above severity.
The word aw (or) in the verse indicates a choice, allowing the ruler (or Judge) to apply the punishment fitting the crime.
Why Such Severe Punishments?
To many, these punishments may seem harsh, but their purpose is clear:
-To protect innocent lives from murderers and terrorists.
-To safeguard people’s wealth and property from robbers and bandits.
-To preserve public order, dignity, and freedom of movement.
-To send a strong message that terrorizing civilians and spreading corruption is utterly unacceptable.
Islamic law emphasizes justice balanced with mercy and due process. These punishments are applied only after thorough investigation, evidence, and fair trial by legitimate authorities — never by individuals or mobs.
Final Reflections
Terrorism, banditry, and insurgency devastate families, communities, and nations. Islam recognizes the gravity of these crimes and responds with a legal framework that is:
-Clear: Defining ḥirābah and its penalties in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
-Serious: Imposing the harshest punishments on the most destructive criminals.
-Balanced: Allowing judicial discretion and caution in doubtful cases.
-Merciful: Leaving the door open for sincere repentance before capture.
May Allah protect Nigeria and all lands from terror and injustice. May He guide oppressors to repentance or restrain them from harming others. And may He make us all people of justice, wisdom, and mercy.
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