Enumerate the reasons of extremism in Pakistan and suggest solutions to eradicate it in the light of Islamic teachings.

Introduction

Extremism has cost Pakistan tens of thousands of lives and severely damaged its economy, society and international image. The attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014, which killed more than 140 people, most of them children, shocked the entire nation. The problem has many roots. It requires security action, but it also needs a religious answer, for extremists justify themselves in the name of Islam, whose teachings in fact condemn them.

Meaning of extremism

Extremism is the refusal to accept any view but one's own, joined with willingness to impose it, often by force. The Quranic word ghuluww means exceeding the proper limits in religion.

قُلْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ …

"Say: O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits in your religion beyond the truth…" (Al-Ma'idah 5:77)

Reasons of extremism in Pakistan

1. Historical and geopolitical causes

The Afghan war of the 1980s brought large flows of weapons, militant training and funding into the region, and created a culture of militancy. After 2001, the US-led war in Afghanistan pushed militant groups into the tribal areas, where the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan emerged in 2007. Foreign-funded proxy struggles also played a part, particularly in sectarian conflict following the Iranian revolution of 1979.

2. Sectarian and religious causes

Sectarian organisations have spread hatred and carried out targeted killings. Takfir, the labelling of other Muslims as unbelievers, gives such violence its supposed justification. Misuse of Quranic verses taken out of context and of religious sentiment, including mob attacks on allegations of blasphemy, has also created a climate of fear.

3. Educational causes

Pakistan has three parallel streams of education: English-medium, public and madrassah. Their students rarely meet each other. Although most madrassahs are peaceful, some have taught intolerance, while public textbooks have at times reinforced prejudice. Students of all streams are rarely taught critical thinking.

4. Socio-economic causes

Poverty does not by itself create terrorists, but unemployment and a loss of hope make young people easier to recruit. Economic neglect of the former FATA and parts of Balochistan left people with a sense of exclusion.

5. Political and judicial causes

Weak rule of law, slow courts and low conviction rates allow extremists to act with impunity. Militants have offered "quick justice" in places where the state has failed to provide it. In the past, political use of religious groups and an inconsistent state policy towards militant organisations have added to the problem.

6. Media and social media

Hate speech, propaganda and recruitment now spread rapidly online. Sensational coverage also gives extremists the publicity they want.

Islamic position on extremism

Moderation

The Muslim Ummah is described as a balanced community, avoiding excess and neglect alike.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَٰكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَسَطًۭا …

"And thus We have made you a balanced community…" (Al-Baqarah 2:143)

Warning against excess

The Prophet ﷺ warned: "Beware of excess in religion, for those before you were destroyed by excess in religion" (An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah). He also warned of those who would recite the Quran but pass through the religion as an arrow passes through its target (Bukhari, Muslim), and scholars apply this to the Khawarij and those who resemble them.

The sanctity of life.

… مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا …

"…Whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had slain mankind entirely." (Al-Ma'idah 5:32)

No compulsion

Belief cannot be forced.

لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ …

"There is no compulsion in religion…" (Al-Baqarah 2:256)

Against takfir

The Prophet ﷺ warned that if a person calls his brother an unbeliever, the charge returns to one of them (Bukhari, Muslim).

Protection of non-Muslims

He said that whoever kills a non-Muslim under the protection of a treaty will not smell the fragrance of Paradise (Bukhari). Attacks on Pakistan's Christian, Hindu, Sikh and Ahmadi citizens are therefore not defensible in Islamic terms.

Force belongs to the state

Private individuals have no right to declare war or carry out punishments. Armed rebellion that spreads terror in the land is regarded as a grave crime.

وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ ٱلْحَرْثَ وَٱلنَّسْلَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَسَادَ

"And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption." (Al-Baqarah 2:205)

Solutions in the light of Islamic teachings

1. Clear religious rejection

The Paigham-e-Pakistan declaration of 2018, supported by more than 1,800 scholars of different schools of thought, condemned suicide attacks and private armed struggle as un-Islamic. Its message should be taught in mosques and schools, and enforced by law.

2. Wise preaching

Religious discussion must follow the Quranic method.

ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ وَجَٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ …

"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best." (An-Nahl 16:125)

3. Education reform

Madrassah registration and curricula should be modernised in cooperation with religious boards, public textbooks should remove prejudice, and all students should learn the Sirah, critical thinking and civic ethics. The Prophet's ﷺ example at Madinah, including its multi-religious Charter, should be central.

4. Sectarian harmony

Muslims are brothers, and differences of jurisprudence are not grounds for hatred. Scholars from all schools should work together in public, as the Muttahida Ulema Board in Punjab has tried to do. The law should apply fairly against hate speech by any group.

إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌۭ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ …

"The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers." (Al-Hujurat 49:10)

5. Justice and good governance

Quick, fair and visible justice removes a main grievance exploited by militants. Islam calls for justice even against oneself (An-Nisa 4:135). The police, prosecution and courts should all be strengthened, and the National Action Plan of 2014 should be consistently implemented.

… وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ …

"…And when you judge between people, judge with justice…" (An-Nisa 4:58)

6. Economic justice

Zakat, employment and investment in neglected regions such as the merged tribal districts and Balochistan reduce the appeal of militants. The Quran forbids allowing wealth to circulate only among the rich (Al-Hashr 59:7).

7. Verification and responsible media

The Quran requires verification before acting on reports, which directly applies to rumours and to false blasphemy accusations on social media.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَإٍۢ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ …

"O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate…" (Al-Hujurat 49:6)

8. Rehabilitation and forgiveness

Those not guilty of serious crimes can be reformed. De-radicalisation programmes such as Sabaoon in Swat follow the Islamic principle that the door of repentance remains open, while the state retains its right to punish serious crimes.

Conclusion

Extremism in Pakistan has grown from regional wars, sectarian hatred, flawed education, deprivation, weak justice and online hate. Islam condemns it completely through its teachings on moderation, the sanctity of life, freedom of belief and the protection of minorities. Military action can remove militants, but only religious clarity, educational reform, justice and economic opportunity can remove extremism. Pakistan needs to bring these together consistently, in the spirit of the balanced community the Quran describes.

The writer can be reached at ma6749429@gmail.com