The following is a summarization of key points in a phone call to Shaykh Ḥasan ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb al-Banná, from the shuyūkh of Egypt, concerning the atrocities of the Iranian terrorist in Sydney, Australia.

[Q]: As you might have heard o shaykh, yesterday night, a man who is claimed to be Muslim committed an act of terrorism by taking hostages in one of the coffee shops in the Sydney, in Australia. What is your advice for the Muslims, and specifically for the Salafīs who live in Western countries, with regards to their dealings with non-Muslims, and how do we go about clarifying and liberating ourselves, and our daʿwah, from the likes of these acts of terrorism?

[A]: The Shaykh -hafiẓahullāh- began by freeing Islām from the actions of the terrorist in Sydney, Australia. The Shaykh emphasised that we live in (Western) lands with Jews, Christians etc., and these governments (and the lands which you live in) give you rights, so for you to take matters into your own hands and do as you please (enacting violence and transgression) is not from the correct way of Islām, rather it is from the actions of the khawārij (renegades), it is not from the actions of Ahl al-Sunnah at all. Ahl al-Sunnah take their rights and if they feel oppressed then they turn to Allāh, after that, the government will give them their rights. They do not take hostages and kill them…these actions are not actions of the Muslims. These acts are the doings of the Khāwarij! We ask Allāh for forgiveness and well-being! The prophet (salla Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said in the authentic narration, “If you have no shame then do as you please”. Yes! This means if the person does not have any shyness and is not from Ahl al-Dīn (those who follow Islām accordingly) then he will do as he pleases. So what is it that prohibits him (the assailant) from doing this? If he does not have fear of Allāh, he will do everything (he pleases). So this action of his is an action that will not be accepted by Allāh and likewise it cannot be attributed to the prophet (salla Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam). So it needs to be conveyed that he is indeed a renegade unless, of course, we come to know other information; I say this based on the information which we have heard (from the question). As for what I have mentioned previously then this is what I have in refutation of him (the khārajī terrorist) . Yes! So this is what we have to say, that he is a renegade, and that he is a man who has transgressed the boundaries, and (his actions) have nothing to do with Islām at all.

Questioner: …And how do we go about clarifying and liberating ourselves and our daʿwah (call) from the likes of these actions of terrorism?

[A]: This man is not from Ahl al-Sunnah, he is a renegade, he has no regard for the sunnah so he will do as he pleases, like I said before, he does not have any shyness or manners. So warn against these (types of) people, and I advise Ahl al-Sunnah with holding together, being united and being brothers ones to another. Why? Because we are Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah, so how can there be sunnah without jamāʿah, and likewise how can there be a jamāʿah without sunnah? Yes! So upon the Muslims and Ahl al-Sunnah is to hold together and be connected upon goodness, also that they come together upon goodness, and defend that which is good. As for everyone splitting, this leads to destruction! Like the prophet (salla Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: the wolf eats the lonely sheep! Where does the wolf eat from? He eats from the sheep that parts itself from the flock! If it (the sheep) stays with the flock, then the wolf cannot eat him. Likewise, if the Muslims stray from being together, the wolves will eat them! So those who are there in the countries of the non-Muslims should be there and act accordingly, with the regulations of the sharīʿah, they should not revolt and burden the country. No! The one who lives in a country should be peaceful, and should live (in a way that) is pleasing to Allāh, whilst they (the non-Muslim nations) helped him and opened doors for him, and after this, then he kills them? No! This is a person who is rebellious. Yes! No doubt we have to teach the Muslims. All these affairs occur due to ignorance towards their religion. If they knew what the correct (interpretation of the) religion, they would have never committed these acts (of rebellion). As I said, this person is not from Ahl al-Sunnah,  he is a renegade. He is not from Ahl al-Sunnah, rather (from) Ahl al-Bidʿah, inform the people about the like of these (terrorist renegades) so that they are warned from, and let them teach themselves and their brothers about them (terrorist renegades) and do not follow or aid them. And Allāh knows best.

And may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allāh.