American Islamic Scholars Issue Fatwa Against Terrorism

American Muslims Say that terrorist killing civilians are not justified and those who use violence in the name of Islam are betraying their faith. This was approved by more than 120 U.S. Muslim groups.



I think this is a big step for US Muslim. By telling Americans and the world that they do not support those terrorist that kill civilians in the name of Islam and are betraying their faith would help their image much in the US and the rest of the world.

It's about time that US Muslims are voiceing their options.

What you people think of this? Is this a positive step? I sure think so.

Related News Links:
www.theepochtimes.com
www.cair-net.org

[edit on 29-7-2005 by ulshadow]

[edit on 9-8-2005 by asala]

Another step in the right direction.

Only follows a week after 120 Canadian Iman issue the same thing.
Seems like 120 is a magical number or something?!?

www.macleans.ca...

First you need to get a link to your source or you will loose the story. Change the intro from Justify to read justified using justify is bad grammer. Just trying to help for what its worth.

2nd I do not think that members of ATS are even interested in articles like this. I posted one where the Pakistan president arrested several 25 as I recall, it later got moved for lack of votes.

Then I posted one earlier this morning where the Pakistan president is throwing out religous 1400 students and no one replied except Subz and even his was not all that positive. Seems no one is really interested in those that are trying to do something about the issue.

Pakistani President to Expel 1,400 Religious Pupils





[edit on 7/29/2005 by shots]

The United American Committee board of directors today officially denounce the “fatwa” against terrorism issued on July 28th by several American Islamic organizations.

“These groups are only deceiving America, they fail to mention any terrorists or terror groups by name, they merely state that they do not condone the unjust killing of the innocent, or civilians.” remarks U.A.C. chairman Jesse Petrilla, “non-believers are not innocent according to Islamic law, and we are not civilians according to Islamic jihad, we are the enemy, and according to Islamic extremists, our killing is not unjustified.”

Group Officially Denounces "Fatwa" Against Islamic Terrorism



[edit on 9-8-2005 by Riwka]

Before we all stand up and appluade this fatwa we should look into it more closely as the Devil is in the details. This op/ed peace from the Washington Times raises many of these important questions.

Some key points:

"The fatwa states that "Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives." This is another important statement, but it is too general to use in making inroads in the war of ideas against the terrorists. For the question is: Who determines what is an innocent life? How can this statement lead to a specific condemnation of the killing of innocent people in Iraq's Sunni Triangle, Moscow, and Sudan at the hands of jihadists who specifically state in their own fatwas that there are no innocent lives when a jihad is waged? "

"The text of the fatwa says: "The Qur'an, Islam's revealed text, states: 'Whoever kills a person [unjustly]... it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.' " (Koran, 5:32). This powerful quote has to supercede all other references al Qaeda uses with regard to the kuffar (infidels) from any source. For the jihadist terrorists would quote the same sentence and simply state that the persons they are killing are "justly" killed. Their ideologues have already responded to this reference by saying that whoever kills outside the injunction of the right jihad is acting as if killing all mankind. The same logic applies to all other quotations in the fatwa: a need for theological response to the jihadists in addition to general quotes. "

"Linguistics is important in theology. Is this fatwa a religious injunction to follow U.S. and international law, or is it an edict to establish a theological resistance to terrorism? While the objective is one in the endgame, that is to confront terrorism, the instrument is as important. For if fighting religious-inspired terrorism necessitates religious edicts, the war against terrorism will be at the mercy of fatwas, or had it been in another context, at the mercy of papal sentences."

Several times throughout ATS I've posted comments/questions critical of Islam and often the responses by apologists describe the "extremists" as a tiny minority who have no effect on Islam whatsoever. If this is the case, my question is: Why the need for a fatwa? Either this isn't so much a "tiny minority" issue or it was issued not to condemn the "extremists" but rather it's an attempt to allay the concerns non-Muslims have about Islam. Either way, I believe this fatwa is nothing more than political eyewash.

Of course having whined that 'the so-called moderate majority' apparantly 'never stand up and say anything to these radicals' we can see that for some it doesn't matter what they actually do say as it's never good enough.

So Canada's Muslims, the USA's Muslims and the UK's Muslims all standing up and publicly taking on the moderates.

Good.

The following is the full text of a fatwa issued by the British Muslim Forum, with the approval of more than 500 UK Muslim clerics, scholars and imams, on Monday 18 July:
We wish to express our sincere condolences to the families of all the victims of the London attacks. We pray for the swift recovery of all those who are recovering from injuries.

There are many questions emerging from the London bombings. One of the most important questions is what does Islam say about it?

To answer this question Muslim scholars, clerics and Imams from all over the UK have been consulted to issue this formal legal opinion (fatwa) so that Muslims and non-Muslims can be clear about Islam's stance on such acts.

Severe condemnation

On behalf of over 500 clerics, scholars and Imams the British Muslim Forum issues the following religious decree:

Islam strictly, strongly and severely condemns the use of violence and the destruction of innocent lives.

There is neither place nor justification in Islam for extremism, fanaticism or terrorism. Suicide bombings, which killed and injured innocent people in London, are haram - vehemently prohibited in Islam, and those who committed these barbaric acts in London are criminals not martyrs.

Such acts, as perpetrated in London, are crimes against all of humanity and contrary to the teachings of Islam.

The Holy Koran declares:

"Whoever kills a human being, then it is as though he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a human life, it is as though he had saved all mankind." (Koran, Surah al-Maidah (5), verse 32).

Islam teaches us to be caring towards all of Allah's (God's) creation, not just mankind. The Prophet of Islam who was described as "a mercy to the worlds" said: "All creation is the family of Allah and that person is most beloved to Allah who is kind and caring towards His family."

Islam's position is clear and unequivocal: murder of one soul is the murder of the whole of humanity; he who shows no respect for human life is an enemy of humanity.

We pray for the defeat of extremism and terrorism in the world.

We pray for peace, security and harmony to triumph in multicultural Great Britain.

news.bbc.co.uk...

- Anyone who thinks anybodies' security is enhanced by wasting Police and security service time and effort by the additional pointless cruel trouble a wave of sectarian hatred would generate really should think long and hard.


[edit on 10-8-2005 by sminkeypinkey]

Jeez people complain when the Muslims are silent then complain even more when the Muslims stand up and say something.

Originally posted by Freedom_for_sum
Why the need for a fatwa?

Because people like you have been complaining about the "deafening silence" from moderate muslims and how they tacitly support radical islam through that silence. Then when they actually come out and break that "silence" you complain even more.

It's official much like Rodney Dangerfield Islam "can't get no respect".

Because people like you have been complaining about the "deafening silence" from moderate muslims and how they tacitly support radical islam through that silence. Then when they actually come out and break that "silence" you complain even more.

My sentiments exactly. Sites geared towards a more anti-Islamic bias usualy are rampant with members bemoaning Muslims for not condemning extremists and acts of terrorism in the name of Islam, yet when a large group of Muslims, 120 groups, speak out, we see utter silence from them.

I am perplexed if CNN aired this FATWA, or if they have aired anything in regards to Islam, the Middle East, and Muslims which was not in any way related to terrorism.....

Hey, you can't have two BBC's in this world.

Luxifero.