Replies

A slander, though I know you didn't mean it. How about....., or how about......; what do you call proponents of this evil?

LOL!An Intifada proponent can be slandered? That's news to me. Here's what my favourite Muslim thinks of the Intifada.

ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC LAW, THE SO-CALLED 'INTIFADAH' AGAINST ISRAEL WAS NOTHING BUT 'FITNAH' (SEDITION), AND THOSE INVOLVED IN FITNAH ARE SINNERS

by Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi

ROME, August 27, 1998, Root & Branch:

     In a recent essay distributed through our Information Services, Prof. Rene Louis Beres describes a letter he
     received from "an Islamic scholar in an Arab country, informing me [Prof. Beres] emphatically that suicide
     bombers who operate against Israel are "brave" and "heroic."

Prof. Beres continues:

          "The Arab letter writer had another message for me. Referring to an earlier period when 'Jews and
          Christians confiscated lands from Muslims and kicked them out of their houses,' he cites "the
          following verse of Quran...revealed to Muslims through Prophet Muhammad: 'And slay them
          wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution
          is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first
          attack you there, but if they attack you there then slay them. SUCH IS THE REWARD OF
          DISBELIEVERS.' (Qur'an, chapter 2:191)"

Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi responds to the comments cited by this "Islamic scholar in an Arab country":

Dear Prof. Beres: R&B President Mr. Aryeh Gallin asked me to answer the letter you received from
"an Islamic scholar in a Arab country."

I do not know the reputation of this writer, but I can respond to his comments which exhibit colossal
ignorance of authentic Islamic teachings.

          First of all, the traditional school of "orthodox Islam" is called "Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-jam'ah", and
          those who follow it are called Sunni Muslims. Many contemporary "Islamic scholars" (especially in
          Arab countries) belong to a heretical school called Salafi or Wahhabi, but Salafis-Wahhabis disguise
          their real nature by calling themselves "Sunni."

          The Wahhabi school represents the official doctrine of the Saudi regime, and is propagated by an
          organization called the World Islamic League. This sect opposes the traditional Islamic doctrine
          about "fitnah" (sedition - a terrible sin in traditional Islam) and often causes confusion be calling
          "fitnah" "jihad."

In the traditional understanding, "jihad" has many levels of meaning. Minor "jihad" is a military
struggle to defend the religious freedom of Muslims.

          A legitimate "jihad" must be lead by a Caliph, or by a Sultan appointed by a Caliph. Since presently
          there is no Caliphate, there is no military jihad today. Apart from this, as long as a government grants
          Muslims their religious freedom (the possibility to pray five times a day), Islamic law says that
          rebelling against this government is "fitnah" (sedition).

          There is no difference between a government led by a Muslim or a non-Muslim, a country where
          Muslims are a majority or a minority. When Muslims feel that their condition as a minority is
          unbearable, Islamic law says they must emigrate to a country were they are a majority.

Since the Israeli government does not deny Muslims their religious freedom, Muslims resident in
Israel are required by Islam to live as peaceful and loyal citizens, or to emigrate.

According to Islamic law, the so-called Intifadah against Israel was nothing but "fitnah" (sedition),
and those involved in fitnah are sinners.

          In any case, I really doubt that the "Islamic scholar" whom you cite can be regarded as "a scholar",
          since he misquotes - applying it to the Jews - a Qur'anic verse (2:191) that deals with Arab
          polytheists. This is clearly explained by all authoritative Islamic commentators, and is understandable
          by the same context.

          The verse says: "Do not fight them at Masjid al-Haram..." Masjid al-Haram is in Mecca; there were
          no Jews in Mecca. Those who expelled Muslims from Mecca were the pagan Arabs, and even a
          child who has learnt the Qur'an knows that this verse has nothing to do with Jews.

Moreover, this "Islamic scholar" writes that "the Muslims have the right to defend themselves and get
back the land from where they have been driven out by ANY MEANS."

          In Islam, nothing can be obtained by "any means." One must always respect the rules of Islamic law;
          one cannot obtain a good result by sinful means. One cannot, e.g., collect money for charity by
          stealing or selling drugs.

This "Islamic scholar" misinterprets the Qur'an 2:191, but forgets to cite the preceeding verse -
2:190:

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah
does not love transgressors."

This verse openly refutes the theory of "by any means."

          The Prophet Muhammad explained very clearly which these limits are: Muslims must not exaggerate
          in self-defense, must always look for an opportunity for peace, and must fight "as soldiers against
          other soldiers, as an army against another army."

Murdering women, priests, rabbis, children and other civilians is forbidden by Islamic law.

Those who die while committing these crimes are not "martyrs", but sinners who died without
repenting.

During the last half of this century, Arab dictators have used Israel as a scapegoat. They have tried
to convince Muslims that anti-Zionism is sanctioned by Islam.

          On the contrary, I believe that it is time for Muslims to understand that Israel is a friendly country,
          that Jews are our brothers in Abraham, and that Arab-Israeli cooperation could really contribute to
          overcoming Arab underdevelopment and modernizing the Middle East (changes feared by the ruling
          classes in Arab countries!).

Those Muslims such as myself who live in Europe have the possibility to freely say and write all this.

Unfortunately, in other countries - particularly the Arab dictatorships of the Middle East - freedom of
speech and freedom of conscience is suppressed on pain of imprisonment, torture or death.

Shabbat Shalom,

Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi

Rome, Italy

ABOUT SHAYKH PROF. ABDUL HADI PALAZZI:

          Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi is a Member of the International Council of the Root & Branch
          Association. Prof. Palazzi is Secretary General of the Italian Muslim Association (AMI), an Imam of
          the Italian Islamic Community (ICCII) and Director of the Community's Cultural Institute. Prof. Palazzi
          holds a Ph.D in Islamic Sciences by decree of the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Prof.
          Palazzi is also Muslim Co-Chairman of the Islam-Israel Fellowship.

http://www.rb.org.il/ (Root and Branch)