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UK Muslim leader to issue fatwa against Jihad-comprehensive theological refutation of terrorism
Jerusalem Post ^ | 3-1-10 | JONNY PAUL

Posted on 03/01/2010 5:37:22 PM PST by SJackson

LONDON – A revered mainstream Muslim scholar is set to announce in London on Tuesday a fatwa (Muslim ruling) against terrorism and suicide bombing in the name of Islam.

Sheikh Dr. Tahir ul-Qadri, a widely recognized and respected authority on Islamic jurisprudence, will issue a comprehensive fatwa prohibiting terrorism and suicide bombing at a press conference in Westminster, central London.

The Pakistani-born Dr. Qadri has authored an unprecedented, 600-page fatwa on why suicide bombings and terrorism are un-Islamic and scripturally forbidden. The ruling is the most comprehensive theological refutation of Islamist terrorism to date.

The fatwa will also be posted on the Internet and in English, making it readily accessible. It will also set an important precedent and allow other scholars to similarly condemn the ideas behind terrorism.

Dr. Qadri has used texts in the Koran and other Islamic writings to argue that suicide and other terrorist attacks are “absolutely against the teachings of Islam” and that “Islam does not permit such acts on any excuse, reason or pretext.”

The fatwa condemns suicide bombers as destined for hell, refuting the claim used by Islamists that such terrorists will earn paradise after death.

“Today’s tragedy is that terrorists, murderers, mischief-mongers and rioters try to prove their criminal, rebellious, tyrannous, brutal and blasphemous activities as a right and a justified reaction to foreign aggression under the garb of defense of Islam and national interests,” he says about suicide bombing.

“It can in no way be permissible to keep foreign delegates under unlawful custody and murder them and other peaceful non-Muslim citizens in retaliation for interference, unjust activities and aggressive advances of their countries,” Qadri said, asserting, “The one who does has no relation to Islam.”

Dr. Qadri is the founder of the international Minhaj-ul-Quran movement. Supporters say his fatwa is significant because he is issuing it himself and his movement, a major grass-roots global organization, has hundreds of thousands of followers in South Asia and the UK.

The move has been welcomed by the Quilliam Foundation, a London-based anti-extremism think-tank led by former Islamists.

“This fatwa has the potential to be a highly significant step towards eradicating Islamist terrorism,” a Quilliam spokesperson said. “Fatwas by Wahhabi-influenced clerics and Islamist ideologues initiated modern terrorism against civilians. Terrorist groups such as al-Qaida continue to justify their mass killings with self-serving readings of religious scripture.

“Fatwas that demolish and expose such theological innovations will consign Islamist terrorism to the dustbin of history.”

London’s Centre for Social Cohesion think-tank has also welcomed the initiative.

CSC director Douglas Murray believes that in recent years, and since the July 2005 terrorist attack in London, Muslim leaders have failed to unequivocally condemn violence committed in the name of Islam.

“A sentence that may to many people seem clear, such as ‘There can be no justification for the killing of innocent people’ is filled with caveats – what is an ‘innocent’ person? Who decides who is or is not ‘innocent’?

“Too many Muslim religious figures sound as if they are condemning violence when in fact they are merely condemning violence in certain situations, against certain people,” he said.

Murray said the fatwa takes away the caveats and will have far-reaching consequences. However he said it won’t stop Islamic terrorism instantaneously.

“Dr. ul-Qadri is respected for his ability to cross some of the notable sectarian boundaries that abound in the Islamic faith as in all others. Even Muslims who might dislike him will not be able to dismiss him out of hand.

“Yet even if the contents of this fatwa are what people have long hoped for, it will not, of course, stop Islamic terrorism straight away. A single fatwa will not change the level of denial and lack of self-criticism inherent in so much of modern Islam. Nor will it stop every fevered young radical eager to kill and maim. But the trickle-down effect is important. The most violent interpretations of Islam have indeed trickled down to terrorists via learned scholars,” he said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: islam; stealthjihad

1 posted on 03/01/2010 5:37:22 PM PST by SJackson
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To: SJackson
Lets see how long that will last...


2 posted on 03/01/2010 5:41:32 PM PST by darkwing104 (Lets get dangerous)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

One down, a billion to go. Sarcasm aside, it's a positive development, I hope Dr. ul-Qadri isn't targeted.

3 posted on 03/01/2010 5:42:45 PM PST by SJackson (In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, In water there is bacteria.)
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To: SJackson

Is islam a bit like protestantism where everyone gets to interpret the koran as they see fit - or is there a “pope” type of figure who makes the official interpretation.

In other words, what weight with other muslims does this edict carry?


4 posted on 03/01/2010 5:43:45 PM PST by aquila48
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To: SJackson
This is a good development. All Western peoples should congratulate and support this Islamic Ruling. Only Communists, Anarchists, and others Satanic followers would do otherwise! IMHO
5 posted on 03/01/2010 5:43:52 PM PST by J Edgar
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To: SJackson
So what sect of Islam is this person from? Sunni or the other sect? The reason I ask is that one sect does not recognize the rulings of the other sect.
6 posted on 03/01/2010 5:44:15 PM PST by guitarplayer1953 (Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to GOD! Thomas Jefferson)
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To: SJackson

The Fatwa will be completely ignored.


7 posted on 03/01/2010 5:45:47 PM PST by ecomcon
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To: guitarplayer1953

I believe he’s Sunni, but that’s open to question, he would tell you he’s Muslim.


8 posted on 03/01/2010 5:49:00 PM PST by SJackson (In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, In water there is bacteria.)
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To: darkwing104

Some other Mullah or Iman will issue a fatwa condemning this fatwa and declaring that the author is an apostate that should be killed.

I hope this guy has good security, or failing that, lots of insurance.


9 posted on 03/01/2010 5:49:23 PM PST by Ronin
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To: aquila48

I don’t believe they have a pope....and they have the Sunni / Shia divide as well.


10 posted on 03/01/2010 5:51:40 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: SJackson

Is He a Sunni?


11 posted on 03/01/2010 5:52:15 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: SJackson

Thanks.


12 posted on 03/01/2010 5:56:10 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: SJackson
So the Shites would say that the ruling does not pertain to them.
13 posted on 03/01/2010 5:58:01 PM PST by guitarplayer1953 (Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to GOD! Thomas Jefferson)
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To: SJackson

Hey sport,,Mullah,,A little behind the power curve there,,,,


14 posted on 03/01/2010 6:05:21 PM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office)
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To: aquila48

Sunni Islam used to have a “papal” figure, the Caliph, but the last Caliphs were the Ottoman Sultans, and since the overthrow of the Ottoman Empire, the Caliphate has been vacant, and Sunni Islam has become more do-your-own-interpretation than Shia Islam ever was.

The Shi’ites have not, since the last Imam (whether the sect regard the 3rd, 4th or 12th as the last legitimate Imam), had a single central authority, but tend to select particularly learned and well-respected scholars as a “point of reference” and heed their fatwas. (This is one reason why Al Sistani has been such an important figure in post-war Iraq: he is the most respected of living Shi’ite clerics and has the greatest following.)

It seems Qadri is a Sunni, which is good, since Al Qaeda and the Taliban are Sunni operations.


15 posted on 03/01/2010 7:37:12 PM PST by The_Reader_David (And when they behead your own people in the wars which are to come, then you will know. . .)
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To: SJackson
"will consign Islamist terrorism to the dustbin of history.A single fatwa will not change.....But the trickle-down effect is important."

This guy sees the encrouchment of islam as being hindered by the extremist p*ssing everyone off. Until muslims shed that 'peace when all is islam' routine, there are only two sides and only one winner/survivor. Trickle down..my *ss!

We saw the future, it was in Serbia 1999.

16 posted on 03/01/2010 8:21:38 PM PST by existtoexcel
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To: The_Reader_David

“It seems Qadri is a Sunni, which is good, since Al Qaeda and the Taliban are Sunni operations.”

Maybe he can convince some of the other Sunni leaders of his point of view and they issue similar edicts. That could go a long way to end this culture war.


17 posted on 03/01/2010 8:33:13 PM PST by aquila48
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To: SJackson

Well Tahir, thus for your fatwa. Nice to have heard from ya’.


18 posted on 03/01/2010 10:30:15 PM PST by onedoug
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