By Murtaza Ali Shah
March 03, 2010

LONDON: A highly influential Sufi Muslim scholar on Tuesday issued a historic Fatwa (religious edict) against acts of violence perpetrated in the name of Islam, calling perpetrators of violence and their mentors as destined for hellfire.

Dr Muhammad Tahirul Qadri, the founder of formidable Minhajul Quran movement, used a lecture in London to unreservedly condemn terrorist attacks and suicide bombers and urged the Muslim world to take a firm stand against those who bring Islam in disrepute.

Dr Qadri was joined at the Fatwa launch event by government ministers Jim Fitzpatrick, Shahid Malik, Muhammad Sarwar, MP, Dominic Grieve, MP, representatives of various Muslim organisations, government departments and security think tanks. The 600-page Fatwa on Suicide Bombings and Terrorism has been extracted from Dr Qadri's latest research work titled Dehshet Geri aur Fitna-e-Khawarij, in a reference to those rebels who had taken up arms against Hazrat Ali (RA).

Speaking at length in English and Arabic, Dr Qadri frequently referred to Quran, Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Hadith and leading Muslim Imams to prove his point that Islam doesn't allow individuals and non-state groups to launch attacks on civilians and opposition targets.

Islam absolutely condemns violence and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and it's our Islamic duty to condemn acts of terrorism without any ifs or buts, without any excuses, pretexts and selfish justifications. Those who perpetrate violent attacks and target humanity act outside the ambit of Islam, they are the enemies of Islam, he said, opening his speech.

The launch of Fatwa is being regarded by many circles as a significant and historic step, the first time that such an explicit and unequivocal decree against perpetrators of terror has been broadcast so widely.

The Fatwa is considered arguably the most comprehensive theological refutation of Islamist terrorism as demonstrated by Taliban, al-Qaeda and their like-minded sectarian groups. To those who laud suicide bombers and praise their acts, Dr Qadri said, they are in unison with "heroes of hellfire". "They can't claim that their suicide bombings are martyrdom operations and that they become heroes of the Muslim Ummah. No, they indeed become heroes of hellfire, and they are leading towards hellfire. Their actions have nothing to do with Jihad," Dr Qadri said, who has a large following in Europe and many young Muslims are increasingly taking to his message.

He made it clear a thousand good intentions cannot convert a wrong into good, they cannot convert an evil into good. "Terrorism is terrorism, violence is violence and it has no place in Islamic teachings. Islam is a religion of peace. It promotes goodwill, beauty, betterment, goodness and negates all forms of mischief, strife and division. Dr Qadri told The News he wanted to connect with those Muslims who were confused about the actual message of Islam and those whose minds were brainwashed by preachers with little knowledge of Islam. He said his clear and categorical injunction will dissuade impressionable young Muslims from falling prey to radical groups.

He agreed many religious edicts against terrorism have recently been issued in Pakistan and elsewhere but none of them comprehensively addressed the issue of terrorism. Dr Qadri said the latest Fatwa goes further than any previous denunciation. He lamented that many religious and political parties in Pakistan were providing succour to terrorist elements.

"I have been under threat for the last 20 years. I know I am a target for the terrorists and they would love to silence me but I am speaking out against them in the service of my Creator," Dr Qadri, who is spending most of his time outside of Pakistan, told The News, when asked about the threat to his life.