Muslims know a fatwa can support peace rather than terrorism: Shahid Mursaleen
This news is taken from The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/shahid-mursaleen-muslims-know-a-fatwa-can-support-peace-rather-than-terrorism-1873079.html
The majority of right-minded Muslims in the world condemn terrorism and accept
that it has no link with Islam. Unfortunately there are some elements within society
that remain silent on this issue and this can be construed as a tacit approval of
these atrocities. Moreover, there are others that attempt to justify it by focusing
on the politics that cause these atrocities.
Today Muslims, non-Muslims and government officials are looking for a leader
and an authoritative figure in the Muslim world who will openly condemn suicide
bombings and terrorism and clarify the misconceptions about its true Islamic viewpoint.
The only person that has been able to produce what is an unprecedented 600-page
fatwa [religious edict] against terrorism is a leading authority in Islam, Dr Muhammad
Tahir-ul-Qadri. In what is the most comprehensive edict on this topic in the history
of Islam, Dr Qadri has explained how suicide bombings and terrorism is unequivocally
un-Islamic. In his Fatwa book he has stated that "all these acts are grave violations
of human rights Islamic law."
Unfolding the background of the fatwa, he explained that their actions caused
harm not just to Islam but to humanity. He also went on to say that "its existence
is an open danger against the integrity of Pakistan and world peace". He added:
"The entire nation should disassociate itself from these elements and condemn them
in the strongest possible terms unequivocally and with one voice. It is the need
of the time for Pakistan to unite among its ranks at every level."
Dr Qadri clarified that the fatwa is not in support of the US and its allies
and nor should it be taken as an approval of their policies in the region. In the
same way it did not support the disputed policies of the government of Pakistan
and its unpopular style of governance and undemocratic attitude.
This edict is particularly important for Britain due to the fact that the majority
of Muslims are from South Asia and some extreme elements are confused about the
religious viewpoint. Young British Muslims have been particularly targeted by extremist
groups.
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