A fatwa recently published in Kuwaiti papers, issued by "the religious scholars of Kuwait," states that the regime of Bashar Al-Assad is heretical and calls to sever all official ties with it. The fatwa forbids assisting this regime, calls on the Syrian ambassadors to resign, and exhorts the Arab and Islamic countries to assist the Syrian people. The fatwa is signed by several Kuwaiti religious scholars, and also by the head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi, the most prominent Sunni cleric of our time.
At a press conference organized by The Gulf Association for Solidarity with the Syrian People, the fatwa was read aloud by the secretary of the Association of Shari'a Scholars in the Gulf, Dr. Shafi Al-Ajami, who is one of the signatories.
Following are excerpts from the fatwa:[1]
"In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful,
"A fatwa by the religious scholars of Kuwait...
"Allah the Supreme said: 'Your guardian can be only Allah; and His messenger and those who believe' [Koran 5:55]. What has befallen our Muslim brothers in Syria compels the scholars to state the truth and deny the lies [regarding] the revolution [of the Syrian people]. This includes:
"1. It is a duty to assist the Syrian people with words and actions, since this is part of the alliance [among the] believers, and a tenet of the faith. Allah the Supreme said: 'And if they seek help of you for the religion, then you must help...' [Koran 8:72]
"2. It is a duty to condemn the murders, torture, and imprisonments carried out by the Syrian regime, and to rule that the Ba'th regime is heretical for its words and actions. Allah the Supreme said: 'But whoever kills a believer intentionally – his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.' [Koran 4:93]
"3. It is forbidden to collude with the Syrian regime or to support its actions. He who does [so is] aiding the oppressor, and is an oppressor himself. Allah the Supreme said: 'Do not cooperate in sin and aggression.' [Koran 5:2]
"4. Every ambassador of the Syrian regime must resign his position. He cannot continue [to be a part] of this oppressive regime.
"5. Arab countries, and the Islamic countries in particular [sic], should assist the Syrian people and meet its financial, nutritional, and medical needs. This is considered financial jihad for the sake of Allah.
"6. It is a duty to sever [all] official ties – political, financial, cultural, and in the domain of media – with the Syrian regime.
"We call on the religious scholars in Syria to disassociate themselves from the regime and speak the truth, in order to help the Syrians, who know more than anyone about the corruption of the regime. Allah the Supreme said: 'And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it – his heart is indeed sinful...' [Koran 2:283]
"The fatwa has been sent to, and approved by, the head and the secretary-general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars:
"Secretary-General – Dr. 'Ali Al-Fardaqi.
"Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars – Dr. Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi.
"The International Union of Muslim Scholars has endorsed [the fatwa] and it is currently being sent to scholars for approval.
"Signed: 'Ujail Al-Nashmi, Ahafi Al-'Ajami, 'Abd Al-Rahman 'Abd Al-Khalek, Jassem Muhalhal Al-Yasin, Hamed Al-'Ali, 'Othman Al-Khamis, 'Abd Al-Muhsan, Zain Al-Mutairi."
Endnote:
[1] Al-Rai (Kuwait), August 13, 2011.
