On March 5, 2010, the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat published an interview with Sheikh Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, a senior Pakistani religious cleric who today holds a Canadian passport. The sheikh heads the Sufi movement Minhaj-ul-Quran, which promotes religious tolerance and combats extremism, and which maintains about 1,000 madrassas and dozens of orphanages across Pakistan, as well as religious centers throughout Pakistan and Britain. The interview focused on a 600-page fatwa that the Sheikh had published two days earlier in London, in which he denounced suicide attacks, calling the terrorists who perpetrate them "enemies of Islam" who are doomed to Hell.
The report pointed out that this is not the first time that Dr. Qadri has issued a fatwa against terrorism, and that he wrote similar fatwas following the bombings of madrassas in Karachi and Rawalpindi last year, as well as after 9/11, when he denied that the attacks on the World Trade Center were acts of jihad; he called them outright terrorism because they caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people and consequently endangered the lives of Muslims throughout the world.
In his most recent fatwa, according to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Qadri stressed that suicide bombers "cannot claim their suicide [attacks] to be acts of shahada [i.e. martyrdom], which would render them heroes of the Muslim nation. This is false, because [these acts actually make them] heroes of Hell." He added that their deeds could in no way be considered acts of jihad, saying that "not only does [Islam] renounce suicide attacks and those attacks which harm civilians, but it excludes anyone involved in them from the fold of Islam, which is to say that they are considered infidels."
Qadri told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that he chose to issue the fatwa at the present time in light of an increase in terrorism and in the level of its violence in Pakistan over the last year, in the form of massacres and the bombing of mosques during Friday prayer. He called the terrorists and the leaders of their organizations "modern-day Khawarij,"[1] "an old evil with a new name," and "the dogs of Hell," accusing Al-Qaeda and the Taliban of "corrupt[ing] the image of Islam by indiscriminately murdering innocent people in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, New York, London, and Madrid." He also accused them of brainwashing thousands of young people by promising them entry into Paradise, where 72 virgins waited for them, as a reward for carrying out suicide attacks. He called these promises "nonsense," saying that the terrorists "will never enter Paradise, or even smell its fragrance."
Asked about the silence of other clerics in Pakistan over the issue of terrorism, Qadri blamed it on their fear of the terrorists, saying that so far anyone issuing a fatwa against them had been murdered – with over 60 clerics being killed in the past two decades. Nonetheless, Qadri called for all imams and religious clerics to do their duty and speak out, in order to save the thousands of youth who have not yet been completely brainwashed, but who as yet have heard only one side of the issue – the side of terrorism.
On his website http://www.minhajbooks.com, which is available in English, Arabic, and Urdu, Qadri posted a preface to the fatwa outlining its content.[2] In the preface, he claims that "Muslims as a whole oppose and condemn terrorism in unequivocal terms," and that only a small minority gives it "tacit support." He also explains that the fatwa contains three chapters: The first elucidates the tenets of Islam, the second cites the Koran in order to prove the unlawfulness of terrorism according to Islam, and the third details the rights and protections Islam grants to non-Muslim citizens. It also examines factors of ideology and exegesis which it claims lead to acts of terrorism.
Following are excerpts from Qadri's interview in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.[3]
"My Reason for Drafting the Fatwa at This Time is the Growing Strength of Terrorism in Pakistan over the Last Year"
Q: "Have you issued fatwas against terrorism before?"
A: "I have written 1,000 books, 400 of which were actually published, and 12 of which deal with this issue [of opposing terrorism]. The first [book on terrorism] was published in 1995 and dealt with the issue from the perspective of human rights... I wrote that killing [people] – Muslim or non-Muslim – through acts of terror is unequivocally forbidden... The second book was published in 2004 and titled Islam on Human Rights, one-third of which discusses the prohibition of terror according to shari'a proofs drawn from the Four Imams[4] and from other important religious scholars, such as Sheikh 'Abd Al-'Aziz bin Bazz, Nasser Al-Din Al-Albani, 'Sheikh Al-Islam' Ibn Taymiyya, and Saleh Al-Fawzan..."
Q: "Is there any particular reason for issuing this fatwa against suicide operations specifically at this time?"
A: "I have written jurisprudential studies and books of this sort in the past, but my reason for drafting the fatwa at precisely this moment is the growing strength of terrorism in Pakistan over the last year. And [the terrorists] are no longer satisfied with simply killing people, but slaughter them like animals in Swat and the tribal districts. Furthermore, several eyewitnesses have reported that [the terrorists], after killing people, disinterred their bodies and hung them on trees for three days. This happened in Swat, where many people were slaughtered. Later on, the terrorists launched a campaign of bombing mosques on Fridays... Their heinous, barbaric deeds prove that they are 'modern-day Khawarij,' 'an old evil with a new name.'"
Q: "What are your thoughts on calls for holding a dialogue with the Taliban in order to curb violence and restore peace and stability to [Pakistan]?"
A: "...The Pakistani government was disposed to negotiations with them, but [plans for negotiations] stopped, and [ultimately] failed, since the disseminators of violence did not act like people engaged in negotiations, but continued destroying mosques and schools and burning anything in their path as if they themselves were not citizens of this land... and renewed the acts of murder."
Most Religious Scholars in Pakistan Are Afraid to Speak Out against Terrorism
Q: "Why do most of the religious scholars in Pakistan hesitate to openly condemn terrorism and terrorist organizations?"
A: "I have seen many religious scholars hold their tongues about [terrorism]. They found it sufficient to hold the government responsible for suppressing [terrorist] activity in the tribal regions. Some of them even demanded [the government do] this, but were still unwilling to [openly] condemn acts of terrorism... When asked why they did not denounce terrorism, they would avoid [the issue] and change the subject of discussion... sometimes to [the issue of] the American missile strikes.
"Several religious scholars did condemn acts of terrorism, but they stopped at mere denouncement. They published one- or two-page communiqués signed by hundreds of religious scholars, but did not include any evidence to support their condemnation, or any validation based in shari'a that would make their words have any affect on [their readers]. They did not relate their fatwas to any traditional texts from the Koran or hadith, or cite the opinions of any time-honored religious scholars."[5]
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Q: "Do Pakistani sheikhs and religious scholars fear violence from Al-Qaeda or the Taliban? Why do they keep their silence?"
A: "One of the reasons [for their silence] is that most religious scholars are apparently afraid, since anyone who issued a fatwa [condemning terrorism] was murdered. Indeed, over the last 20 years, over 60 religious scholars were murdered, whether by acts of sectarian terrorism, or during the current wave of terrorism. This is how Sheikh Hassan Ilahi Al-Zahir,[6] for example, was murdered, and to this day those responsible for his murder remain unknown. Several days ago, [prominent cleric] Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi spoke very briefly in condemnation of terrorism, and as a result was murdered by a suicide [bomber] in the madrassa where he worked...
"Another reason [for this silence] is political in nature – namely, that these terrorists all hail from the North West Frontier Province, Swat, Peshawar, and North and South Waziristan. That's where the [sheikhs' and clerics'] voters are, and they want to get their votes...[7] [Therefore] they do not take a political stance in opposition to that of [their constituents]... In addition, the Pakistani religious scholars believe that this terrorism comes in response to the misguided pro-American policy adopted by one Pakistani government after another..."
Terrorist Organizations Brainwash the Youth to Believe that Suicide Attacks Constitute Jihad and Ensure Entry into Paradise
Q: "How would you describe Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and the ideologues who exhort youth to carry out suicide attacks?"
A: "These are people who have brainwashed youth to the point that [the latter] view suicide attacks as jihad. They are 'modern-day Khawarij'. According to hadith 'the Khawarij are the dogs of Hell' because they stray from the commandments of Islam and factionalize Muslim communities. The bombs [of the modern-day Khawarij] reached Saudi Arabia and killed innocent people [there], all because they considered this a form of jihad which would ensure them entry into Paradise. But they will never enter Paradise, or even smell its fragrance...
"This is why I thought it the ideal time to publish a comprehensive fatwa, replete with evidence and shari'a proofs from the Koran and the Sunna, as well as quotes from the forefathers, in order to answer questions about terrorism and to return youth to the path of righteousness."
Terrorists Who Murder Indiscriminately Corrupt the Image of Islam, Which Forbids Killing Women, Children, and the Elderly
Q: "What about countries like Iraq and Afghanistan? Does this fatwa apply to suicide attacks there [as well]?"
A: "...There is a hadith in the Sahih Al-Bukhari[8] which states that it is forbidden to kill women, children, or the elderly in times of war... It is even forbidden to kill monks, or animals belonging to the enemy. Likewise, it is forbidden to burn trees or property, or to kill farmers... In [another] hadith, Usama Ibn Zayd, before setting out to fight in the Battle of Tabuk, was commanded by the Prophet not to kill women, children, or the elderly, or to cut down trees... and not to harass monks... The Prophet said this 1,400 years ago, [and to this day] it is forbidden to kill farmers, merchants, diplomats, or ambassadors. There is even an explicit verse [which discusses the matter]: 'Fight for the sake of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors' [Koran 2:190]...
"[Ours is] indeed a great religion, but look at the sad state we are in today - people meet their deaths within mosques and in the open streets, they are murdered while they sleep in their beds. The terrorists blow up market places and murder women, children, and the elderly without any justification. These Al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists corrupt the image of Islam by indiscriminately murdering innocent people in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, New York, London, and Madrid."
Q: "Were you in contact with religious scholars and sheikhs in the Arab world before publishing the fatwa?"
A: "I maintain more or less constant contact with them, and I have students, thanks be to Allah, throughout all the Arab countries."
Q: "We see suicide attacks against the Americans daily. How can you explain this?"
A: "Any act by a suicide bomber which causes the deaths of innocent people is forbidden by shari'a, clearly and utterly forbidden. According to the laws of Islam, it is a lesser wrong to spare [the lives of] 99 percent of sinners than it is to kill even one innocent person..."
Q: "The Al-Qaeda organization and other terrorist groups brainwash youth, telling them that if they carry out suicide attacks they will enter into Paradise and be given 72 beautiful women. Is this true?"
A: "This is entirely false. Not [just] false, nonsense."
Q: "If so, then where do [the suicide bombers] go?"
A: "They go to Hell, for killing human beings, for killing women, children, and the elderly, for killing innocent people, for killing civilians..."
My Fatwa Is Intended to Influence Thousands of Youth Before They Are Completely Brainwashed
Q: "Do you think your fatwa will have an effect on the Taliban in Pakistan?"
A: "...It will have an effect on thousands of youths who aren't [among the extremist commanders or those who have been completely brainwashed]... They will definitely be influenced by this fatwa, which is intended for them [specifically]. They have heard about [the fatwa] in the media and they know my name... and I never speak without providing proof or references from the Koran or the Sunna, or from the general consensus of senior imams. That is why they will be compelled to read it.
"We will [also] post audio and video recordings on the Internet... And their views will surely change... This is going to raise doubts in their [minds] over the messages Al-Qaeda's and the Taliban's religious ideologues are posting on the Internet, which will oblige them to read [the fatwa] several times. I hope that Allah will provide them with the wisdom that will lead them to the truth..."
Q: "Just how effective will the fatwa be in influencing the situation on the ground?"
A: "A fatwa can influence extremists and terrorists who read it or hear it because they are Muslims with the willingness to understand what the Koran or hadith say, or to comprehend the messages of senior imams, such as Sheikh Ibn Bazz, Al-Albani, or 'Sheikh Al-Islam' Ibn Taymiyya, who would be their natural imams had they not been enticed to listen to [Ayman] Al-Zawahiri and [Osama] Bin Laden, the 'modern-day Khawarij.' This is why it is the duty of imams and religious scholars to expose the shame of the ignorant religious ideologues of these organizations of violence.
"[Today, the extremists and terrorists] are not exposed to these debates, but hear only one side of the issue... I am convinced they are unaware of how Allah punishes those who murder non-Muslims, and when they hear the dozens of hadiths of the Prophet [on this matter] they will be awestruck and begin to think and self-scrutinize. Therefore, this is the way for us to change their minds – and they are indeed confused whether their acts of terror and their deadly suicide attacks are just or not. When they read this fatwa, its concept will be clear to them... Islam is clear on what are [acceptable] means for effecting a change of regime, and for protesting or exerting pressure [on the leaders] by peaceful means. I believe that the more fatwas like these the people receive, the more it will help change the situation on the ground."
[1] The Khawarij were a group that separated from the forces of Fourth Caliph 'Ali ibn Abi-Talib during the battle of Siffin in 657 BCE, and they are considered the first Muslim opposition within Islam. Hence, this term is used as a derogatory label for a secessionist group.
[2] To read the full preface, see http://www.minhajbooks.com/english/control/btext/cid/8/bid/376/btid/1984/read/txt/600-pages-Fatwa-on-Suicide-Bombing-and-Terrorism-in-English.htm
[3] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), March 5, 2010.
[4] The founders of the four major schools of Sunni jurisprudence.
[5] In recent years, several Pakistani religious scholars have issued what they described as fatwas against the Taliban, but as Qadri notes, these fatwas were not based on sources in Islamic jurisprudence. They were political and rhetorical in nature and often condemned suicide bombings only within Pakistan.
[6] A Pakistani religious scholar assassinated by a bomb blast in March 1987.
[7] Most of the influential religious organizations in Pakistan are also registered as political parties and participate in elections.
[8] A compendium of Islamic hadiths.
