Posted on 10/13/2001 7:36:12 AM PDT by PA Engineer
Muslim Ruling Endorses U.S. Action
By RICHARD N. OSTLING, AP Religion Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - An international Muslim religious ruling endorsed the morality of the U.S.-led military effort against terrorists, a statement important because of the prominence of one of its authors.
The ruling, or fatwa, also said American Muslims can participate in the military response to the Sept. 11 attacks.
``We find it necessary to apprehend the true perpetrators of these crimes, as well as those who aid and abet them through incitement, financing or other support,'' the five Muslim scholars declared.
The ruling, released Thursday, was written by Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the widely respected chairman of the Sunna and Sira Council in Qatar, along with three colleagues in Egypt and one in Syria.
Suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) has issued his own fatwa authorizing terrorist murders of American civilians, but an edict led by al-Qaradawi carries vastly more weight for believers who adhere to Islam's traditions and procedures.
Al-Qaradawi had also condemned the attacks on New York and Washington in a Sept. 13 fatwa, but he is no predictable ally of the West. For instance, last April he told The Associated Press in the context of Palestine that ``a suicide bombing is an act of martyrdom, not an act of suicide.''
The new fatwa cited the words of God in the Quran and authoritative Hadith, traditions of the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad.
``All Muslims ought to be united against all those who terrorize the innocents, and those who permit the killing of non-combatants without a justifiable reason,'' the fatwa said.
The text was dated Sept. 27 and released in Washington by the Fiqh Council of North America, an 11-member panel formed in 1986 under auspices of the Islamic Society of North America to offer legal rulings for Muslims in the United States and Canada.
The ruling was requested by Army Capt. Abdul-Rashid Muhammad, the first Muslim chaplain in the American military. Muhammad asked whether it was proper for the 15,000 American Muslims in uniform to participate in retaliation against those thought to have planned and financed the terror attacks and to eliminate their safe haven in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and elsewhere.
The fatwa made one exception to American policy, saying the perpetrators ``must be brought to justice in an impartial court of law'' and then given appropriate punishment to deter future terrorism.
Nonetheless, the fatwa said U.S. Muslim soldiers can serve, even though in combat ``it's often difficult - if not impossible - to differentiate between the real perpetrators who are being pursued, and the innocents who have committed no crime.''
A Muslim citizen serving in the regular army ``has no choice but to follow orders; otherwise his allegiance and loyalty to his country could be in doubt,'' the fatwa said.
The five jurists also said Muslims have a duty to speak up about the faith's anti-terrorism stand.
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On the Net:
Fiqh Council: http://www.fiqhcouncil.org
Why do I not see this on the news channels ..... it is pretty big news
Contrast this to the phony fatwas issued by bin Laden and "Mullah" Omar, neither of whom are permitted to issue such commands under conventional Islamic law.
But hopefully Omar was blown to smithereens in his Chevy Suburban last night, as reported earlier this morning.
How can our nation count on a religious Muslim to defend it if he/she has to wait for a favorable fatwa to do it ?
I can think of no equivalent for other faiths within the U.S.
This captain should be court-martialed for even asking. They are all unreliable if they require a fatwa to do their duty. They take their orders from the COC or not at all.
Can't these people think for themselves?
Exactly what I was thinking. It sure took them one hell of a long time to decide that its OK to fight the monsters that committed this horrible crime didn't it?
Until then, I regard the Muslim community much like Mayor Giuliani regards the Saudi prince: I don't need your support while accepting your condemnation. AMERICA WAS NOT AT FAULT FOR THIS OUTRAGE!
It is apparently not encouraged:
Innovation in Religion
by Shaykh Jalladin Muhammad Salah
[Note: This article was published in the magazine Al Manar. Insh'allah this article will be useful to the brothers and sisters. For the brothers nformation the Sheikh graduated with a Phd from Madina University, College of Aqida, after completing 20 years of study. At present he teaches at Al Muntada Al Islami. Also,. the translation in places was very difficult so if there are any errors in the text this is from the translators not from Sh. Jalladin.]The rest of the article: Innovation in ReligionInnovation in Islaam is the invention, creation or addition of any religious matter which was not (originally) found in Islaam. Therefore, Islaam warns against it and invalidates any religious deed which does not originate from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. Prophet Mohammad, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, says in this respect: "He who innovates something that is not in agreement with our matter (religion), will have it rejected." [Al-Bukharee and Muslim] This is because innovation in religion is an opposition to Islaam; it implies that our religion is incomplete and imperfect with regards to the matters of worship. Shaikh Ibn 'Uthaimeen says: " Innovation entails the adoption of dangerous ways":
1. It entails the refutation of Allaah's words; "this day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion." Therefore, any innovation introduced into the religion implies that Islaam is imperfect and incomplete.
WASHINGTON(AP) - Congress today issued a fatwa....
Must have been left back a couple of years.
Well, I suppose any news on this score is good news?
But folks, we are facing 1.3 BILLION with a "B" Muslims, world wide. Precisely how many follow any Fatwa???
While these worthy oriental gentlemen have graciously granted their permission to Americans to defend the country, I am more impressed with what they did not say.
Not a word about the slaughter and slavery in the Sudan, not a word about the slaughter and forced conversions, complete with mutilation, in Indonesia and the Phillipines.
And in typical Arabic circumlocutory fashion, not a word against Osama bin Ladin or the Taliban. Nice Fartwa boys, but since Islam has no central regulatory body; no ruling legal authority, no one, including these worthy oriental gentlemen, can say what Islam is, or what Islam isn't. They cannot say it any more than I can.
Islam is what Muslims do.
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