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Islamic seminary issues fatwa against terrorists
Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, March 14
Responding to a query of a young Muslim businessman the 300-year-old Islamic seminary, the Darul-Ifta Firangai Mahal issued a 'fatwa' against terrorists targeting places of worship and killing innocent people.

Two days after the Varanasi bomb blast a 32-year old Lucknow-based businessman Sajid Umar dealing in electrical goods contacted the head of the Darul-Ifta Firangi Mahal Maulana Khalid Rashid for a fatwa to know what Islam had to say about people attacking places of worship and killing innocent people in cold blood in the name of Islam.

Speaking to TNS Rashid who is also the Imam of Lucknow's Idgah, said:"Sajid Umar articulated what many young people of the community are feeling today. They are the ones who have to interact with non-Muslims in schools, colleges, neighbourhoods and offices. They feel very embarrassed by such mindless violence being carried out in the name of Islam which literally means ‘peace’”.

Clarifying the position of Islam on the issue the Maulana issued an edict based on the Quran and authentic Prophets. The fatwa categorically states that , "There is absolutely no room for terrorism in Islam and murder of one innocent person amounts to murder of entire humanity."

He has quoting from the 32nd 'Ayat' of 'Sura-e-Maidah ' (The Repast) in the Holy Quran which says "…If anyone slays a human being unless it be for murder or for spreading corruption on earth – it shall be as though he had slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind”.

Elaborating on his fatwa Rashid quoted yet another excerpt from the Holy Quran. Referring to Ayat 107 under 'Sura-e-Anbiya (The Prophets) of the Quran which says that the Prophet had been sent as “…evidence of Our grace towards all the worlds” which includes not only human beings, but even animals, trees and plants, the seen the unseen ."

Giving the example of the Prophet, and his immediate successors Rashid said, "It is notable that the Prophet never reacted violently even against those who attacked him. He tried not to cause physical harm to anyone and was also totally against causing the slightest harm to any place of worship, belonging to any faith."

While emphasizing that, "Islam has always laid stress on peace and harmony," the Maulana's fatwa added, "If any Muslim causes harm to any place of worship or indulges in killing of innocent people, Islam would regard it as the worst possible crime and the Shariat would consider it absolutely unlawful."

Admitting that he was receiving phone calls appreciating the fatwa from across the country and many non-Muslims, Rashid said that the demand for the fatwa was timely and a felt need of the community.