London: The leader of a global Muslim
movement on Tuesday issued a fatwa against acts of violence and
terror in the name of Islam, calling the perpetrators of
violence and their mentors as "heroes of hellfire".
Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, a former Pakistani diplomat
who is the founder of formidable Minhaj-ul-Quran movement,
unreservedly condemned terrorist attacks and suicide bombers
and urged the Muslim world to take a firm stand against those
who bring Islam to disrepute.
"Terrorism is terrorism, violence is violence and it
has no place in Islamic teaching. Islam is a religion of
peace. It promotes goodwill, beauty, betterment, goodness and
negates all forms of mischief, strife and division," he said.
Delivering a lecture here, Qadri frequently referred
to the holy book of Quran, Companions of the Prophet, Hadith
and leading Muslim imams to prove his point that Islam did not
allow individuals and non-state groups to launch attacks on
civilians and opposition targets.
"Islam absolutely condemns violence and terrorism in
all its forms and manifestations and its our Islamic duty to
condemn acts of terrorism without any ifs or buts, without any
excuses, pretexts and selfish justifications.
Those who perpetrate violent attacks and target
humanity act outside of the ambit of Islam, they are the
enemies of Islam," he said.
Qadri was joined at the fatwa launch event by
government ministers Jim Fitzpatrick, Shahid Malik, Muhammad
Sarwar MP, Dominic Grieve MP, representatives of various
Muslims organisations, government departments and security
think-tanks.
The 600-page `Fatwa on Suicide Bombings and Terrorism`
has been extracted from Qadri`s latest research work titled
`Dehshet Geri aur Fitna-e-Khawarij`, in a reference to those
rebels who had taken up arms against Imam Ali (AS).
The launch of the fatwa is being regarded by many
circles as a significant and historic step, the first time
that such an explicit and unequivocal decree against the
perpetrators of terror has been broadcast widely.
The fatwa is considered arguably the most
comprehensive theological refutation of Islamist terrorism as
demonstrated by Taliban, Al-Qaeda and their like-minded
sectarian groups.
To those who laud suicide bombers and praise their
acts, Qadri said they are in unison with "heroes of hellfire".
"They can`t claim that their suicide bombings are
martydorm operations and that they become the heroes of the
Muslim Umma.
"No, they indeed become heroes of hellfire, and they
are leading towards hellfire. Their actions have nothing to do
with Jihad," Qadri, who has a sizable following in Europe
said.
PTI
