The Minhaj-ul-Quran mosque in Oslo is promoting a fatwa condemning extremism in the name of Islam.
"Terrorism, radicalism and extremism in the name of Islam is an abuse of our religion. We want to show the image of moderate Islam," says Hassan Qadri.
The Islamic scholar from Pakistan is on a tour of Europe to explain a new and controversial Islamic ruling. A so-called 'fatwa' against extremism and extreme groups.
This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog - islamineurope.blogspot.com
Extreme Islamic groups have abused the religion and committed attacks in the name of Islam which they wrongly called holy war, declares Qadri, who was brought here by the Minhaj-ul-Quran Oslo mosque.
Qadri's father, Dr. Taheer Qadri, a leader for millions of Muslims in more than 80 countries in the international Minhaj-ul-Quran movement, is the one who authored the fatwa.
The Oslo mosque is the first to translate the over 600 pages long ruling into Norwegian. The summary says that it's a 'prohibition against terrorism against non-Muslims even i war' and a 'prohibition against imposing one's faith'.
"It was unclear if a terror attack as part of an Islamic struggle can be accepted or if it's forbidden according to Islam. This fatwa is clear that suicide attacks aren't allowed even in war," says Qadri.
"After terror attacks like 9/11 in the US, the metro attack in London and the bombs in Mumbai, some claimed that those who are responsible for it are martyrs who will be greeted by 70 virgins in paradise."
"This fatwa clearly says: Suicide bombers won't be greeted by 70 virgins. Suicide is not acceptable in Islam, and causes you to go to hell," says Qadri.
The ruling led to to fierce debate in Muslim communities all over the world. It's been called the most discussed fatwa since ayatollah Khomeini's death sentence against the author Salman Rushdie in 1989.
"The contents of this ruling means that we are quite exposed, despite the fact that no scholar in Islam challenged this fatwa's legitimacy," the vice-president of Minhaj-ul-Quran in Oslo, Mehtab Afsar, told VG.
"The ruling is actually the first of its kind which is directed against radical groups who abuse Islam," adds Afsar.
The seemingly not so controversial statements to ban violence in the name of religion led to death threats against the authors from both al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan.
Q: What with the Palestinian suicide bombers in Israel. Do you condemn that?
"Suicide attacks in themselves are a forbidden act. But Muslims also have a right to defend themselves."
Source: VG (Norwegian)
No comments:
Post a Comment