Numerous Ulama Issued Fatwas against Suicide Bombings, yet They Still Happen: A Great Matter of Concern

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 14 February 2023 Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi Is One Of The Many Arab Intellectuals And Ulama Who Issued A Fatwa Against Suicide Bombs But Also Justified An Exception As A Form Of Resistance For Muslims In Palestine. ------ Main Points: 1. Although numerous fatwas have been issued and suicide attacks are categorically prohibited in Islam, they continue to occur. 2. In Pakistan, the Ulama unanimously decided in 2005 that suicide bombings were prohibited. 3. In a 150-page book, Dr Muhammad Tahirul Qadri, the founder and leader of the Minhajul Qur'an Movement, issued a fatwa condemning terrorism and suicide bombings. 4. Following the Rawalpindi incident in 2009, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, the former chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, asserted that the suicide bombers were carrying out a prohibited act and had nothing to do with Islam. 5. Madrasas, colleges, and high schools should include textbooks on counterterrorism and suicide bombings. ------ Most countries in the world are affected by suicide attacks. Particularly vulnerable to the continuous suicide bombings include Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Islam categorically condemns suicide bombings, and various fatwas have been issued to that effect. Suicide attacks do, however, still happen. Suicide attacks were declared as forbidden by the Pakistani Ulama in 2005 after 58 eminent Ulama from various schools of thought joined the vote in favour of the anti-terror fatwa. The Ulama asserted that it had been officially declared that people were preparing for terrorism and suicide bombings in the name of religion. As a result, a fatwa has been issued declaring it to be unlawful to kill innocent people through suicide bombings or remote-control bombings. The Ulama continued by stating that the fulfilment of Islamic commitments was the primary goal of issuing fatwas. The leading founder of the Minhaj-ul-Qur'an Movement, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri issued a 150-page fatwa in the form of a book outlining the distinct differences between jihad, revolt, and corruption as defined by the Qur'an and Hadith. He provided evidence in this fatwa that suicide bombings and other violent acts are forbidden in Islam. In a statement relating to this fatwa, he declared that the Quran and Sunnah strongly supported this fatwa against terrorism and suicide bombers, even going so far as to argue that legalising a suicide bombing is Kufr. This fatwa stated that any form of armed conflict with a Muslim nation qualifies as rebellion. According to him, it is a blatant violation of Islamic principles to massacre and murder members of any nation or faith, and Pakistan-hating forces now use terrorist groups as weapons. When a suicide attack took place in Rawalpindi in November 2009, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, the former chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, a professor at Jinnah University, the head of Burj Bank's Shariah Board, and the president of Tanzeem-ul-Madaris, spoke to a private TV channel and emphasised that the suicide attack was a forbidden act while also expressing compassion and condolences to the victims of this tragedy. He asserted that the actions of the suicide bombers have nothing to do with Islam. In Pakistan, mosques have frequently been the target of suicide bombings. Following an attack, Maulana Ajmal Qadri told Waqt News that attacking mosques is strictly forbidden no matter whether there is a state of war. Terrorists feel they are being persecuted, despite the fact that they are the oppressors and the ignorant victims. Islam forbids the killing of anyone. The terrorists seek to establish their own version of sharia law. They are acting on orders from outside masters, but the populace and the Ulama will work together to thwart the evil intentions of the terrorists. When the suicide bombing took place in the mosque on Parade Lane in 2009, the head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan and well-known religious scholar Sahibzada Fazal Karim vehemently condemned the incident and declared that suicide bombings are forbidden in light of the Quran and Sunnah. Islam has made it mandatory for the state to protect the life and property, honour and dignity of every citizen. The Islamic faith of suicide bombers is not real. According to the Holy Qur'an, Allah does not like those who cause mischief on earth and whoever causes mischief on earth disobeys the orders of Allah. Additionally, he stated that in order to deter terrorism, the public, academics, legislators, and religious leaders should collaborate to decide on an action plan. Ulama from many schools of thought sharply condemned the action, claiming that no Muslim could strike worshippers who were in a prostrated position. They expressed that some powers "want to destroy Muslims by setting them up against one another". Mufti Hidayatullah Pasroori, central vice president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, claimed that regardless of how loudly this incident is condemned, it is still a minor condemnation. Numerous Pakistani Ulama have issued fatwas condemning suicide bombings over the past ten years, yet these attacks have not abated and continue to this day. Just last month, a suicide bomber targeted a mosque in Peshawar. The incident was what rocked all of Pakistan. Although multiple fatwas on the prohibition of suicide attacks were issued by the sheikhs and muftis of Jamia al-Azhar in Egypt, the suicide attacks continue. Even though the Indian Ulama from all schools of thought also issued fatwas against suicide attacks, we still see or hear about one or more suicide attacks every day outside of India. Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi is one of the many Arab intellectuals and Ulama who issued a fatwa against suicide bombs but also justified an exception as a form of resistance for Muslims in Palestine. The battle in Palestine and Kashmir does not fall under this fatwa because independence movements are seen as legitimate throughout the entire civilised world, according to Pakistan's Mufti Muneebur Rahman, who also issued a fatwa banning suicide attacks. This fatwa was erroneous, according to the Qur'an and Sunnah, because suicide attacks are prohibited in Islam, even during times of hostilities; as a result, they are not allowed in Kashmir or any other country. In an Urdu column published on the New Age Islam website, Miss Kaniz Fatima made the same point and stated that "The Ulama occasionally issue fatwas denouncing terrorism and suicide bombers, but these crimes against humanity persist. It becomes essential in such a circumstance to carry out a specific movement on a broad front in this regard in order to avoid extremist and radical conceptions in particular so that the message of peace and security prevails and terrorism is completely eradicated." I agree with Miss Fatima's assertion and would like to add that everyone in the world should be made aware of all the reasons the Qur'an and Sunnah give for forbidding suicide attacks. Colleges, schools, and madrasas should develop a curriculum against terrorism and suicide bombings. Imams and other speakers must talk about the strict prohibition on suicide attacks during their lectures and sermons at mosques, Sufi dargahs, and other locations. They also need to make sure that everyone in the globe is aware of it by posting about it on social media. Let people know that Islam does, in fact, forbid terrorism and suicide bombings. But what can be done next if suicide attacks continue? Intellectuals must be more concerned due to the painful situation. ---- Urdu Article: Numerous Ulama Issued Fatwas against Suicide Bombings, yet They Still Happen: A Great Matter of Concern خود کش حملے کےخلاف علما کے متعدد فتاوی مگر تھمنے کا نام نہیں ------ A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is a Classical Islamic scholar with a Sufi background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. 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