Saudi arrest of 'Hajj militants'

Saudi arrest of 'Hajj militants'

Between 2.5 million and 3 million people attended this year's Hajj Saudi Arabia says it has arrested a group of men suspected of planning attacks on holy sites during the just concluded Hajj pilgrimage. Few details were released but the sites in Mecca were not thought to be among the targets. The men were arrested in several cities ahead of the Hajj season, sources said. The Hajj has a history of disasters but this year had no major incidents. Every Muslim able to do so is expected to attend the Hajj once in their life. Stampedes Saudi interior ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki told the Associated Press news agency: "Security forces have foiled a plot to carry out a terror attack on holy sites outside Mecca. "The group was arrested three days before the Hajj season." Mr Turki called the suspects a "deviant group" - a term authorities often use to describe al-Qaeda. Between 2.5 million and three million people attended this year's Hajj, which wound up on Friday. One of the key participants was Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Hajj has suffered a number of disasters, many from stampedes during the "stoning the devil" ritual. At least 345 pilgrims were crushed last year and 251 in 2004.

How does a muslim minority deals with the non-muslim majority?

Question:
To what extent can Muslims work in a fair and friendly way with Christians and people of other faiths who live around them? Also, given that the Muslim minorities live amongst a majority of Christians, is it permissible for the Muslims to work and do business with them and to respond to their invitations and for them to respond to our invitations? Is it also permitted for Muslims to mix with them, whether in order to invite them to Islaam or merely out of courtesy? If the answer is that it is permissible, how can we reconcile it with the fact that in some books of usool al-fiqh it is stated that we should force them aside when we pass on a narrow path? In addition, it is stated that we should bring up our children to loathe, despise and avoid them. Could you possibly throw some light on this?

Answer:
Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{Allaah does not forbid you to be kind and just with those who have neither made war on your religion nor driven you from your homes. Allaah loves those who are just and equitable}, [Soorah al-Mumtahinah, Aayah 8].

A person's dealings with others falls into one of three categories:
1. He deals with them fairly and justly;
2. He deals with them fairly and justly;
3. He deals with them unjustly.

Dealing with people unjustly is prohibited. Even with the rights of non-Muslims, it is not permitted for you to deal with them unjustly and with oppression. Ibn Qayyim (Rah) when commenting on the words of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):
((If the people of the Book give Salaam upon you, then answer them by saying, And upon you)) says, "This is if they say, 'As-Salaam' in a way which is not clear and it is possible and likely that they in fact said: "As- which means "poison". However, if they say, "As-Salaamu 'alaykum" clearly, then you should reply by saying, "Wa 'alaykum as-Salaam" also in a clear manner.

Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{If you are greeted by anyone, then reply with a better greeting or at least return the same greeting}, [ Soorah an-Nisaa, Aayah 86].

This is what justice calls for. However, the reason for the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) saying:

((If the people of the Book give as-Salaam upon you, then answer them by saying, And upon you)) is made clear in a hadeeth narrated by ibn 'Umar. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((The People of the Book say, "As-Saam 'alaykum" (May you be poisoned) so if the People of the Book give as-Salaam upon you, then reply by saying, 'Wa 'alaykum)) (And upon you.). And so the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) clarified the reason for this ruling.

Therefore, if they say distinctly, "As-Salaam" there is no objection for you to reply clearly, "Wa 'alaykum as-Salaam". If they congratulate us or give us best wishes, we can return the greeting to them. However, to give them best wishes on the occasion of their religious festivals is completely forbidden. It is prohibited, for example, to give them best wishes at Christmas or on the occasion of any other of their festivals because to wish them well by affirming their festivals of disbelief is to be contented and happy that these are their festivals. In the same way that it is prohibited to wish them good health over a drink of wine or any other prohibited subsume, it is also forbidden to wish them well by affirming their religious rites.

The matter of responding to their invitations is something that needs elaboration. If there is benefit in it and it is an opportunity to invite to Islaam, then there is no objection to it. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) responded to an invitation of a Jew, who gave him bread, barley and dissolved fat. It is, however, something that we as Muslims must be very cautious about. Friendship and love for them, inclining to them and being content with their disbelief is not permitted because the need to have a sound and pure heart is extremely important for Muslims. The heart if it inclines to them or becomes content with their disbelief is in great danger.

For this reason, Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day being friendly with those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even though they are their fathers, sons, brothers, close relatives or from their own tribe}, [Soorah al-Mujaadalah, Aayah 8].

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
al-Aqalliyaat al-Muslimah - Page 81, Fatwa No.22

The Selfishness of Terrorists

By Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin al-`Ubaykaan

So when you speak, do not only consider your own self saying: 'We want to establish Jihaad and we want to be martyrs...' This does not give you the right to be a cause for the destruction of others, the fact that you want to be a martyr.

This is selfishness, a person like this only thinks of himself. All he wants, is to be killed in the cause of Allaah and to enter Jannah [according to his belief], that's all, without looking at the interests and well being of others. This is not permissible, this is not the behavior of Muslims.

Translator: Nadir Ahmad, Abu Abdul-Waahid

Printed From: http://www.madeenah .com/article. cfm?id=1244

Tazkirah Menjelang 'Ied #8: Khutbah Setelah Shalat

Termasuk Sunnah Nabi dalam khutbah 'Ied adalah dikerjakan setelah shalat. Di dalam kitab Shahih al-Bukhari[1], al-Bukhari membuat bab khusus, yaitu: "Bab al-Khutbah ba'da al-'Ied" (Khutbah Setelah Shalat 'Ied).

Dari Ibnu 'Abbas radhiyAllahu 'anhuma, dia berkata:

شهدت العيد مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبي بكر وعمر وعثمان رضي الله عنهم فكلكم كانوا يصلون قبل الخطبة

Mufti Gets Wide Support on Call to Saudi Youth

Saudi Islamic scholars and officials have voiced full support for the statement made by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, urging young Saudi men not to run after the calls for jihad made by foreign groups with vested interests. They also agreed with the mufti that it is the duty of an Islamic ruler to call for jihad and not for any ordinary individual to do so.

In his statement on Monday, Al-Asheikh strongly criticized Saudis for joining the war in Iraq. He said that young men were playing into the hands of suspicious entities that exploited the young in order to realize their vested interests. The mufti also reminded Saudi youth of the meaningless war they are fighting in Iraq as the country endures total confusion without clear objectives. He also warned them against disobeying Islamic scholars and Muslim rulers.

The mufti’s statement follows media reports that a significant number of Saudis have been fighting alongside insurgents against US-led occupation forces in Iraq.

“Our youth have become a commodity, bought and sold by (Middle) Eastern and Western agencies...they have become instruments for carrying out heinous acts,” Al-Asheikh said referring to reports of Saudis taking part as suicide bombers in Iraq.

“I advise those with money to be careful about where it is spent so that it does not damage Muslims. I urge religious scholars and preachers to explain the truth and take young people by the hand so that they see the reality,” the mufti said.

“I decided to make this statement after observing that for several years Saudis have been leaving for jihad. They did this because they are passionate about their religion but they are not wise enough to know right from wrong,” he said.

The mufti also reminded the youth that rejecting Islamic scholars and rulers was a major sin in Islam. “A person who obeys the ruler obeys me and who rejects the ruler rejects me,” the mufti said, quoting a saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

“It is the duty of the ruler, not any other individual, to call for jihad,” said Sami ibn Ahmed Al-Khayyat, director of the department of issues and investigations at the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Makkah region. “Youth are not allowed to call for jihad by themselves instigated by religious passion.” Speaking to Arab News, Khayyat also said that youth should not go to Muslim countries facing security problems with the intention of jihad. He emphasized the need for propagating the message of Islam in a wise manner, winning the hearts of people and engaging them in constructive dialogue.

Ahmed ibn Qassim Al-Ghamdi, director of the commission’s office in Makkah, emphasized the important position of jihad in Islam. “But the present calls for jihad are made by groups having vested interests and have resulted in Muslims killing each other,” he explained.

Dr. Khaled Bajahzer, a professor in Islamic studies, highlighted the role of youth in society and urged them to make use of their time and energy in a constructive manner. “Muslim youth should not go for jihad by just hearing some calls or listening to deviant religious edicts,” he said and hoped that Saudis would follow the mufti’s advice.

New Website For Authentic Fatwas

An email from Abu 'Abdullaah (Fatwa-Online/E-Fatwa mailing list):

http://www.alifta. com

Now Website for Authentic Fatwas

The Presidency for Scientific Research and Religious Edicts (Dar Al-Ifta), the Riyadh-based organization comprising prominent Islamic scholars that issues fatwas, has set up a website for its religious rulings. The site (www.alifta.com) provides quick access to the fatwas issued by Dar Al-Ifta, which is affiliated to the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars headed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh.

The site features fatwas issued by prominent Islamic scholars and has devoted a section for the fatwas of Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, the former mufti who died in 1999.

Visitors to the new website will be able to ask questions on various topics and get replies from well-known scholars. The launch of the website comes in response to calls for the authentication of religious edicts in Saudi Arabia. Certain radical groups sometimes issue sketchy fatwas urging Muslim youths to take part in jihad. The website is aimed at giving Muslims a place to review authentic and widely accepted fatwas issued by the Islamic authority in the Kingdom.

On the main page of the site, one can find the fatwas of the permanent committee for ifta, fatwas of Sheikh Bin Baz, and of the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars as well as the Islamic Research Magazine.

The site also contains some of the Hadiths reported by prominent women followers of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) including Khadeeja, Safiya, Zainab, Hafsa, Aisha, Fatma, Asma bint Abibakr, Um Salama and Um Dardaa.

Saudis and expatriates in the Kingdom welcomed the new fatwa website and said it would help the public to receive authentic religious rulings and opinions on various issues.

Mohammed Habeeb, director general of the Dawa Center in Al-Salama district in Jeddah, said Dar Al-Ifta’s site is very informative and would benefit a large number of people worldwide. However, he stressed the need for further developing the site with interactive facilities.

“People have been waiting for this site for quite a long time,” Habeeb told Arab News. “It is a nice website containing religious edicts made by prominent scholars like Bin Baz and Bin-Othaimeen.”

He called upon Dar Al-Ifta to translate the religious rulings into English and other major languages. “There is a multi-language website set up by Egypt’s Al-Azhar. Many foreigners make use of it.”

Saudi Arabia has emphasized the need for the compilation of religious edicts in order to unite Muslims. In a previous statement, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal underscored the important roles that Islamic institutions, such as the Islamic Fiqh Academy, play in protecting Islamic beliefs and ideology.

So now the Jamaah at-Tabligh (also known as Tablighi Jamaat) is described as a "radical Islamic sect" and linked to the Deobandi movement.. This really came as a surprise to me.. Although I never see the Tablighi Jamaat as being upon the Qur-aan and Sunnah as understood by the Salaf, it never really crossed my mind that it would become a radical or hardline movement..

However, in a breakfast session with Muis President Mr Alami Musa, along with tertiary Malay-Muslim leaders, I did voice out that Muis should monitor the activities of the Tablighi Jamaat, especially when they bring in preachers from India or Pakistan or elsewhere.

Here's something we should read and analyse:

Radical Islamic sect 'has half of Britain's mosques in its grip'

Last updated at 09:36am on 7th September 2007

Comments

Hardliner: Riyadh ul Haq preaches contempt for non-Muslims

A hardline Islamic movement, whose leading UK imam preaches anti-Semitism and calls on Muslims to "shed blood for Allah", is controlling almost half of Britain's mosques, a police report has found.

The influence of the ultra-conservative Deobandi sect, which is characterised by its total rejection of western values, has grown to such an extent that police now believe it runs more than 600 of Britain's 1,350 mosques.

The revelations will put further scrutiny on plans for a "mega mosque" in east London by a group called Tablighi Jamaat, who are closely linked to the Deobandi movement.

The £100 million plan to build the "Islamic village" next to the Olympic site is already mired in controversy after intelligence services said the group was a recruiting ground for al Qaeda.

The Deobandi- controlled mosques are predominantly found in the Midlands and the North - such as the Tablighi Jamaat mosque which 7/7 bombers Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer were known to attend.

But about 170 London mosques are classified as Deobandi-run compared with less than 100 run by the moderate Sufi-based Barelwi movement.

Seventeen of Britain's 26 Islamic seminaries are also run by Deobandis, producing 80 per cent of clerics trained here.

The most vocal preacher in Britain, Sheikh Riyadh ul Haq, supports armed jihad and is openly contemptuous of Christians, Jews and Hindus.

Mr ul Haq, 36, who runs an Islamic academy in Leicester, gained notoriety with a series of outspoken lectures after 9/11 when he was Imam of Birmingham Central Mosque. He has since travelled the world preaching that America and its allies are seeking to wipe out Islam.

Tapes of his sermons reveal an open hatred of Western culture, an admiration for the Taliban and a passion for martyrdom - although he does say in one lecture that "British Muslims should not rise here".

A favourite talk of his, however, warns Muslims of the perils of befriending the "kuffar", or non-believer. He says: "The Koran teaches Muslims not to follow in the footsteps of the Jews and the Christians, yet of our own choice we decide to live, act, work, behave, enjoy and play just like the kuffar".

"Do not befriend the kuffarî was Allah's warning to Muslims, and Muhammad told his companions "to distance themselves and fear this alignment with the kuffar in every way, even to the manner of dressing".

Moderate forces within Britain's Muslim community say they are doing all they can to counter the influence of preachers like Sheikh Riyadh ul Haq.

Ghayasuddin Siddiqui of the Muslim Parliament said: "There is no doubt the Deobandi movement became more influential in Britain's mosques in the Nineties and this went largely unchecked. The situation now is of great concern as almost all Islamic extremism originates from the Deobandi thinking".

A Department for Communities spokesman said: "We have a strategy to ensure imams represent mainstream moderate opinion and promote values like tolerance and respect of the law. We never said the challenge from extremism is restricted to those coming from overseas".

[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=480470&in_page_id=1770]

Informing The Authorities Of Terrorist Plots

Informing The Authorities Of Terrorist Plots.

The Salafi position with regarding those who incite or plan terrorist acts such as suicide, kidnap or bombings is that Muslims should inform the authorities of their activities. This is regardless of whether these acts are perpetrated in Muslim or non-Muslim countries. Muslim communities must be at the forefront of stamping out these non-Islamic acts that are done falsely in the name of Islam. The Messenger of Allaah stated: “Whoever sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is not able to do that, then let him change it with his tongue [by speaking]. And if he is not able to do that, then let him [hate it] with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Scholars have stated that forbidding with the hand is done by the governments and the authorities, so they hold and punish and imprison the evil doers. If they withhold from this duty, it does NOT fall into the hands of the citizens to take the law into their own hands. Rather they remain patient. As for speaking against the evil in terms of refuting the false ideologies, then that it for the scholars and the people of knowledge, not for ignorant, and there has never been a time in the history of Islam, except that the scholars have spoken out against evil ideologies and doctrines as a safeguard for Islam, and this will not stop up until the final Hour is established. As for the general person then he forbids only in accordance to his knowledge and ability in line with the rulings of the true scholars of the Sunnah based upon the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. As for hating with the heart, then this for the one who recognizes evil, but does not have the knowledge nor the ability to speak against this, so he distances himself from it and keeps away from it. So as it relates to the terrorists, then it is known by the one possessing knowledge as well as the one who is devoid of it, that these acts are evil and condemned by the Muslim scholars based upon the texts of the Qur’aan and authentic Sunnah. So both, the one possessing knowledge and the general person, informs the authorities of those that incite or plan terrorist acts.

And this is from the aspect of forbidding evil and thereby earning the reward of Allaah, the Most High. Indeed it is a distinguishing trait of this nation that they enjoin the good and forbid the evil. Allaah states, “Let there rise from amongst you a group that call to good and they enjoin the good and forbid the evil. And indeed they are the successful.” (Qur’aan 3:104) Indeed nations that came before were cursed upon the tongues of the Prophets due to them not forbidding the evil when it appeared. Allaah, the Most High, states, “Those amongst the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of Dawood (David) and Eesaa the son of Maryam (Jesus son of Mary), because they used to transgress the bounds. They used not to forbid one another from evil which they committed…” (Qur’aan 5:78-79).

So Muslims should take heed from this great verse. Additionally the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alaihi wassallam) stated: “There are not a people amongst whom sins are committed, and they are stronger than those who commit them yet they do not prevent them, except that Allaah sends His punishment upon them all.” (See Tashabbuhul-Khasees of adh-Dhahabee, and the hadeeth is authentic) Another reason why these terrorists and their ideology must be stamped out is due to the fact that they are innovators who have attributed to Islaam, that which is Islam is free of, and it is impermissible to accommodate them or defend them or protect them, due to the statement of the Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wassallam), “Whoever innovates or accommodates an innovator, then upon him is the curse of Allaah, His Angels and the whole of mankind.” (Reported by Bukhaaree and Muslim). And there is not a shadow of a doubt from an Islamic perspective, that these terrorist ideologies are innovations and these perpetrators are innovators, and it is not permissible to protect them or give them refuge.

One can recognize the ideology of the these evil doers from certain matters that their lectures and discussions always revolve around, from them is that they always call for rebellion and revolution in the Muslim lands and against the Muslim rulers; they declare the Muslim rulers and those who work in the apparatus of government to be apostates and unbelievers; they praise the suicide bombers and terrorists and insurgencies in Iraaq, Palestine and other places and continually justify their actions; they may praise the bombings of 9/11 in New York, 7th July bombings in London or the Madrid bombings. These discussions of theirs may not necessitate that they themselves will organize or carry out terrorist acts but this speech of theirs incites others towards violence. Remember it only takes two or three young men (or women) who have been affected to go out and wreak havoc. The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alaihi wassallam), mentioned these renegades (known as the Khawarij) in a narration, “If I am alive when they appear, I will slaughter them with the slaughtering of Aad.” And Aad was a tribe mentioned in the Qur’aan that was punished by Allaah for their evils and transgressions. He also stated, “They are the worst of Allaah’s creation under the sky.” There are many, many other narrations of the Prophet and his Companions describing them, to the extent that Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and Imaam an-Nawawee, two great scholars of the middle ages, stated the consensus of the great Scholars of the Salaf and Sunnah that these renegades must be prevented and fought against. In fact Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (died 728 AH) stated that the Khawaarij are more harmful to Islaam and the Muslims than the Jews and the Christians. And this is due to the fact that these Jihaadis, Takfeeris and terrorists are a cancer within the ranks of the Muslims, destroying the purity of the Religion from within.

So when one looks at the activities of these people such as the killing of men, women and children, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, one sees that they are indiscriminate in their murderous acts. After what has been mentioned above one can see why the Scholars of this noble and blessed Salafi da’wah have issued verdicts calling people to inform the authorities if they know of anyone inciting or planning terrorist acts.

There is NO doubt that those make a link between terrorism and what they term as ‘The Wahhaabis’, intending by that the Salafis, have made a mythical link based upon fallacies and falsehood. The great Scholar Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (died 1206AH), after whom his adversaries invented the derogatory term ‘Wahhaabi’ for anyone who studied his works - then this Scholar was the most fervent in his opposition to deviation and deviant ideologies. Rather the Salafis, whom the opposers term as Wahhaabis, have been at the forefront of combating the takfeeri, Jihaadi and Khariji ideologies, for decades. And this refutation of the Salafi scholars upon these groups was not just a mere response to modern-day events but rather a religious obligation upon them regardless of prevailing circumstances.

So Syed Qutb, the father and reference point of the modern-day Jihadist-terrorist movements, was refuted by the Salafi Scholars for his call to assassinations and violent revolution decades ago and again in the early nineties by the likes of the Salafi scholars such as Shaikh Bin Baaz, Shaikh Bin Uthaimeen and especially in great detail by Shaikh Rabee bin Haadee al-Madkhalee who authored several books in exposition of Syed Qutb. Shaikh Bin Baaz warned and exposed the evil doctrine of Usamah bin Laden back in the early nineties, whilst the Islamic political groups were in praise of him. Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi is another reference point for the modern day violent politically motivated groups, yet the Salafi Scholars such as Shaikh Rabee al-Madkhali, Shaikh Ubaid al-Jaabiree, Shaikh Hammaad al-Ansaaree exposed his errors and warned against his approach. Another example is the warning of the Salafi Yemeni Scholar Muqbil bin Haadee against the HAMAS of Palestine whilst the latter were supporting terrorist attacks on civilian buses in Israel. We also have the Scholarly Salafi stance against Hizbollah of south Lebanon and former leader of Iran, Khomeini such as the statements of Shaikh Bin Baz, Shaikh Bin Uthaimin, Shaikh Ahmad an-Najmi and others. Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen in his now published explanation of ‘Riyaadhus-Saaliheen’ well over fifteen years ago showed his clear abhorrence at the suicide bombings in Palestine. So this is the clarity with which the Salafis speak and have always spoken. Over a thousand years of Salafi authorship, from the time of the disciples of the Prophet until this day, the Scholars of Sunnah and Salafiyyah have been refuting the false ideologies, whether extremist or negligent - Whereas the people of deviation will respond based upon political expediency, but the underlying ideology in support of revolution and suicide attacks remains. How is it possible to be straddle both sides of the fence in this issue, whilst the Qur’aan and Sunnah is so clear upon them?

What is astonishing is that these same people accuse the Salafis, whom they call Wahhaabis, of being responsible for these false extremist ideologies. It reminds us of the lines of poetry: “She accused me of the illness she possessed, and then slipped way!”

http://salaf.com/2007/07/05/informing-the-authorities-of-terrorist-plots/

The 'Stigma' Terrorism for Muslims

Say the word 'Terrorist' think Muslim? Be honest...is this not the similitude that is made instinctively these days? The great focus on a extreme minority of Muslims driven by political goals, clothed in Islamic themes has been expounded upon so greatly that it would be hard for the average person 'not' to believe Islam promotes aggression, violence and terror.

The following article was written recently in the Toronto Sun

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Prescribing world terrorism

By ERIC MARGOLIS

Pundits and self-appointed experts on Islam are wringing their hands and trying to explain why two Muslim doctors and at least six other medical workers were involved in this week's failed bombings in London and Glasgow.

It certainly sounds horrific and counter-intuitive. Physicians, trained to heal, turned into would-be mass murderers with cars packed full of explosive materials and nails. Since I'm writing a book on why the Muslim world is so angry at the West, let me venture some heretical thoughts.

First, there is nothing sacrosanct about doctors. Behind carefully cultivated veneers of icy detachment, they have the same emotions as ordinary mortals. The most evil, frightening man I ever met -- and I've met a lot -- was Haiti's tyrant, "Papa Doc" Duvalier, who was a crusading country doctor before he turned into a Voodoo-crazed despot.

Second, the amateur, would-be killers who staged these bungled attacks were not, as many Western pundits claim, driven by some sort of homicidal perversion native to Islam. An entire cottage industry of publicity-seeking anti-Muslim writers is at work seeking to confirm the increasingly popular prejudice that Islam is a sick, demented, homicidal faith. These pundits are merely licking the hand that pays them.

The two accused doctors now under arrest in Britain were most likely driven by rage over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, pure and simple.

Nothing ever excuses killing civilians. Those who stage horrific bombings against Israelis, Europeans, Americans and fellow Muslim civilians are criminals. Nothing excuses their behaviour. But we must understand why it happens and why it will continue.

Right response

Britain's new prime minister, Gordon Brown, responded the right way to the London and Glasgow incidents. Unlike Tony Blair, who raised anti-Western attacks to hysterical, apocalyptic levels, declaring civilization in peril, the dour Brown properly characterized the latest outrages as "criminal" acts to be handled by the police.

The two doctors suspected of trying to kill British civilians were most likely motivated by the same ferocious fury as the suicide squads who attacked New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001.

Their attacks were not the result of some innate sickness in Islam, misreading the Koran, brainwashing, or hatred of Western shopping habits. Our governments and media just refuse to face the ugly reality that such attacks are a direct reaction to our own violent actions in the Mideast and South Asia.

We can't expect to go on bombing and shooting up Iraq, or shredding Afghan villages with cluster bombs and 20mm gatling guns, and not expect violent reaction. The increasing deaths of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the ongoing agonies of Palestine, have enraged the Muslim world against the West.

Most Muslims simply complain. But a tiny number, as in Britain, forget rationality, humanity, or common sense and try to strike back at what they believe are the oppressors of the Muslim world.

Such violence is criminal and, worse, to paraphrase Tallyrand, a mistake. They undermine whatever cause the militants are fighting for, making them into criminals with no possible justifiable grievances. In the end, innocent Muslims in Britain and other Western nations become victims of these mindless attacks.

But revenge attacks will continue, and even intensify, until the West reassesses its policies in the regions that are generating such anti-Western violence.

Intensified police work is needed at home to prevent more attacks. Muslim leaders must keep telling their people that attacks against civilians are immoral and self-defeating.

But Western governments have to face the fact that the wars they are waging against the Muslim world are the primary generators of terrorism. In the intelligence business, it's called blowback.

Blaming every violent incident on the shadowy al-Qaida is a handy excuse for avoiding reality and responsibility.

But it won't change the fact that a good 20% of the world's population is increasingly enraged at the U.S., Britain and Australia.

And, now, Canada.
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Margolis_Eric/2007/07/08/4322737.html

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The writer has suggested (see bold type) that the motivation of the attackers was a response to oppression, although we do not know the motives of the accused, the column does allude to something that few writers (Muslim included) have aptly pointed out. The motivation of many 'Muslim Terrorists' is often political and an extreme (and violent) reaction to oppression. Islam completely opposes such actions (as has been pointed out in many places in this forum and site), but the key point here is that it is political activism, nationalism and violent reaction to invasion and not Islamically motivated/legislated aggression.

This is an important point for the level-headed and just individual to be aware of, amidst a sea of propaganda and anti-Islamic misinformation. We invite you read and learn about Islam on this website and learn about the reality of Islam.

Post edited by: islaam.ca admin, at: 2007/07/21 06:00

Don't Abuse the Concept of Jihaad

"Don’t Abuse the Concept of Jihaad"

RIYADH, 22 August 2003 — Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority urged Muslims yesterday to shun extremism and avoid waging unjustified jihaad as the Kingdom cracks down on militants.

In a lengthy statement, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh told Saudis to listen to their religious authorities and ignore fanatical interpretations of Islaam.

“One of the fallouts from extremism in understanding Islaam is that some people call for jihaad for the sake of God without justification,” Sheikh Abdul Aziz said.

“These people raise the banner of jihaad to draw the young into their ranks and not to fight for God,” he added.

Militants like Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden have often called for jihaad against countries they consider “infidel” such as the United States, urging his followers to target Western interests in Saudi Arabia and abroad.

Other militants have also used Islaam as a rallying cry, justifying attacks by saying they are doing God’s will.

“Young Muslims must try and better themselves and their country but not through violence, because Islaam is not a violent religion, it is a merciful religion,” he said.

“A Muslim must understand his religion. It is the duty of the young and the whole Muslim world to know that violence is not a way to achieve reform,” Al-Sheikh said.

The grand mufti emphasized that the struggle against a perceived evil should not lead to a greater evil.

“The Prophet (peace be upon him) told us to combat evil. But there is a general rule to look at both advantages and disadvantages. And if fighting an evil leads to a greater one, then that fight is forbidden,” he said.

The grand mufti said one of the reasons some people attacked and frightened others was ignorance.

“Ignorance is a killer disease because a person thinks that he is right when he is wrong,” he said and stressed the importance of right guidance. “One of the reasons also is mistrust of our scholars. It is people’s duty to trust their scholars and leaders,” he said.

Last week, the Kingdom’s highest Islaamic authority denounced terror attacks in the Kingdom, describing them as “serious criminal acts,” and pledged its full support for the government.

“Acts of sabotage such as bombings, murder and destruction of property are serious criminal acts and an aggression against innocent people... which warrant severe and deterrent punishment,” the Council of Senior Islaamic Scholars said in a statement.

The 17-member council, headed by the grand mufti, declared its support for the actions being taken by the state to track down terrorists in an effort to shield the country from their actions.

The Islaamic body had called on the Saudi people to “stand behind the country’s leadership and their scholars,” at these difficult times in the fight against “evildoers.”

The statement dubbed “misguided and ignorant” those who claim that terrorism was part of jihaad, or holy war. It said people who provide shelter to suspected militants were committing a “grave sin.”

..........
Arab News
[Extracted from http://fatwa-online.com/news/0030822.htm]

Mufti of Saudi Arabia: Those responsible are Mischief makers, Sinners and Criminals!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

A Questioner asked the Mufti of Saudi Arabia Abdul Azeez Aalu Asy-Shaykh :

You are most probably aware-noble Grand Mufti- of the suicide bombings, which have resulted in the killing of innocent people, that have taken place in Algeria and Morocco in the name of jihad, what advice do you offer in light of this?

The Shaykh anwsered :

I say: What occurred in Algeria and what occurred in Morocco is in no way Jihad. Actually this is oppression, transgression and a criminal act. Anyone who calls this Jihad is clearly mistaken...

The horrendous explosions that went off in Algeria that killed thirty three people and injured more than two hundred and what happened in Morocco, when those people blew themselves up, those responsible for these acts are not to be called Mujahideen. We refer to them as mischief makers, sinners, criminals and individuals who are upon error.

ref. http://www.sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=346664
http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=26&Topic=5986

Audio : Islaam's War On Terrorism

Audio Lecture:

Clarification To The Media - Islaam's War On Terrorism (righ-click & save)
by: Abu Khadeejah Abdul Waahid

The Gaurdian newspaper: "Scholars hit back at 'evil' bombers"

Lecturers tour mosques to win over youth

Martin Wainwright Friday July 29, 2005 The Guardian

Qur'anic scholars (1) started a tour of Muslim communities in Britain yesterday to underline their unequivocal horror at suicide bombings and terror attacks.

Using texts from both the Qur'an and 1,200 years of Islamic jurisprudence, they will speak in Bradford, Birmingham, Sheffield and London after an initial meeting in Leeds where three of the July 7 bombers lived.

Seven lecturers are addressing open meetings in English, Arabic and Somali in a programme entitled Islam's War on Terror, backed by posters and leaflets which describe suicide bombers as "perpetrators of evil".

"We have been arguing this case for many years, with regard to such bombings overseas, including in Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt," said Asfal Choudhary, one of the organisers of the opening meeting in Leeds. "But now there is all the more need for the voice of truth to be heard."

More than 150 people listened to 90 minutes of closely argued reasoning at the Pakistan community centre in Harehills, Leeds, where the attacks were condemned as contrary to every principle of Islam. Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Whaid, a scholar from Birmingham, accused radical clerics such as Abu Hamza, formerly of the Finsbury Park mosque in London, of "poisoning young minds" with an entirely false version of the religion.

He deplored the combination of human rights laws and constant media attention which gave exiled radicals in Britain a platform to "preach evil" for more than a decade and commit acts absolutely abhorrent to Islam such as circulating videos of terrorist beheadings and other atrocities. Twisting of the concept of jihad had led to grandiose visions of "Islamic empires" and the right to kill so-called "apostates" (disloyal Muslims) which were nowhere supported in the Qur'an.

"I become a target. You become a target," he said. "The terrorists make no distinctions and are absolutely indiscriminate. It is the most disgraceful of crimes."

A simplistic anti-American feeling had also led people to claim sectarian terrorists in Iraq, or even Saddam Hussein, as Muslim or Arab heroes when they were nothing of the sort.

He also called on mosques and communities to address the problem of disaffected Muslim youth in Britain. He told the meeting: "They have a burden of personal baggage - confusion about their culture, identity and religion - and we must make it clear that we understand this and care about it. We must get out on to the streets and speak to them on their level. Because if we do not, Hamza and Bin Laden will."

The meeting also discussed the issue of raising the level of understanding of Islam in British mosques, and the effects of a lack of intellectual training - and also experience of the west - among some imams recruited from overseas. Abu Khadeejah said that it was a cause for concern that of 105 mosques in Birmingham, only one conducts Friday sermons in English.

"Our mosques should have more contact with all communities and that is a handicap," he said. "There is a danger that we spend too much time discussing foreign politics instead of addressing the problems of Muslims here."

Footnote: (1): Here the journalist refers to the term 'scholars'. The Salafi lecturers and preachers regard themselves as mere conveyors of the truth and students of knowledge. They themselves refer back to the Scholars of the Salafi Creed and Methodology both past and present.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/story/0,16132,1538541,00.html

source: http://www.spubs.com/sps/sad/mp3.cfm?scn=dl&LeID=129

What do (salafi) Muslims Think About 9/11?

"...The terrorist attacks that took place and what occurred of general (mass) killing; this is not permissible and Islam does not allow it in any form whatsoever. Islam frees itself from this action…"

- Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee, Saudi Arabia

Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee is one of the more senior scholars of the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia. Shortly after the events of September 11, he was asked by a group of Salafi youth in Toronto, Canada, to advise the Muslims as to what their position should be regarding the terrorist attacks. After a short preliminary speech, the lecturer at the Islamic University of Medina recited the following verse from the Quran:

"Thus We have made you a just and most balanced nation, that you may be witnesses over mankind (on the Day of Judgement), and the Messenger be a witness over you."

"Hence, Islam is a balanced and moderate way, and it does not enter into negligence on the one hand, nor exaggeration or extremism on the other. It is balanced in between (these two extremes)… In addition, Islam encourages equity and justice amidst both Muslims and non-Muslims.

"Verily, Allah enjoins justice, the doing of good, and giving to kith and kin; He forbids all shameful and prohibited deeds, and oppression. He admonishes you, that you may take heed."

Continuing in his address, Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee spoke about the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), saying: "And he also forbade those fighting in jihad from killing women, children, the elderly and the ascetics who are devoted to worship, as well as forbidding the cutting down of trees and so on - despite the fact that the associates of these categories of people may be involved in fighting with the Muslims.

Based upon what has preceded, then we say; that which we believe and hold as our religion concerning what happened to the World Trade Centre in America - and in Allah lies success - is that the terrorist attacks that took place and what occurred of general (mass) killing; this is not permissible and Islam does not allow it in any form whatsoever. Islam frees itself from this action…

So Islam does not allow them (these deeds), nor do Muslims perform them, and the true followers of Islam - which is balanced and moderate - they free themselves from these actions and from those who performed them…

In this centre, there were nothing but innocent non-Muslims and Muslims from all the various parts of the world, of different races. They had material possessions and assets in these buildings, and so all of this is impermissible; this is oppression upon both Muslims and non-Muslims. Even if people (who were responsible) claim that they had valid reasons for perpetrating this; this is not the correct way.

It is obligatory upon the Muslims in this country and elsewhere, and upon the students of knowledge, to explain that this action is free from Islam, and that Islam is free from these actions. I request them to make clear this issue, with certainty - and to be truthful when they explain this issue - without compromising the religion of Islam, and without giving a bad impression of Islam.

And we say, to whomever has justice and fairness amongst the non-Muslims, that they should reflect upon this matter, and not take it out on innocent Muslims and Arabs, for there are millions of them in the United States. They should also not accept everything from the media without question. It is desirable for the American people to understand that Islam does not support these affairs, and that they should not use the media in order to ascribe these actions to Islam. And the Muslims in those areas should participate in explaining that these affairs are not from Islam…

May Allah guide us to what He is loved and pleased with, and may He raise the rank of the Prophet, and that of his family and companions, and grant them peace."

- abridged from the book: The 'Wahhabi' Myth

source: http://www.thewahhabimyth.com/sept11.htm

Quran 2:143

Quran 16:90

Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee on the WTC Attacks, taken from: www.salafipublications.com, Article ID: CAF020008. Originally from a recorded tele-link from www.troid.org.

O Muslims! Fear Allah And Don’t Sympathise With Zarqaawee

17/06/06

O Muslims! Fear Allah And Don’t Sympathise With Zarqaawee
Excerpts taken from an article from Ash-Sharaq Al-Awsat
By Abdul Muhsin Al-‘Ubaykaan (A senior Salafi scholar from Saudi Arabia)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is no doubt that every Muslim, who is eagerly concerned about their religion and enthusiastic to (protect) the reputation of their nation, is delighted to hear about the decline of a deviant ideology that is attributed to Islam, when in reality it does nothing but smear (the religions) true image.

A deviant Kharajite ideology that has declared the blood of the Muslims and innocent non-Muslims to be lawful game; it has relished in pronouncing Muslims to be infidels, and it has vigorously endeavoured to destroy and bomb. (An ideology) that has stained the image of Islam and the Muslims, and it has caused many evils which cannot be enumerated and cannot be calculated by any one person.

This Kharijite ideology has produced many ills. From them: this malicious onslaught against the Muslims in general- emanating from many different angles, assaults upon the methods of teaching practised in the Muslim lands, (it has been utilized) as a blockade to the Book and the Sunnah, occupation of Muslim lands, and the captivation of innocent people due to mere speculation. All of this has resulted from this chaos and confusion, and from the war between (the lunatics) of Al-Qaa’idah and certain countries.

Yes, the fact that this ideology has begun to vanish, its symbolic figures are being humiliated and its leaders are falling brings joy to the heart. But sadly we see some of the Muslims continuing to show sympathy to Az-Zarqaawee or to whoever will replace him. Az-Zarqaawee who adopted the wretched ideology of Al-Qaa’idah, this is no more than the belief of the Kharijite, Takfeeris; and it has not brought any benefit to the Muslims whatsoever.

These sympathisers feign blindness to these barbaric, criminal acts, perpetrated by Az-Zaqaawee and his organisation inside and outside of Iraq, that oppose (the laws) of the religion and that cannot be fathomed by sound intellectual reasoning. It is visible to everyone with two eyes to see that Zarqaawee’s actions are not only traceable to Iraq; rather they have spread to other places. This man has (monstrous) ambitions in many arenas; he has explicitly voiced his aspirations, in both speech and action. An example of this is the bombings that occurred in Jordan and massacred those inviolable souls.

Islam is totally innocent of these ideologies and misguided acts. Even Jihad in the path of Allah has stipulations and guidelines that have to be met.

Using the name of Islam and (a twisted) understanding of Jihad to spread anarchy in the ranks of the Muslims, declare their blood and wealth to be lawful, cause disunity and division, weaken their position, empower their opponents against them and blemish the appearance of Islam in the most awful manner- acts such as slaughtering a human by slicing their jugular vein and then showing this to millions through the media outlets- has led to some people fleeing from Islam and detesting the Muslims, because the activities of these weirdoes that have nothing to do with Islam or the Muslims.

Translated by Hassan As-Somali

source: http://salafitalk.net/st/viewtopics.cfm?Forum=26

E-book: “The Brothers Of The Devils”

"The Brothers of The Devils"
An Islamic condemnation of Terrorists, Hijackers & suicide bombers..
translations by salafi brothers @ : www.salafipublications.com & www.troid.org

Download the Book (right-click and Save-As)

36pgs / eng.

Salafi scholar, the late shaykh Ibn Baaz said, regarding a group called Jamaa’at ul-Jihaad (the congregation of jihad) that is involved in terrorism and suicide bombings,
"... they are not to be co-operated with, nor are they to be given salutations. Rather, they are to be cut off from, and the people are to be warned against their evil. Since they are a fitnah (tribulation/trial) and are harmful to the Muslims, and they are the brothers of the Devils (Shayateen)!"

Indonesia Backgrounder: Why Salafism and Terrorism Mostly Don't Mix

Indonesia Backgrounder: Why Salafism and Terrorism Mostly Don't Mix
Asia Report N°83 13 September 2004
To access the executive summary of this report in French, please click here.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

One result of the "war on terror" in Indonesia has been increased attention to the country's links with religious institutions in the Middle East and the puritanical form of Islam known as salafism. Particularly outside observers but some Indonesians as well tend to assume that salafism is alien to Indonesian Islam, is growing by leaps and bounds, and is dangerous, because it promotes violence. All three notions are misleading. This report, the first comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon in Indonesia, concludes that most Indonesian salafis find organisations like Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the group responsible for the Bali bombings of October 2002 and almost certainly the Australian embassy bombing of September 2004, anathema. Salafism may be more of a barrier to the expansion of jihadist activities than a facilitator.

The term salafism describes a movement that seeks to return to what its adherents see as the purest form of Islam, that practiced by the Prophet Mohammed and the two generations that followed him. In practice, this means the rejection of unwarranted innovations (bid'ah) brought to the religion in later years.

The strictest salafis in Indonesia:

• are religious, not political activists;
• eschew political or organisational allegiances because they divide the Muslim community and divert attention from study of the faith and propagation of salafi principles;
• reject oath-taking to a leader -- central to the organisational structure of groups like JI;
• believe it is not permissible to revolt against a Muslim government, no matter how oppressive or unjust, and are opposed to JI and the Darul Islam movement because in their view they actively promote rebellion against the Indonesian state; and
• tend to see the concept of jihad in defensive terms -- aiding Muslims under attack, rather than waging war against symbolic targets that may include innocent civilians.

While some involved in terrorism in Indonesia, such as Aly Gufron alias Mukhlas, a Bali bomber, claim to be salafis, the radical fringe that Mukhlas represents (sometimes called "salafi jihadism") is not representative of the movement more broadly.


The report examines the rise of salafism in Indonesia, noting that far from being alien to Indonesian Islam, it is only the most recent in a long history of puritanical movements, and looks at the role of Saudi funding in its expansion in the 1980s and 1990s. As important as funding is the close communication between Indonesian salafis and their Middle Eastern mentors, most but not all of them Saudis.

Indonesian salafi leaders rarely decide issues of doctrine or practice without consulting their teachers. Laskar Jihad, the militia established to wage jihad in Ambon was forced to disband after one important Saudi scholar concluded it had strayed from its original purpose. The fact that the Saudi sheikhs most frequently consulted by Indonesian salafis are themselves close to the Saudi government is another brake on any attraction within the movement to Osama bin Laden.

A major split within Indonesian salafism is between "purists", who reject any association with groups or individuals willing to compromise religious purity for political goals, and more tolerant and inclusive groups willing to acknowledge some good even in deviant teachings. The "purists" categorically reject the Muslim Brotherhood and its Indonesian offshoot, the political party PKS, as well as organisations like Hizb ut-Tahrir, Jemaah Tabligh, and Darul Islam. Not only will they not interact with them, but they also reject funding from any source that has deviant organisations among its grantees.

Ironically, this means that the most "radical" of the salafis are the most immune to jihadist teachings, and the more "moderate", those more open to other streams of thought, may provide slightly more fertile recruiting grounds for the jihadis.

That said, ICG's information suggests that most salafi jihadis are not recruited from salafi schools but rather from schools linked to Darul Islam or JI itself; urban mosques; and areas with a history of communal conflict. The report examines the few concrete cases known of salafis who have crossed into or out of JI. Drawing on their own writings, it looks in depth at the difference between salafis and salafi jihadis.

More than ever, there is need for an empirical study of the educational backgrounds of known JI-members, but ICG concludes that salafism in Indonesia is not the security threat sometimes portrayed. It may come across to outsiders as intolerant or reactionary, but for the most part it is not prone to terrorism, in part because it is so inwardly focused on faith.

Southeast Asia/Brussels, 13 September 2004

[http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2967&l=1]

Salafi Imam says "Nip Terror Groups in the Bud"

The imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais said here yesterday that terrorism and extremism must be stopped and the organizations that promote terror should be dismantled.

Delivering his Friday sermon, the imam said militant groups had unleashed a war on religious values, and this must be stopped.

He said such terror groups should be nipped in the bud. “This should be one of our major priorities in order to preserve the nation against trials and strife,” he told thousands of worshippers.

“Some of our sons were brainwashed and became tools in the hands of deviants to commit violence and practice terrorism. They took the path of extremism, destruction and explosion. They tried very hard to damage the fabric of the society and sought violent means to change the social system,” he said.

Al-Sudais expressed the fear that such groups would ratchet up their attacks not only physically but also on ideologies. The next stage would witness a war on religious values using their extremist thoughts, he said

“We have to overcome these negatives and to rebuild,” Al-Sudais said. He called on the nation to be honest, to abide by the precepts of their religion and to make sure of the safety of their country. “We should be vigilant and counter such extremist thoughts, he said.

“Thank God that the symbols of terrorism are falling down like tree leaves during fall time. We remind those that still sympathize, or harbor these people that they are committing a crime against their religion, their nation and their country,” said Al-Sudais.

“A Muslim returning to the right path, even if it is a small step toward it, will face God’s mercy on the Day of Judgment, but not those whose hands are covered with blood.

“The rulers of this country offered that chance to these people with a one-month amnesty, so that these people return to the right path. Those that gave themselves up have found peace and forgiveness,” he added.

“Those still sticking to the wrong path will only harm themselves, their family and their society,” he said.

With Which Religion and Intellect are Suicide Bombings and Destruction from Jihaad?

Translation of the Book by a salafi scholar, Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbaad
Free Ebook - Print and Distribute

Download here now:
http://spubs.com/r.cfm?ID=MNJ140006

Islamic View On Terrorism

مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَقَدْ جَاءتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيراً مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي الأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ

"Whoever kills a person [unjustly]…it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.” (Qur'an, 5:32)

Corruption on earth is considered a major sin in Islam. Allah said: “And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you in this worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents. And when he turns away from you, his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief. And when it is said to him ‘Fear Allah,’ he is led by arrogance to more crime. So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest.”

Shaykh AbdulAziz Bin Abdullah Al-As Shaykh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia