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U.S. MUSLIM RELIGIOUS COUNCIL ISSUES FATWA AGAINST TERRORISM

The Fiqh Council of North America wishes to reaffirm Islam's absolute condemnation of terrorism and religious extremism.

Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians’ life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram – or forbidden – and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not “martyrs.”

The Qur’an, Islam’s revealed text, states: "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)

Prophet Muhammad said there is no excuse for committing unjust acts: "Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong (even) if they do evil." (Al-Tirmidhi)

God mandates moderation in faith and in all aspects of life when He states in the Qur’an: “We made you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with the example of your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind.” (Qur’an, 2:143)

In another verse, God explains our duties as human beings when he says: “Let there arise from among you a band of people who invite to righteousness, and enjoin good and forbid evil.” (Qur’an, 3:104)

Islam teaches us to act in a caring manner to all of God's creation. The Prophet Muhammad, who is described in the Qur’an as “a mercy to the worlds” said: “All creation is the family of God, and the person most beloved by God (is the one) who is kind and caring toward His family."

In the light of the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah we clearly and strongly state:

1. All acts of terrorism targeting civilians are haram (forbidden) in Islam.
2. It is haram for a Muslim to cooperate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence.
3. It is the civic and religious duty of Muslims to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to protect the lives of all civilians.

We issue this fatwa following the guidance of our scripture, the Qur’an, and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him. We urge all people to resolve all conflicts in just and peaceful manners.

We pray for the defeat of extremism and terrorism. We pray for the safety and security of our country, the United States, and its people. We pray for the safety and security of all inhabitants of our planet. We pray that interfaith harmony and cooperation prevail both in the United States and all around the globe.

FIQH COUNCIL OF NORTH AMERICA

Members

1. Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi
2. Dr. Abdul Hakim Jackson
3. Dr. Ahmad Shleibak
4. Dr. Akbar Muhammad
5. Dr. Deina Abdulkadir
6. Shaikh Hassan Qazwini
7. Dr. Ihsan Bagby
8. Dr. Jamal Badawi
9. Dr. Muhammad Adam Sheikh
10. Shaikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti
11. Shaikh Muhammad Nur Abdallah
12. Dr. Salah Soltan
13. Dr. Taha Jabir Alalwani
14. Shaikh Yahya Hindi
15. Shaikhah Zainab Alwani
16. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah
17. Dr. Mukhtar Maghraoui
18. Dr. Nazih Hammad

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AMERICAN MUSLIM IMAMS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS DECLARATION OF SUPPORT AND
ACTION AGAINST TERRORISM

, <<July 27, 2005>>

(Washington, D.C.) - In response to the Muslim American Society’s and MAS Freedom Foundation’s campaign against terrorism, "Faith Over Fear and Justice for All", American Muslim scholars, Imams and community leaders have responded by signing and issuing a declaration of support, pledging action in combating terrorism, hate, violence, injustice and religious bigotry.

Below is the text of the “Declaration of Support and Action Against Terrorism” with the names of initial signers.

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Declaration of Support and Action Against Terrorism

We, the undersigned, Imams and community leaders, are responding to the call made by the Muslim American Society to purge Islam, our community, and the issues we advocate from the stigma of terrorism.

As those who have firsthand experience as victims of terrorism and its repercussions (bigotry, Islamophobia, dehumanization) we are determined to lead our community out of anxiety and beyond condemnations. We will increase our efforts to immunize our community against extremism.

We reiterate that terrorist acts are utterly criminal, totally reprehensible, and absolutely un-Islamic. There can never be any excuse for the taking of innocent life, and terrorism has absolutely no sanction in Islam. Nor is there any justification whatsoever in our noble religion for such evil actions., Our message is unambiguous: the authors of terrorist attacks and bombings are criminals, and we should not accept their justifications, whether ideological, religious or political. Our position has been consistent; it is anchored on solid religious, moral, and civic grounds. The Qur’an clearly declares that killing an innocent person was tantamount to killing all mankind and likewise saving a single life was as if one had saved the life of all
mankind. (The Qur’an, Al-Maidah 5:32) This is both a principle and a command.

We recognize we’ve got to work better at combating terrorism. We believe that collaborate efforts on the part of our government, media, faith communities, and civic society can reduce the likelihood of terrorist acts.

We are faced with a complex and dangerous phenomenon and a deadly vicious cycle perpetuated by people who are both fanatic/misguided and desperate, and others who are simply bigots., We need a comprehensive multifaceted approach/strategy and coordinated efforts to break this cycle and proactively and effectively combat terrorism. We recognize that injustices like erosion of civil liberties, backing of corrupt and oppressive regimes in the Muslim world, complete reliance on security and intelligence, shallow public relations efforts, and inflammatory/inciting statements in the media, by some religious leaders, or even public officials play well into the hands of extremists. And this too must be rejected. However, we are committed to be more vocal and more active in our attempt to isolate terrorists and terrorism, deny them recruits, sympathy, and any religious or political legitimacy.

All within our society should be united against terrorism and work together. Therefore, we call upon our government to address genuine grievances being exploited by the terrorists, engage the American Muslim community and leadership and moderate Islamic groups abroad, and aggressively promote human rights and democracy in the Muslim world. The media, for its part, needs to be more aware and objective in its coverage of Islam and Muslims. Islam-bashing fuels hatred and plays into the hands of terrorists.

As Islamic religious leaders, we are well-positioned to fulfill the role of a goodwill bridge between our country and the greater Muslim world., We are determined to solidify the prevailing moderate and mainstream orientation of our community, and do whatever it takes to leave no chance for terrorists and their views to creep into our community, leaving no ambiguity when it comes to the Islamic position on terrorism.

We will intensify the personal development of our youth and inculcate in them the proper understanding of Islam, help them develop a genuine American Muslim identity and aid them in fulfilling their potential, keeping them from falling into the grasp of extremism and moral vice.

We are determined to partner with people of faith and conscious in order to confront the problems that may possibly be alienating our youth, driving them towards a path of anger and desperation.

We will continue our efforts and collaborate with others to work towards a just and lasting peace in the world’s areas of conflict, and address the grievances that seem to nurture violence. We will vindicate the Islamic concepts that are abused by terrorists, and channel the frustration from domestic and foreign policies into active participation in national debates.

We will step up our outreach efforts in order to speed up the integration of our community, demystify Islam and Muslims, and deny the terrorists the opportunity to hijack our religion or speak on behalf of the one and a half billion Muslims worldwide.

Finally, we reiterate our belief that nations and groups should maintain relationships on the basis of universal brotherhood, fairness, respect and mutual understanding, and that individuals should pursue their interests through civic engagement.

We call upon our community not to be beaten into retreat from its mission by current events. We must not remain withdrawn. We no longer have the luxury of simply complaining, even justifiably, that we are mistreated. Our mission is to preach the message of Islam courteously and wisely, to advocate justice, and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, through engagement with society. Our central goal should be to put our grand values and principles into action and make a contribution, making a lasting impact on this nation and the World.

Signed,

Abdallah Allam, Imam, Masjid Dawood, NY
Hammoud Silwi, Imam, Bronx Muslim Center, Bronx, NY
Hisham Sherif, Imam, Masjid Farooq, NY
Mohammad Beshir, Chairman, Muslim Youth Center, Brooklyn, NY
Ahmed Abu Jamil, Chairman, Islamic Service Foundation, Queens, NY
Mustafa Tolba, Imam, Dearborn, MI
Hamdi Basha, Imam, Denver Islamic Society, Denver, CO
Sheikh Ahmad Nabhani, Imam, Colorado Muslim Society, Denver, CO
Dr. Belgacem Belgacem, President, Islamic Center of Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO
Gaith Sassi, Vice President, Vice Chairman, Denver Islamic Society, CO
Imam Ali, North East Denver Islamic Center, CO
Ahmad Habil, Colorado Muslim Youth Foundation, CO
Ahmad Shuqeirat, Imam, Islamic Community Center of Tempe, AZ
Ibrahim Othman, Imam, Muslim Community Association, Santa Clara, CA
Sayyed Ahamad Shaheen, Imam, Islamic Society of San Francisco, CA
Foutouh Abu Isha, Imam, Oakland, CA
Nasr Khatib Imam, Al-Hidaya Islamic Center, Philadelphia, PA
AbdulMohsen Abu Hatab, Imam, Masjid al-Jamia, Philadelphia, PA
Mahmoud Hamed, Chairman, Al-Hidaya Islamic Center, Philadelphia, PA
Mustafa, Kamel Imam, Masjid al-Ansar, Anaheim, CA
Ahmad Azzam, Board Member, Islamic Center of Hawthorn, CA
Hamdi SadiqImam, Islamic Center of Hawthorn, CA
Othman Rakha, Imam, Islamic Center of Hawthorn, CA
Alaa Ramadan, Imam, Islamic Center of Claremont, CA
Radwan Hfouda, Vice President, Islamic Center of Claremont, CA
Taha Hassan, Imam, San Diego, CA
Mohammad Kamel, Imam, Sacramento, CA
Walid al-Hantati, Chairman, MAPAC, Raleigh, NC
Main Al-Qodah, Imam, New Orleans, LA
Mahmoud Sarmini, New Orleans, LA
Ahmad al-Khalidy, Imam, Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids, IA
Bassyouni Nehela, Imam, Islamic Society of Boston, Boston, MA
Yousef Abullaban, Director, Islamic Society of Boston Culture Center, Boston, MA
AbdulBadee AbuSamra, Chairman, Al-Nour Academy
Hassan Alami, Chairman, Malik Academy
Muhammad Al-Dhaeef, Vice President, Al-Huda Society
Abdallah Ashour, Boston Somali Community, Boston, MA
Sayed Abu Abdallah, Flint, MI
Mohammad Hasanji, Board Member, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, OK
Mohammad Saleem, Principle, Mercy School, Oklahoma City, OK
Saad Mohammad, Vice President, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, OK
John Graff Youth Director, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma Cit, OK
Hasan Abu Nar, Imam, Masjid al-Noor, Bridgeport, CT
Majid Sharif, President, Islamic Center of Waterbury, CT
Mahmoud Mansour, Imam, Greaton, CT
Mohammad Taroua, New Haven Islamic Center, West Haven, CT
Hisham Ahmad, Imam, Atlanta, GA
Mohammad Douib, Board Member, Mosque Foundation, Chicago, IL
Mohammad, Saras, Board Member, Mosque Foundation, Chicago, IL
Mahmoud Mousa, President, MAS Lansing, Lansing, MI
Bassam Mahmoud,Vice President, Islamic Center of Lansing, MI
Amin Ezzeddine, Chairman, Islamic Center of Maryland, Gaithersburg, MD
Ali Darwish Secretary, Islamic Center of Maryland, Gaithersburg, MD
Johari AbulMalik, President, CCMO, Washington, DC
Nouriddine Gayyash, Principal, Peace Academy, Tulsa, OK
Hussein Khattab, Chairman, Peace Academy, Tulsa, OK
Amjad Dalaq, Chairman, Islamic Center of Kansas, KS
Fadi Banyalmarja, Chairman, Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City, KS
Ali Awa, President, Masjid al-Huda, KS
Yasser Abdul Aziz, President, Muslim Youth of Cleveland, OH
Mohammad Sirajuddin, Imam, Islamic Society of Michiana, South Bend, IN
Zoubir Bouchikhi, Imam, Masjid Abu Bakr Assidiq, Houston, TX
Saeed Abbassi, President, MAS, NJ
Ali Mutawa, Imam
Mohmmad al-Hayek, Imam
Mohammad Moussa, Imam
Mohammad al-Ajami, Imam
Mohammad al-Qatanani Imam
Hisham Gadallah, Vice President
Sami Abu Nasra, Director
Ibrahim Reemy, Fellowship of Reconciliation/Muslim Peace Fellowship
Samir Abo Issa, Director, Dar-ul-Hijrah Islamic Center, Falls Church, VA
Gamal Ahmad, President, MAS Chicago, IL
Hussein Ahmad,Vice President, Muslim Youth Center, Brooklyn, NY
Wael Hamza, Bronx Muslim Center, Bronx, NY
Mahmoud Hassan, Imam, Masjid al-Taqwa, MN
Isham Hussein, Imam, Masjid al-Alaman, MN
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SEE ALSO: "U.S. Muslim Scholars to Forbid Terrorism"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/27/AR2005072702082.html

"From Muslims in America, a New Fatwa on Terrorism"
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/28/national/28fatwa.html