PUC issues fatwa against Islamic State
Pakistan Ulema Council in a published booklet, says terrorist groups are using religion for their own purpose
Pakistan Ulema Council chairman Tahir Ashrafi. PHOTO: INP
The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) has issued a fatwa against the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups.
PUC has prohibited the use of terms such as 'Jihad Fi-Sabi Lillah,' which means 'jihad for the sake of Allah'. Another term outlawed by the council is 'Qital Fi-Sabi Lillah' which means acts of extremism or terrorism, including murder, in the name of Allah, Voice of America (VOA) reported.
CII has authority to issue fatwa on any issue, claims Maulana Sheerani
The fatwa explains that extremist groups, including IS and Lebanon's Hezbollah, are re-interpreting and changing religious facts according to their needs and “tagging their opponents with infidelity edicts to justify the killings and massacres.”
Among other terrorist groups, the PUC also mentioned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a published booklet, in which it also stated that Muslims across the globe are facing challenges due to acts of respective groups, including Houthi rebels.
As a result of the fatwa, a cleric of the Shia group Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Muhammad Amin Shaheedi, criticised PUC for mentioning Hezbollah.
Accusing PUC of being backed by Saudi Arabia, Shaheedi said the council was trying to promote the kingdom's agenda.
Terrorism: ‘Militants have nothing to do with Islam’
“Hezbollah is a democratic party which has its roots in the population, participates in elections, and is part of the Lebanese government,” he said.
PUC chairman Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi, however, denied the claims, stating that names of all those groups which are involved in killing other Muslims and non-Muslims were added.
"Hezbollah is massacring its Sunni opponents in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen," he said.
While this is not the first time PUC has spoken about its stance against the IS, never before has the council issued such a fatwa with detailed explanation and in published form.
This article originally appeared on Voice of America
PUC has prohibited the use of terms such as 'Jihad Fi-Sabi Lillah,' which means 'jihad for the sake of Allah'. Another term outlawed by the council is 'Qital Fi-Sabi Lillah' which means acts of extremism or terrorism, including murder, in the name of Allah, Voice of America (VOA) reported.
CII has authority to issue fatwa on any issue, claims Maulana Sheerani
The fatwa explains that extremist groups, including IS and Lebanon's Hezbollah, are re-interpreting and changing religious facts according to their needs and “tagging their opponents with infidelity edicts to justify the killings and massacres.”
Among other terrorist groups, the PUC also mentioned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a published booklet, in which it also stated that Muslims across the globe are facing challenges due to acts of respective groups, including Houthi rebels.
As a result of the fatwa, a cleric of the Shia group Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Muhammad Amin Shaheedi, criticised PUC for mentioning Hezbollah.
Accusing PUC of being backed by Saudi Arabia, Shaheedi said the council was trying to promote the kingdom's agenda.
Terrorism: ‘Militants have nothing to do with Islam’
“Hezbollah is a democratic party which has its roots in the population, participates in elections, and is part of the Lebanese government,” he said.
PUC chairman Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi, however, denied the claims, stating that names of all those groups which are involved in killing other Muslims and non-Muslims were added.
"Hezbollah is massacring its Sunni opponents in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen," he said.
While this is not the first time PUC has spoken about its stance against the IS, never before has the council issued such a fatwa with detailed explanation and in published form.
This article originally appeared on Voice of America