Imam-e-Kaaba endorses Pakistan’s fatwa against suicide attacks

Says Saudi Arabia and Pakistan face same challenges related to security and terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Imam-e-Kaaba Dr Saleh Bin Mohammad Al Talib on Monday endorsed the fatwa, or a religious decree, issued by more than 1,800 Pakistani clerics in January, condemning extremism and declaring suicide bombings un-Islamic.

The move is seen as boosting the chances of Pakistan building its narrative against extremism, particularly suicide attacks.

An official privy to the development told The Express Tribune that Imam-e-Kaaba after signing the fatwa said that currently Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were facing same kind of challenges related to security and terrorism.

Strongly condemning terrorism, sectarianism and extremism, he praised Pakistan’s efforts in countering the menace. He called the fatwa ‘the need of the hour’ and said it would play an important role in portraying a soft and positive image of Pakistan, in particular, and the Muslim world, in general, across the globe.

Earlier this year in January, the Paigham-e-Pakistan fatwa was launched by the President of Pakistan. The fatwa was signed by over 1,800 religious scholars from different schools of thought against the use of violence, including suicide bombings, for religious purposes.

The Paigham-e-Pakistan was unanimously chalked out by well-known religious scholars belonging to all schools of thought in the light of the teachings of Quran and Sunnah, whereby the use of religion for spreading evil on earth was rebutted and the true face of Islam was revealed.

The official said the endorsement of Imam-e-Kaaba would give impetus to Pakistan's efforts in discouraging extremist tendencies in society.

Later on Monday, Imam-e-Kaaba wrapped up his weeklong visit to Pakistan during which he met the country's top political and military leadership, including President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

The country’s leadership during meetings with Imam-e-Kaaba sought his help to counter extremism by endorsing the fatwa issued against suicide bombings in January this year.

In a meeting with the army chief, Dr Saleh said Pakistan had a significant place in the Muslim world and it was playing a vital role for peace and stability in the region.

Gen Bajwa said the relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were based on bonds of brotherhood and mutual trust. Both the nations would continue to play an integral part for peace and stability and betterment of the whole Muslim community, he added.

‘Kashmir is part of Pakistan’



During his meeting with the NA speaker and in Parliament House, Imam-e-Kaaba lauded Pakistan’s role for maintaining peace in the region and commitment to eradicating the menace of terrorism and extremism from the country and beyond.

Talking to the speaker, he expressed immense pleasure on his visit to Pakistan and said that the people of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had strong and eternal bonds.

“Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are like two bodies and one soul. Our sorrow, happiness and destination are the same. Both the countries are the symbol of peace, brotherhood, progress and prosperity,” he said.

He further said Pakistan had a significant place in the Muslim world and was playing a vital role for peace and stability in the region.

While talking about the Kashmir issue, Imam-e-Kaaba said he considered Kashmir as a part of Pakistan and accepted this reality. “I always remember the innocent people of Kashmir in my prayers,” he said.

Dr Saleh said that terrorism and extremism could not be tolerated anymore and should not be linked to Islam. He called for unity in the ranks of the Muslim world and condemned sectarianism and extremism.

“Terrorism is destroying economy and spreading poverty and ignorance in the world, so it is the responsibility of the Islamic scholars to stand against this evil,” he said.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told Imam-e-Kaaba that Pakistan was worried about the situation of the entire Muslim community.

“Terrorism, extremism and destruction are common in most of the Muslim world. I think this is a conspiracy designed by our common enemies who do not want to see development and prosperity in the Islamic world,” he said.



The NA speaker said the people and the government of Pakistan had the greatest regard for Saudi Arabia and they would never tolerate any aggression against it. “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the protection of Harmain Shareefain [i.e. the two holy mosques].”

He said the relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were deep-rooted and time-tested and the same level of relationship existed between the people of both countries.

NA Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Senator Professor Sajid Mir, Senator Hafiz Abdul Kareem, MNAs Sahibzada Tariq Ullah and Sheikh Salahuddin, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Ahmed A Maliki and others were also present in the meeting.