Counter-narrative: People with ‘little knowledge of Islam’ can’t issue fatwas

Egypt’s grand mufti endorses ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan’

ISLAMABAD: Muslim countries must not allow people, who have ‘little knowledge of Islam’, to issue religious decrees while using modern communication tools such as social media to counter extremist ideologies.

This was stated by the Grand Mufti of Egypt Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam on Wednesday while attending a roundtable conference on 'Unified narrative against terrorism and extremism' organised by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).

Currently, on a five-day tour of Pakistan, Mufti Allam vehemently endorsed ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan’, the national narrative of Pakistan against extremism and terrorism, saying that declaring anyone an infidel was against the teachings of Islam.

While addressing the participants, he said that only religious scholars with an in-depth knowledge of Islam must give out fatwas or religious decrees.



"Because when people with little or no knowledge about the religion do such a job that thing only creates confusion and chaos in the society," he argued.

Lauding the recent move by Pakistan's religious scholars, representing all schools of thought, for issuing a decree against suicide bombings, the Mufti said the initiative would help the country tackle terrorism and extremism in a more effective manner.

“This fatwa will help the image building of Pakistan and also help clear misconceptions or allegations regarding harbouring terrorism,” he said. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2018.