Question and answer session
with Shaykh Sa’d bin Nasir ash-Shathree [may Allaah Preserve him]
Member of Committee the
Panel of Senior Scholars (Saudi clergy) and Royal Advisor to the King
Question: You have spoken out
frankly against ISIS in the past and in condemning the crimes they carry out in
the name of Islam. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the recent terrorist
attacks in Paris. What is the Islamic ruling on such attacks and any form of killing
innocent civilians, are they from Islam?
Answer: This organization does not portray
Islam, neither do they operate in an Islamic manner. Anyone who looks at their foundations,
its history and their leaders will clearly find that it’s very basis has no
Islamic origin[1]. Anyone
who researches the statements of the scholars of Islam and the position towards
this organization would not find any one of them supporting them or their
actions. None of them have condoned their very existence or the actions they
carry in the name of Islam.
Its origins and their objectives
have no relation to the religion of Islam or its laws. Likewise, if one was to
look at the way they behave, they would find that their actions clearly contradict
the teachings of Islam. If one was to look at ISIS from any angle possible,
they would find that there is nothing that conforms with the Shariah (Islamic
law). Rather in every aspect they have contradicted the teachings of Islam. This
organization is full of lies and forgery and using Islamic terminologies with
an improper definition, thus the true Islamic approach would be to condemn this
group and convey Islam’s innocence for what they carry out in its name.
Furthermore, the killing of innocent
people is not found in the teachings of Islam and it certainly doesn’t represent
the beliefs of the Muslims living in the west or in any part of the world.
Anyone who wants to know the reality of these attacks must investigate honestly
as to why these attacks took place. ISIS has claimed they are taking revenge
for France’s foreign policies and involvement in the Middle East however the
laws of Islam are never built on retaliation or revenge. The religion of Islam
is built on Islamic text and not on agendas or reciprocation.
Question: This is our next question;
ISIS claim that France have attacked and killed Muslims in Syria and Iraq, they
have insulted the Prophet [Peace be upon all the Prophets] and for this reason
we have targeted them. How can we refute these doubts?
Answer: The Muslim is commanded to
follow the laws that are found in the texts of the religion. This religion could never promote lies, deception or treachery, and there are many texts in this
regard:
“And, verily! Allah guides not the plot
of the betrayers” (Joseph 12:52)
Likewise the Prophet informed us
that a banner will be raised above every treacherous person on the Day of Judgment
and his treachery will be exposed on that day.
Therefore, the treachery of ISIS can
never be attributed to the religion of Islam. Anyone who looks and seeks the
truth behind what has occurred and its relation to the religion of Islam would
only ever find that these attacks can never be condoned in the Shariah.
Furthermore, what these attacks have created is even more hardship for Islam
and Muslims, especially for those living in the west. So it is upon us to use
the correct understanding of the Shariah to bring about an end to ISIS and
betterment for all.
Likewise, we must cooperate with one another to make sure that the Muslims are not blamed for such attacks and do not become subject to retaliation or by-laws in the wake of such attacks. In fact, putting undeserved pressure on innocent Muslims could create resentment within (the ignorant amongst) them and cause some to become sympathetic towards the objectives of the extremists. Therefore, it is obligatory for us all to remain united and acting inappropriately will not benefit anyone, rather it will only aid and serve the objectives of ISIS.
Likewise, we must cooperate with one another to make sure that the Muslims are not blamed for such attacks and do not become subject to retaliation or by-laws in the wake of such attacks. In fact, putting undeserved pressure on innocent Muslims could create resentment within (the ignorant amongst) them and cause some to become sympathetic towards the objectives of the extremists. Therefore, it is obligatory for us all to remain united and acting inappropriately will not benefit anyone, rather it will only aid and serve the objectives of ISIS.
Question: Unfortunately, we have
some journalists that have begun to claim that some of our scholars promote or
are sympathetic to the call of ISIS. They brand as being “Salafi” or “Wahabi”
Muslims and that the teachings of Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahab (the alleged founder
of the Wahabi sect) are the basis of such extremist groups. These allegations
are almost being believed as something factual – that Saudi Arabia is a
terrorist funding country and it has always supported religious extremism. How do
we respond to such claims?
Answer: This is not the first time
that bias and baseless journalism has attacked those who want to do good. The school
of thought of Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahab arose in Saudi Arabia and is still the
fabric of its religious constitution. However it is not exclusive to Saudi Arabia. As it reflects the teachings of
mainstream Islam, this school of thought has spread throughout the globe,
Muslims learning and benefitting from its teachings from the east to the west[2].
Therefore, anyone who analyses the call of Abdul-Wahab fairly will realize that
his call actually called for unity and peace. He called for security and cooperation in what
is good and pious[3].
Anyone who realizes this and ponders justly about such terror attacks will
place these attacks and the terrorist mind in its proper place – outside of
Islam and the teachings of the scholars of Shariah.
It is important to note that Muhammad
bin Abdul-Wahab didn’t come with a new thought or ideology, rather he came as a
reformer. He called the ignorant masses back to the following of the texts of
the Shariah. For this reason, the scholars who followed the schools of orthodox
Sunni Islam – Hanafi, Shafi, Malik and Hanbali, have all accepted the call of
Abdul-Wahab[4].
It is also important to note that
the scholars of Saudi Arabia have always condemned this terrorist group, and
all those like them, and have been at the forefront in calling to an end for
such groups[5]. They
are opposite of what Saudi Arabia stands for - if one was to look at ISIS and their
ilk, whenever their call enters a country or a region they only bring about
corruption and bloodshed. They only bring about disunity and chaos.
The point is, Saudi Arabia and its
scholars from past to present have always called to follow orthodox Islam, in
which its teachings condemn the acts of such people and proclaims them to be against
the way of the believers.
I pray that Allah debases these
terror groups and that he does not open a way for their wicked plans to be
implemented.
See also: Al-Islaam Prohibits The Killing of Innocent People
Paris attacks: Saudi Arabia's King
Salman donates $110m to set up anti-terror centre in wake of French shootings
KSA top anti-terror funder
http://ahledhikr.blogspot.com/2015/11/al-islaam-prohibits-killing-of-innocent.html
Extremism and Terrorism are forms of Hypocrisy in al-Islaam
http://ahledhikr.blogspot.com/2013/09/extremism-and-terrorism-are-forms-of.html
[1] The Shaykh previously
presented a research into the history of ISIS and found that it was funded and inaugurated
by communist Baathists.
[2] TN: this is a crucial
point. The Saudi government has spent millions in circulating copies of the
Quran and religious books around the world for decades. Had they been promoting
hatred and intolerance, religious extremism would be diversely populated.
[3] TN: historically,
Abdul-Wahab came to fight religious extremism. His biography clearly describes
his struggle against those who were segregated, intolerant and would use
violence to support their belief. Tribal warfare and violent crime were rife,
however his call was to adopt unity and sacredness for life.
[4] TN: Sunni Muslims
following orthodox Islam have been living in immigrant communities in the west
for decades. Almost three, if not more, generations have passed and until
recently, religious extremism was unheard of. Therefore, the acceptance of
Abdul-Wahab’s teachings, past and present, shows that the new phenomenon of
Islamic extremism is completely independent of true Sunni teachings.
[5] The following articles
are proof that Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states are at the forefront in
fighting terror. Saudi in particular have donated the most to the UN in
anti-terror funds, $100 million compared to the second most country which
donated $4.9 million. Additionally, Saudi themselves have also been subject to
approximately 124 terror attacks since 2003 and foiling over 250 within the same
period.
KSA highlights its resolute campaign against
terror
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