A number of readers have requested that I post the full text of the fatwa against Osama bin Laden by the Islamic Commission of Spain. I have been looking for it since I posted Fatwa Issued Against Bin Laden last Thursday.
The original Spanish-language text "La Comisión Islámica de España emite una fatua condenando el terrorismo y al grupo Al Qaida," is available at WebIslam.com.
Liza Sabater translated the fatwa into English and posted it at Cu l t u r e k i t c h e n.
The fatwa strikes me as a powerful weapon in the War Against Terrorism provided it gets enough publicity. I encourage you to read the whole thing.
The fatwa points out that not only are Muslims prohibited from committing crimes against innocents, but Muslims are obligated to stop those that intend to commit such crimes. The fatwa condemns the terrorists acts of bin Laden and al-Qaida:
In light of these and other Islamic texts, the terrorist acts of Osama ben Laden tree Laden and his organization Al Qaida --who look to fill with fear the hearts of defenseless people; who engage in the destruction of buildings or properties thus involving the death of civilians, like women, children, and other beings-- are strictly prohibited and are the object of a full condemnation within Islam.
Therefore, the accomplishment of terrorist acts under the pretext "to defend to the pressed nations of the world or the rights of Muslims" does not have any justification in Islam.
[. . .]
Given all of this, it is necessary to point our that terrorism and extremism contradict human nature and the lessons of Islam.
Muslims must know that terrorism is a threat against Islam and that it's damaging to our religion and to Muslims. A correct Islamic formation in madrasas and Islamic universities will allow everybody understand Islam is a religion of peace, that repudiates all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate death.
The fatwa declares that by committing terrorist acts bin Laden and his organization are apostates:
That those who commit terrorist acts violate Koranic teachings and thus turn apostates who have left Islam.
That the duty of every Muslim is to fight actively against terrorism, in accordance with the Koranic mandate that establishes the obligation to prevent corruption from overtaking the Earth.
[. . .]
As long as Osama ben Laden and his organization defend the legality of terrorism and try to base it on the Sacred Koran and the Sunna, they are committing the crime of istihlal and they have become ipso facto apostates (kafir murtadd), who should not be considered Muslim nor be treated as such.
Finally the fatwa asks the Spanish government and mass media to stop describing the al-qaida terrorists Islamic:
Based on this fatwa, we have requested to the government of the nation and the Spanish mass media that they stop using the word Islam or islamic to describe these malefactors, given they are not Muslim nor have any relationship with our Umma or Islamic Community. They need to call them instead Al Qaida terrorists, but without using Islamic as an adjective, since as it has been declared above, they are not legally so.
Likewise, we ask those in charge of mass media to acknowledge what has been stated here and to proceed from now on under the criteria exposed above. In particular, to not tie Islam nor Muslims with any terrorist acts; especially if they come dressed with any Islamic language or pretension.
Many thanks to Liza Sabater for translating and posting the document.
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