FATWA FROM THE MUFTI OF SAUDI ARABIA
ON
THE CURRENT EVENTS IN THE UNITED
STATES
Shaikh Abdul-Azeez Aal ash-Shaikh made an official statement on the
recent events in New York, USA, as follows:
All praise
is due to the Lord of the Worlds, the successful end is for the pious, and
prayers and peace be upon the noblest of Prophets and Messengers, and upon his
family, and his companions.
To proceed:
Due to abundant questions and enquiries that have been brought to us concerning
what has happened in the United States of America a few days ago, and
concerning the Sharee'ah position towards it, and wehther the religion of
Islaam affirms the likes of these actions or not, I say, seeking aid and
assistance from Allaah, the Unique, the Overpowerer, that Allaah, free is He
from all imperfection, has bestowed upon us the favour of this Islamic
religion and has made it a complete legislation, a perfect and
all-inclusive one which is beneficial for all times, and places and all
situations, for all individuals and groups of individuals. It invites towards rectification
and uprightness and justice and goodness, and also the removal of Shirk
(paganism, associationism, ascribing false partners with Allaah), and evil, oppression,
injustice and deceit.
And it is
from the greatest of favours of Allaah upon us, we the Muslims that He has
guided us to this religion, and has made us its followers and helpers. Hence, a
Muslim is cultivated by the legislation
of Allaah, a follower of the Sunnah (the way) of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam), and one who remains upright and steadfast upon this
religion - he is the one who will be the saved Muslim in this life and the
Hereafter.
As for what has happened in the United States of America of very dangerous
occurrences, on account of which thousands of souls have passed away, on
account of actions that the Islamic Sharee'ah
(legislation) does not sanction, and which are not from this religion, and
these actions do not agree with the spirit and foundations of the legislation
from numerous angles:
The first:
Verily, Allaah, free is He from all imperfections, has commanded justice, and
is based upon justice that the Heavens and the Earth stand (i.e. operate,
exist), and it is on account of this justice
that the Messengers were sent and the Books were revealed. Allaah
the free from all imperfections, said, "Verily, Allaah commands with
justice and benevolence, and the giving of near relatives (in charity) and
He forbids from obscene and evil deeds, and oppression. He cautions you,
that perchance you may remember."
And He also says, "We have indeed sent Messengers with clear proofs and
we have revealed with them, the Book and the Balance, so that the people may
abide by justice".
And Allaah has judged and decreed that one soul cannot bear the burden of
another soul, this due to the perfection of Allaah's justice, free is he
from imperfection. He said, "And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden
of another".
Indeed, Allaah, free is He from all imperfections has forbidden oppression on
His own self, and He has also declared it forbidden for his servants, as he has
said in the Hadeeth Qudsee, "O My servants,
indeed I have forbidden oppression upon Myself and I have also made it forbidden
amongst yourselves, hence do not oppress each other". And this is
general for all of the servants of Allaah, both the Muslims amongst them
and the Non-Muslim, and it is not permissible for any one of them
to be unjust to another, and nor for him to oppress him, even if it is in the
presence of hate and dislike. Allaah, free is He from all imperfections says,
"O you who believe. Be of those who stand up to Allaah, as witnesses
of justice. And let not the hatred of a people make you swerve away from
justice towards them. Verily, be just and that is closer to piety."
Hence, even hatred and dislike do not permit the commission of injustice and
oppression, from a legislative point of view.
Based upon what has preceded, it is obligatory for all of us to know - both
states and societies, Muslims and Non-Muslims, a number of important matters:
1. That these matters that have taken place in the United States and whatever
else is of their nature of plane hijackings and taking people hostage or
killing innocent people, without a just cause, this is
nothing but a manifestation of injustice, oppression and tyranny, which the
Islamic Sharee'ah does not sanction or accept, rather it is expressly forbidden
and it is amongst the greatest of sins.
2. That the Muslim who learns the details of his religion, and who acts upon
the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi
wasallam) does not allow himself to fall into the likes of these actions,
due to what they contain of exposing oneself to the wrath of Allaah, and
then what results from them of harms and corruption (upon the earth).
3. It is obligatory upon the Scolars of the Muslim Ummah that they explain the
truth concerning the likes of these affairs (i.e. terrorist attacks) and
that they make clear to the world at large that the
Sharee'ah of Allaah and the religion of Islaam does not sanctino these types
of actions, ever.
4. It is upon the media outlets and whoever is behind them, from amongst those
who make accusations against the Muslims and who strive to revile this
noble and upright religion, and describe it with that which it is free
from, all in order to kindle tribulation and to harm the reputation of
Islaam and the Muslims and to separate the hearts and constrict the chests
- it is obligatory upon them to restrain from this misguidance and to
realise that every sane and just person knows of the
details of Islaam, and knows that it is not possible for him to describe it
with these descriptions, and that he cannot make these types of accusations
against it, this is because on account of the
passing of history, the nations have not known the followers of this religion,
and its adherents except to be those who fulfil their rights (due to others)
and their absence of injustice and oppression.
And what has preceded is in explanation of the truth and to remove any confusion,
and I ask Allaah that he inspires us with that which contains our
guidance, that he guides us to the ways of Islaam, and that He strengthens
His religion and makes high His word, indeed He is the Most Kind, the Most
Generous, and prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his
family and all his companions.
The Grand Mufti of the Kindgom of Saudi Arabia
President of the Committee of Major Scholars and the Centre for
Knowledge Based Research and Verdicts
'Abdul-Azeez bin Abdullaa bin Muhammad Aal ash-Shaikh