Several Muslim religious leaders issue ‘fatwa’ calling for ‘jihad’ against Israel
A number of prominent Muslim scholars have issued a rare religious edict, or ‘fatwa’, calling on all Muslims and Muslim-majority countries around the world to wage ‘jihad’ against Israel. They issued the fatwa yesterday in response to the brutal and indiscriminate Israeli attack on the residents of the besieged Gaza Strip for 17 months.
Ali al-Qaradaghi, secretary-general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), led by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, yesterday called on all Muslim countries to ‘immediately intervene militarily, economically and politically to stop this genocide and widespread destruction’. In the 15-point edict, Ali al-Qaradaghi said, ‘If the Arab and Islamic governments fail to stop the destruction in Gaza, it will be considered a major crime against our oppressed Palestinian brothers according to Islamic law.’
Qaradaghi is one of the most respected religious leaders in the Middle East. His decrees, or fatwas, are of significant importance to the world’s 1.7 billion Sunni Muslims.
A ‘fatwa’ is an Islamic legal ruling. It is usually issued by a religious leader in light of the Quran and Hadith. However, it is not mandatory to follow it.
Qaradaghi said, “It is forbidden to support the infidel enemy [Israel] that is working to exterminate the Muslims in Gaza, regardless of its form.” He added that it is forbidden to sell weapons to them or to facilitate their transportation by land, sea or air through international waterways or ports such as the Suez Canal, Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.
The religious leader said, “The Committee (IUMS) has issued a fatwa demanding that the occupying enemy be blocked by land, sea and air in order to support our brothers in Gaza.”
Fourteen other Muslim scholars supported Qaradaghi’s statement. The statement called on all Muslim countries around the world to review Israel’s peace treaties with them, and urged Muslims in the United States to pressure US President Donald Trump to fulfill his election promises to stop the aggression and establish peace.
