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Fatwa declares Zarb-i-Azb a jihad
ISLAMABAD: Over 100 ulema from various schools of thought declared on Sunday Zarb-i-Azb, the military operation being carried out against terrorists and militants in North Waziristan Agency, as jihad.
The decree [fatwa] was issued after a meeting of religious scholars which was organisd by the Sunni Ulema Board here on Sunday.
The decree referred Verse No 33 of Surah-i-Almaidah, which says: “Crushing of the attempts to disrupt peaceful atmosphere in a Muslim state is jihad.”
The decree said that the nation was bound to support the ongoing operation in North Waziristan Agency and according to Shariat the people opposing it were rebellious.
Nation is bound to support the NWA military operation
It said that the state had the right to deal rebels with an iron hand as the militants had murdered hundreds of innocent people and targeted schools, shrines, hospitals, etc. Islam, it added, did not allow individual jihad.
The decree was signed by Allama Ghufran Mehmood Sialvi, Mufti Mohammad Sharafuddin Siddiqui, Mufti Liaquat Ali Rizvi, Mufti Mohammad Usman Rizvi, Mufti Mohammad Hanif Attari, Mufti Mohammad Arif Chishti, Mufti Khateeb Ahmed Alazahri, Mufti Qari Saeedur Rehman, Allama Pir Ghulam Mustafa Shakir, Allama Abdul Latif Qadri, Allama Khalilur Rehman Qadri, Mufti Mohammad Farooq Chishti, Pir Syed Waseemul Haq Naqvi Advocate, Sahibzada Khalid Mehmood Zia, Mufti Sultan Qadri, Allama Mujahid Abdul Rasool Khan, Mufti Mohammad Ayaz Ali Saeedi, Mufti Asif Saeed Qadri, Allama Nisar Ali Noori, Mufti Mohammad Shahbaz Ali, Mufti Mohammad Ahsan Naqeebi, Mufti Mohammad Saleem Qadri, Dr Mohammad Rizwan Ahmed Rizvi, Dr Ayaz Ahmed Naeemi, Allama Mohammad Shahid Mehmood Abbasi, Allama Riaz Ahmed Hazarvi and others.
Published in Dawn, June 23rd , 2014
Comments (78) Closed
Finally Mullahs issued a long awaited Fatwa. Good Fatwa.
First fatwa, at least as far as I recall, that makes sense - thank you
Where is fatwa from Jamate Islami.
And what about Maullana Mufti Munawar Hussan? and Maullana Samiulhaq?
Good fatwa n good timing...
This is a jihad of course. I like to know if someone is fighting for country.
I am grateful and I hope more ulema will issue or vocally support this fatwa. We need to kill terrorism in this country.
why is it that, i only feel sorry for the baby calf in the picture instead of human beings. And no I am not hindu, but i do question this rational on having pity on Pakistani animals more then Pakistan homo sapiens.
This is really great news. We need to provide all the support for our Jawans!
too little too late
Why does one have to give this a religion angle?
For the first time the ulema have come out and made the righteous statement. They nation should support the Pak army whole heart-idly.
@Rafi Ka Deewana Because that's how you win the support of gullible masses.
all politics when no need to play religion card why politicize ,its a matter of security at state level---by the way even among the names is no famous or known mufti is present
How about declaring breathing, eating and drinking water as Jihad too.
This is best support defense forces can expect from religious leaders. This is biggest victory for army and worst defeat for TTP thugs.
Will JI, JUP, and PTI consider these Ulema's perspective?
Will Mr. Imran Khan the leader of PTI accept the Fatwa of Over 100 ulema from various schools of thought declaring Zarb-i-Azb, the military operation being carried out against terrorists and militants in North Waziristan Agency, as jihad?
Too late the Fatwa.The terrorists have killed so many innocent citizens.Its high time they were dealt with an Iron hand.Better late than never.
Why have a Parliament at all? Let's cut to the chase and run the whole country on fatwas.
its about time.!!
@SaeedS How come? Expelling hundreds of thousand of people from their homes, just before Ramadan, humiliating the elderly and putting pregnant women and children on the road is your. concept of Jihad? Bombing by F16 and tanks and artillery on civilian populations is Jihad? Taking 900,000,000 dollars from NonMuslims to attack Muslims is Jihad?
Yet another Fatwa! When we are going to mature as a nation ?
@opinion Not until we start giving important to reason than belief.
Good step But where are Maulana Munawwar Hasan, Maulana samiul Haque, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Imran Khan
Huh. I am just tired of hearing and hearing about the fatwas. Why don't we see the issues on rational basis rather than on the prism of religion.
Raheel Sharif. I like this man. He knows how to do his job.
Fighting against terrorism is Jihad under the pious scholars and leaders like Geelani, Nawaz Sharif, Rehman Malik, and the like who even do not memorize Surah Ikhlas.
There is no use of such an exercise if common people suffer. Tribal people already had no future and now their homes are also gone. what a tragedy. I hope all the poor families will return to their homes soon.
Why is it that everything requires a religious sanction in Pakistan? This seems to be a simple military operation and mullahs should keep their noses out of it.
i feel pity for all those who praising such fatwas. why to give any importance for non state actors? cant govt institutions run a country?
I don't really understand why you guys (Pakistan) need to have a religious head's nod (so called Fatwa ) to do a Millitary Operation. When countries integrity is at stake, why you need to have Fatwa? Is religion is so powerful in Pakistan? it is really really bad. What if, the Mullah's stopn suppoting Govt and align with Taliban as they did before, will you stop the millitary operation? ??? Funny very Funny.
Work for the people of pakistan and the country, Don't work for religion. If religion continue to dominate pakistan Pakistan will go to the same path (Civil War) where Syria,, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, most of African countries heading today.
Why do we need Fatwas for operations against people who have killed 7000 mostly innocent people and revert to logical thinking in the first and foremost place instead?
At least, Ulema took an stand. Thanks to Almighty Allah.
Allah-O-Akbar!!
@Amjad Wyne what you said didnt make sense
Why Fatwa came after government started attacks? Were these Mullah's waiting for some sweets?
Finally the woke up.. Very late but still good step, all media channels suppose to highlight this fatwa. So the fatwa message reach to all corners of Pakistan
Thanks. Now so called religious people should have no problems.
@Zalmay Harun That is the curse of Pakistan your are giving religion color to everything without rational thinking. Wake up before you completely collapse.
Congratulations dear ulemas for your clear guidance. I only wish it had come earlier. You are definitely helping the nation's resolve in fighting these renegates & criminals. May allah bless you all. Pakistan Paindabad
@Raja dont be disrespectful. you must call them with due respect. and who are you to judge good fatwa or bad. Baa adab baa naseeb. bay adab bay naseeb.
@Haider Rehman its disrespecting.
Vive la "Fatwa Factory"...
By the way, I'm all YESSSSS for this fatwa :)
@Fais If you find these written names in history they have always been raising their voices.
Mostly unknown ulamas in the list. Probably whole news item is government make up.
Do we know who can issue a fatwa and who cannot???
@Greek Trafedy, Pakistan is not just North Waziristan! How about the rest of the 180Million people that these militants had hold hostage for over a decade? How about the 1000s of innocent Pakistanis that have died cos of these Militants? Does that not count? We all feel sorry for the NWA people and can only hope that the Zarb-e-Azb operation is a success with no further civilian casualties! Bless you and Pakistan!
Lets move past this kind of language and categorization. I have never heard a Christian country call a war a crusade in my lifetime.
@Haroon Khan This is called rational reply Good !
To all those who want state and religion to be separate and banging on with their reasons here ..... Pakistan is an Islamic State, and only a muslim can be Pakistan's Prime Minister! Islam is part of our daily lives! ENOUGH SAID!
@asif Perhaps you need to hear and read what President of USA Mr Bush Jr said .... he used the word crusade plenty of times!
@Pakistani Do you guys even think before spewing hate, IK is not a religious scholor.
These Fatwas are a joke. These mullahs will issue fatwas in favor of anyone who greases them.
@Red Alert JUI, JI, PTI etc considering issuing their own version of FATWAS. Let the FATWA competition begin.
Munawar Hussan, Maullana Samiulhaq and Fazul-ur-Rehman are big supporters of militants. They will NEVER issue fatwa against them. They are against Pakistan Army.
Throughout history mullahs in Islam have issued politically inspired fatwas. I wish this fatwa factory is closed once and for all and the simpleton Pakistanis realize that they can actually carry on with their lives using common sense and reasoning instead of relying on these obscurants to mislead them.
Come on, does anyone really need a fatwa to recognize that war on terror is a must for Pakistan?
If there was any "fatwa" we needed, it is this one. The reason why a suicide bomber blows him or herself up is because of direction, which is interpreted as fatwa, from his terrorist brainwasher in the guise of a mullah. Unlike most of the world, due to the lack of meaningful education, many Pakistanis look towards their mullahs to interpret the Quran for them.
Now watch Maulanas Munawwar Hasan, Samiul Haq and Fazlur Rehman try and dilute the importance of this fatwa by giving all kinds of excuses why such a "fatwa" is not needed.
Frankly speaking i have had enough of these Fatwa's. Why do we need a Fatwa to understand what the nation needs to do to put things right in it's house.It's all these fatwa's from the uncountable school of thoughts to bring us to this low in the first place.
And supporting USA is a Jihad too right. Pathetic.
Government is playing it well. Gathering mullah to issue fatwas in favour of the war, playing Pakistan army songs on the news channels, urging nation to stay united. Smart move.
Down with taliban, down with terrorism. Pakistan Army zindabad!
Pakistan military runs on fatwa? or the act is being justified.
@Pakistani FYI, Imran Khan is not a maulana. If this was sarcasm, I suggest that you grow up please.
@Mechie they should issue fatwa against corrupt governments.
@Raja please issue fatwa against corrupt governments.
I believe, a State should not tolerate and rally behind the 'Fatwas' under any circumstances even if they are in her own favour. It should do what must be done. By allowing the "mullahs" to issue 'Fatwas' it encourages them to interfere in state affairs and then to use such Fatwas on some other occasion against any other human being or even against a government who does not obey them or does not adhere to their ideology. Because if they are right today then they would also be justified tomorrow.
Wow. Mullah has more importance and power then state. Does a state need mullahs to andorse or reject its actions? Sad.
@John Mccian You need to understand few things.This is Islamic Republic of Pakistan & Religion is of prime importance and the sharia has its place in constitution vis a vis a moderate & tolerant society. This Fatwa means a lot because it is concurrent with the multi- sect society of Pakistan. This negates theTTP & other exteremists groups own interpretation of sharia & puts them on the wrong side of the table. Should have been done a decade ago.
We don't need some religious mumbo jumbo to tell us what's right.
@Laeeq,NY Jamat - e-Islami is master mind of TTP. How they can issue FATWA against themselves.
Fatwa of blasphemy !
@Jagajatt It is only natural for you to feel sympathy towards your own kind.
The only fatwa that counts is from the Saudi financiers of terrorism.
Who is going to ratify the fatwas?
Another Fatwa from local mullahs should come out making locals mandatory to support Park Army in Zarb-e Azb
@Ann : Pakistan is a country, where religion comes before bread. Each of these mullahs and many such entities are capable of manipulating Islam for their own good. Considering Islam brings radical thoughts to the fore at all times, it becomes a easy pray to manipulate at will.
There seems to be no shortage of fatwa shopping malls in a country where all sides wave the religious banner to satisfy non-religious ends. This is perhaps the greatest crime against Islam.