LAHORE: More than 50 religious scholars affiliated with Tanzeem Ittehad-i-Ummat issued a joint religious decree (fatwa) here on Sunday against Paris suicide attacks terming them ‘haraam’ (unlawful in Shariah law).

They said the philosophy of Jihad of the outfits like Daesh (self-styled Islamic State) is misleading and based on poor knowledge of Islam and on ignorance as their Jihad does not match the terms and conditions set by Islam.

The decree issued to the media by Tanzeem Chairman Ziaul Haq Naqshbandi, said the elements involved in Paris killings were guilty of fasadas Islam does not allow any killing other than what is permitted under strict Islamic law.

It declared Daesh as khwarajof the present day for, while living in non-Muslim countries a Muslim cannot attack anyone without any religious reason.

Mr Naqshbandi said the scholars demanded setting up of an international board of ulema (religious scholars) to counter the narrative of extremist and terrorist organisations like Taliban and Daesh.

However, the Tanzeem would approach scholars from various Muslim countries on its own to get the decree endorsed by them and publicise it all over the world.

Muftis Naeem Javed Noori, Imran Hanfi, Haseeb Qadri, Anwar Alvi, Naseer Noorani and others endorsed the decree.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2015

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