IT is quite appreciable that the visiting Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel Karim Allam, has endorsed Pakistan’s national narrative against extremism and terrorism and quite clearly said that issuing decrees is not the job of terrorists sitting in caves as only the scholars having a vast knowledge of the Holy Quran, Hadith and Fiqah can issue fatwas.

The Grand Mufti is reported to have asserted that no individual can declare anyone infidel as it is against the teachings of Islam. He said he had read the Arabic translation of Paigham-i-Pakistan which clearly reflected the message of Pakistani state and was also compatible with the thinking of the world.

It is suggested that if is not already done, Paigham-i-Pakistan should be translated into all internationally-spoken languages and widely circulated through our missions all over for enabling more and more people to understand , appreciate and support our national narrative against extremism, terrorism and militancy.

Asim Munir

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2018