83
LAHORE: At least 50 Islamic scholars belonging to ‘Sunni Ittehad Council’ on Thursday declared Taliban’s attack on Pakistani children’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai as un-Islamic, DawnNews reported.
Sunni Ittehad Council represents 'Barelvi' sect of Islam which is influenced by Sufism and defends the traditional Sufi practices from the criticisms of Islamic movements like the 'Deobandi', 'Wahhabi' and 'Ahl al-Hadith'.
The scholars issued a combined ‘fatwa’ (Islamic ruling) in Lahore which said that the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam was incorrect and was deviant from the actual interpretation of the Shariah.
The fatwa added that Taliban were misguided and their mindset was driven by ignorance.
“Islam does not stop women from acquiring education and by attacking Malala the Taliban have crossed the limits of Islam,” the fatwa added.
“Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had regarded the sanctity of Muslim’s life and property more important than the sanctity of the ‘Kaaba’ (sacred Muslim place),” adding that the fatwa stated, “Murder of one innocent human being is equivalent to murder of entire humanity.”
The Islamic ruling added that United States was the enemy of Islam and Pakistan; any kind of cooperation with the US was not in compliance with the Shariah.
In response to Taliban’s interpretation of killing females for the greater good of the religion, the scholars said that Islam discourages killing of the females. Adding that, they said, “Even apostate women are not allowed to be killed in Islam.”
The assassination attempt on the life of the young National Peace Award winner has drawn widespread condemnation from the government, political parties and civil society groups, terming it a bid to silent voice for peace and education.
The banned militant organisation Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had issued a statement Wednesday, using Islamic Shariah to defend the attack.
Pakistani Taliban had said that although they do not believe in attacking women, “whom so ever leads a campaign against Islam and Shariah is ordered to be killed by Shariah.”
TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan had argued that it is “not just allowed … but obligatory in Islam” to kill such a person involved “in leading a campaign against Shariah and (who) tries to involve whole community in such campaign, and that personality becomes a symbol of anti-Shariah campaign.”
Malala had won international recognition for highlighting Taliban atrocities in Swat with a blog for the BBC three years ago, when the Islamist militants burned girls’ schools and terrorised the valley.
Her struggle resonated with tens of thousands of girls who were being denied an education by the militants across northwest Pakistan, where the government has been fighting the local Taliban since 2007.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (83) Closed
Oct 12, 2012 08:58am
i think its 40% atleast.. there's no point justifying oneself and still live in denial.. be it 1% or 40%, there is no room for such extremist views or actions if you consider your religion to be a peaceful one.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 08:57am
molvis should also collectively reject Talibanism in toto ! condemnation should not be Malala incident specific !!
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:12pm
Everything was right but I dont agree with this "The Islamic ruling added that United States was the enemy of Islam and Pakistan; any kind of cooperation with the US was not in compliance with the Shariah". If US is indeed an enemy of islam then,
1)They would have not allowed any muslim to migrate to the US
2) They would have treated muslims in the US as second class citizens( like the way muslim majority countries do. e.g Pakistan, Saudi etc)
3) They would have never helped Pakistanis (or muslims) during floods, earthquakes, disease etc.
4) They would have never intervened in KOSOVO to topple Milosovic or Libya or Egypt
5) They would have always supported non-islamic countries to fight islamic countries (e.g India).
6) They would have never tried to rebuild Iraq or Afghanistan. After all war is war, there is no obligation to rebuild it!
How come you know that US is against Islam but not terrorists who unfortunately most of the times happen to be muslims! Please enlighten me...
May god bless your ignorance, forget about Taliban's ignorance
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:58pm
Finally our religious scholars have gathered some courage to condemn the wrong doings of Taliban. I still wonder why they had been quiet, on the killings of so many innocent people. They still need to do more to stop the barbaric acts of mislead and misguided TTP.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 06:05am
They are waiting for the attacker to be caught before jumping to conclusions like everyone else.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 10:55am
A question that MUST BE ASKED! Why don't Muslim "religious" leaders condemn condemn brutality against non Muslims?
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 02:22pm
Shame on all those who are diluting/diverting attention from Malali's plight by brigning drone issue.
Recommend
0
Oct 13, 2012 04:09am
im just laughing at the pakistan government, as they have fooled the pakistani people by attacking Malala, as to gain sympathy from pakistan people to attack waziristan....but why isnt media and people of pakistan not crying for the thousands os lives lost in pakistan...why are the poeple only talking of malala, wat abt the innocent girls killed in the madrasa..
people of pakistan wake up, your gov is fooling you by shooting malala so that it gains sympathy to attack waziristan and support america...
how come the shooters absconded openly,,how come the agencies spoke to the killers on phone, but not able to trace them..this was well planned by the gov of pakistan. because there is pressurre from america to attack in waziristan.
and by the way the end pakistan is coming very soon...so be prepared :)
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:11pm
Think twice. God has favored America.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 12:17pm
97% False.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 08:22pm
Ther are 2.6 million muslims living in the U.S. That is more than oman , qatar population alone. They will grow upto 10 million by 2030. How do we invite non-muslims to our religion, if this kind of ignorant acts are conducted day in and day out. We need to stop this madness. Follow footsteps of Prophet (PBUH)
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:57pm
Can Ehsanullah quote from any where that Prophet had ordered for murder of an innocent 14 years girl who was asking her right to get education? Was she demanding any thing prohibited by Shariah? Shame on Ehsanullah and his followers. They are, in my opinion, doing a thing not permitted by Islam.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:50pm
I appeal every leader of Religious beliefs to express openly and clearly without any ifs and but against the Talibans and denounce them in strongest words. the butchers are need to be condemned and this the last God given opportunity to get rid of this Satanic beings in our country especially and generally at large. Enough is enough
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 09:41pm
Shame on TTP and these criminals using Islam for doing their criminal acts. They inshallah will go to hell in next life and will be defeated in this world inshallah. These criminals should be targeted and beheaded in front of all the world to stop criminals using name of Islam for their henious acts.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:13pm
Ehsanullah Ehsan should be captured and made an example. A coward who hides and attacks 14 yr old. If the army can not search and apprehend him, then shame on them.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 05:17am
Why blame others when fault lies within.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 04:44am
too little too late
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:42pm
Finally some one spoke out from the religious circles. I do not know if they are barelvi sunnis or Deobandi. Because Taliban are Deobandi sunnis. Unless Deobandi ulemas issue any fatwa, Taliban will keep flying high because this cult then gets supported by a huge population of Pakistan, tacitly.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:42pm
So heartening a news after long, long maddening noises of fanatics. Taliban should not have been allowed to hijack Islam in the first place. At last!
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 05:18pm
I am glad to see that at least there is one organization of Muslim scholars, Islamic Ittehad Council, that has the courage and the wisdom to publicly denounce the sick mindset of Taliban. I sure hope there is enough unity in the political, military and security establishment to uproot extremism and intolerance from Pakistani society.
Keep up the good work - Maulanas!
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:40pm
Thank you to all 50 Ulmas even it is their job. It was long due from Ulmas to come out togather on such issue. ...please keep talking to people like this, once or twice is not going to do enough..
ANd where are other Ulmas and PML-Nawaz group, they shall talk against this action too.....why they are quite.
Either you are with them or you are with muslim Ummah.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:37pm
Well, that's a good start. Now declare Taliban movement as un-Islamic also.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:24pm
taliban are actually agents of anti Islam forces. their sole aim is to dishonor Muslim & Islam and to destabilize Pakistan.they are enemies of Pakistan and Islam.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:35pm
Good move by the clergy. I highly commend it. Finally our coward mullas are waking up.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 05:14pm
Bismillah, er-Rahman er-Rahim
"Islam" means submission to the will of Allah, and it also means the Peace, al-Salaam, that is attained through submission to the will of Allah - both the inner peace of the individual and the peacefulness that such an individual manifests in the world.
The Taliban have submitted not to the will of Allah, but to the will of their own small selves, and they are enslaved and ruled by their own fears, all of which are the products of their own minds and imaginations. And they want to enslave all others to their imagined
For every Muslim, every individual act must begin in the name of, in the spirit of, with the breath of Allah, of al-Wahid, the One, and for all who are striving to become truly Muslim, that is the ideal to strive towards. And this striving is most greatly manifested and aided through mercy and compassion; ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim. This is strongly stated in al-Fatiha and the suras each begin with a reminder of this.
Everything else in the Qur'an must be viewed from and interpreted in the Light of this repeated guidance, yet the Taliban ignore this while trying to justify their unmerciful, uncompassionate acts. They must not be allowed to do this unchallenged. Fatwas help, but more is needed.
The world desperately needs more Muslims to speak up often and with strength and conviction in defense of Islam, and to act according to these basic precepts of Islam, in clear demonstrations of what submission to Allah really means - in contrast to what the Taliban claims and to the way they behave. Help bring Unity into the world, not through compulsion but through your merciful, compassionate, loving example.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 10:15pm
Why include the US in this Fatwa ?
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:37pm
My appeal to the people of Northern Areas/KB/ especially and others generally to understand that we are not coward people and history speaks of it. The Talibans the Satan beings are destroying our cultural, social and religious back grounds. The attacked the innocent girl the SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE.These Talibans are the waladuzzina people and would be the fuel of FIRE along with Ulemae SOO who are cowards and hypocrites and imminent Accomplices of these vice people. O Allah they are curse on the humanity I pray for your mercy either guide them or eliminate them from this world as You have done in cases of many nations and the exist no more except their remains of ruins.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:42pm
Why is "cooperation with the US [...] not in compliance with the Shariah"?
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:42pm
Glad to see religious leaders showing support for victim of terrorism, targeted and shot point blank. Will they do the same for the hundreds of shias pulled out of buses and killed in the same manner?
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:43pm
A long awaited step by some religious scholars. Hope other religious parties will also follow them. We must isolate this deviated taliban idelogy.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:43pm
One just has to scratch his head to understand the mindless of this crime. First of all, who in God's name tries to kill an innocent child? What kind of a butcher is this person?
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:19pm
Why yes. The Taliban need apologists because they will never apologize.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 07:37pm
We are waiting for a fatwa against Taliban from Deobandi sect, Jamat islami and JUI. Either you are with the masses or with Taliban. If you are with Taliban ... masses will never vote for you in future.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:57pm
A very good, right and appropriate move from one of the influential segment of our society. It's high time to condemn such atrocities by every member of Pakistani society. Silence is tantamount to sin now.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 01:08am
Human Life is a gift of Allah/God. There is no excuse to harm this sacred human life in the name of religion/faith. We need to move away from these so called Religious Scholars/Taliban/Whatever, who issue fatiwa in the name of religion or shariah. WE NEED TO RESPECT HUMAN LIFE.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 08:00am
Wow, Maulvis take the lead again. This proves that they are years ahead of the politicians when it comes to judging public mood and opinion. So the fault really lies with public opinion.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:10pm
How would anyone in his right mind recognize the Taliban as his brothers when they destroy Pakistan's schools and people's lives. How can this be normal behavior in any society?
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 12:26am
No Fatwa is complete without calling USA the enemy of Islam....lol
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 11:20am
We want to hear that Taliban are not only enemies of Pakistan but also of Islam.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:59pm
Please ! Islam is a religion of peace, it is just the 0.000001% of the muslim population who are extremists.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 08:28pm
Wow! It took them so long and so many deaths to come up with this Fatwa. But it is a good step in the right direction.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:25pm
The Taliban see things only as they want them to be.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 04:12am
Finally some religious figures take a stand. Not just a generic condemnation, as commonly heard from leaders of religious and political parties, but an authentic and clear position.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 09:30am
Please Give One Fatwa Again Drone Attaks Also..............
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:51pm
Pakistanis brag about their army so strong.but their army can;t even control handful of terrorists.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:52pm
I could not agree with you more. Forget Fatwas, just fight the terrorists off the map of Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 07:07pm
why deobndi's scholars dont issue an agreed fatwa against TTP???because TTp also belongs to deobndi school of thought!!!
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:15pm
god knows who's behind this but one think is clear that america justified his point to do drone attacks...what about those kids killing in drone attacks...
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 07:51pm
I, and I guess everybody applauds the courage of these Ulemas who after a long eerie silence finally spoke, condemned this gory incident and deplored the perpetrators of this inhuman act.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 07:53pm
Shedding crocodile tears. Disgraceful.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 07:53pm
Must we refer to them as Taliban?
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 08:43pm
1st time ulema of pakistan has done a good thing.We appreciate this timely verdict.Allah baki ulema ko bi toufiq dede sach bolne ki.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:43pm
This is not a good practice of bringing a Fatwa from one sect. This will bring another sectarian colour from other sects. Further it will bring counter sectarian wrintings. This will not bring goodness of the Islam and wrath of Allah on the Talibans but only brings counter arguments soaked in hatered.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:19pm
These ulemas are useless and cowardly. They had to add an anti-American line to the fatwa even on this occasion!
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:21pm
I THINK ullema has taken tight decision to term attack on Malala unislamic and taliban ideology based on ignorance, it is equally important to deal with taliban sympathizers within religious parties especially banned outfits.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 09:18pm
Why they don't say anything when a non muslim is targetted.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:58pm
The choice is clear - 1) Right to education as islamic or 2) Right to kill an unarmed 14 year old girl islamic. Its a shame that plenty of folks misuse islam or any other religion / ideology for defending their own narrow selfish ends - kill innocents, make money, win elections and so on.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:15pm
Eny body and every body issues Fatwa. Fatwa in Islam has been Joke. Who takes action on this Fatwa?? Just tell Govt to finish this Taliban altohether. Taliban has no work in Pakistan
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 08:31pm
I guess someone will quip in with an amazing statement like, "There is a distinction between good Taliban and bad Taliban." And then we all will get confused.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:56pm
Trying to save their own job; competition?
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 07:34pm
Thanks to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain who gave ultimatum.
So this proves people need a leader like Altaf as president of Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:12pm
Sensible Pakistani youth and Govt must fight Taliban. President must openely denounce Taliban and arrest those militants
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:46pm
There are apologists for the Taliban and apologists for Islam, and neither do much good for the world.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:50pm
First good fatwa of century
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 04:49pm
This fatwa smell bad and good. There is no doubt Malala is quest of education. It looks as if Sunni Ittehad Council are strenthening the voice from London.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 08:09pm
Good One...
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 12:15am
100% true
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 08:17pm
The legal institutions of the country have to solve this problem of murderous violence and here the arbitrary fatwas by group have no substance nor any relevance.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 08:06pm
I will never forget Malala. She has a place in my heart just next to my own daughters.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 03:53am
Maybe Altaf Hussain's warning on the mullahs worked. Thats why the condemnation.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:21pm
what about jamat islami and mullah fazlur rehman. what about other mullahs who are coming out with all kinds of excuses for this horrible act. one guy said to me, " such things happen ". this was an excuse from one with a fairly large amount of facial hair. basically the madrasas are churning out bigoted persons with closed minds . god help us.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:18pm
talibans are in fact working with the devil itself. They must be decreed non Muslims by these scholars
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 06:18pm
Thank God, the most important news against terrorism, in decades.
The supporters of terrorism, the clergy, finally is showing a glimpse of humanity.
This may be the turning point the world has been waiting. Now, if people like Hamid Gul and Imran Khan can also clearly define their position about Taliban.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 08:01pm
Until we admit there is a problem, we will never do anything to get rid of it. So what if it is a small %, let us make sure we get rid of them. By the way, in my opinion it is at least 20% of the population of Pakistan who have extreme views.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 04:13am
We need real Islamic scholars not these mullahs who are giving us a bad name all over the world.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 03:27am
These Fatwas will have real power, if media supports it in a big way.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 03:16am
Unfortunately you seem too far in Canada. These religious parties will keep brain washing people unless a new Govt with a vision attains power ( and yes I am hinting at PTI).
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 03:19am
Sad day when a "fatwa" is needed to condemn a inhuman act.
Humanity, decency and truth are the highest religions. And anything
absent that .. does not lead to God.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 09:50pm
They probably got scared of MQM Warning.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 07:30pm
No parent should feel safe about their daughters safety on the street /in the shool /office /college/mosque or inside home --Only eradication of these bigots is the answer. |Enough is enough.
Recommend
0
Oct 12, 2012 12:54am
Turning point for the world. Absolutely.
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 11:28pm
These guys have difficulty in waking up...but,they seem to be stirring.Let us hope for the best!
Recommend
0
Oct 11, 2012 05:11pm
Thanks for a bold step. Finally you could dare to speak about true Islam. Pls continue and bring misguided people to right direction.
Recommend
0
