Islamic body issues fatwa against terrorism
NEW DELHI, MAY 31 (PTI)
Thousands of Muslims gathered here today to denounce terrorism, with leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom issuing a fatwa declaring it as the "most inhuman crime".
"In its (Islam) eyes, on any part over the surface of the earth spreading mischief, rioting, breach of peace, bloodshed, killing of innocent persons and plundering are the most inhuman crime," read the fatwa, issued here at an Anti-Terrorism Conference.
The conference, organised by Jamiat-Ulma-I-Hind, saw the participation of clerics, scholars and religious leaders of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs besides 70,000 people from across the country.
Reading out the fatwa, Deoband's cleric Riyasat Ali Bijnouri, quoted Holy Koran as saying: "Do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order."
"Islam loves peace. Islam rejects all kinds of unjust violence... And does not allow it in any form," the fatwa said.
The fatwa further read: "the religion of Islam has come to wipe out all kinds of terrorism and to spread the message of global peace."
The conference, however, expressed deep concern and agony on the present global condition in which most of the nations are adopting an adverse attitude towards Muslims.
"It is a matter of greater concern that the internal and external policies of a country are getting heavily influenced by these forces," MP and Jamiat leader Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani said.
The gathering also condemned attempts to implicate Muslims and particularly religious institutions for terrorist acts.
"The disease (terrorism) has been diagnosed in a wrong way. Whenever there is any incident of terrorism, every possible attempt is made to link it to Muslims and particularly who have studied in madrasas and some religious institutions. This is totally wrong," Madani said.
The fatwa came against the backdrop of a declaration adopted by Darul Uloom in February this year which termed terrorism as "un-Islamic" and against the Islamic principle of "peace".
Madani, who read out the eight point declaration of the today's conference, said: "Jehad is constructive and terrorism is destructive."
The declaration called on the state agencies to rise above all prejudices and discharge their duties impartially for maintaining peace, law and order.
"Muslims of this nation desire to see India strong independent, peaceful and developed," it said.
"The administrative machinery should be asked to conduct impartial investigation in activities disturbing public peace in the country and to punish only those found guilty," it said.
Deoband's senior most cleric Maulana Marghoob-ur Rehman, in his presidential address, said: "Islam never desires bloodshed. It loves peace."
"Terrorism has become a challenge for us. We have to fight it together," he said.
Prominent Hindu leader Swami Agnivesh, who was also present, said: "There is a conspiracy to malign the image of Islam and its followers. Islam is a religion of peace. Those people who are real terrorists are blaming innocent people for such heinous act."
"First it was Afghanistan, then Iraq and now they are looking at Iran. They want to create unrest across the globe," he said, attacking the US and its allies and their policies.