20 North American Imams Issue Fatwa Against Terrorists
Posted Jan 9, 2010

20 North American Imams Issue Fatwa Against Terrorists

According to The National Post of Canada:  “Syed Soharwardy, an imam at the Al-Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre, who organized the initiative, said yesterday that any attack by foreign elements should also be considered a direct affront to the 10 million Muslims who call either Canada or the United States home.    “We want Muslims around the world who would dare to commit terrorism on our soil to know that we stand together with all Canadians and Americans.    “We are asking Muslims here not only to condemn terrorism but to also see these events as attacks on themselves.”

FATWA:

“We, the undersigned Imams, are issuing the following Fatwa in order to guide the Muslims of North America regarding the attacks on Canada and the United States by the terrorists and the extremists,”

“In our view, these attacks are evil and Islam requires from Muslims to stand up against this evil. In the holy Qur’an Almighty Allah (God) orders Muslims:

“Let there among you be a group that summon to all that is beneficial commands what is proper and forbids what is improper; they are the ones who will prosper.” (3:104)

“Believing men and believing women are protecting friends of one another; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong; they perform salat and give zakat…” (9:71)

“Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in a Hadith;

“When people see a wrong-doer and do nothing to stop him, they may well be visited by God with a punishment.”

“Therefore, it is an obligation upon us (Imams) to inform all Muslims around the world that Muslims in Canada and the United States have complete freedom to practice Islam.

“There is no single city in Canada and the United States where MASAJIDS (Mosques) are not built. In all major cities Islamic schools provide education to Muslim children about Qur’an and the Islamic traditions.

“Thousands of Muslims perform Hajj every year and travel to Saudi Arabia with complete freedom and respect. In the month of Ramadan, both Canadian and the United States governments recognize the occasion and greet all Muslim citizens.

“Muslims pray five daily prayers in mosques without any fear or restrictions. Muslims have complete freedom to pay Zakat (poor due) to the charity or a person of their choice. Muslims have complete freedom to celebrate their festivals openly, publicly and Islamically. Muslims enjoy freedom of religion just like Christians, Jews and others. No one stops us from obeying Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him). No one stops us from preaching Islam and practicing Islam. In many cases, Muslims have more freedom to practice Islam here in Canada and the United States than many Muslim countries.”

“In fact, the constitutions of the United States and Canada are very close to the Islamic guiding principles of human rights and freedom. There is no conflict between the Islamic values of freedom and justice and the Canadian /US values of freedom and justice.”

“Therefore, any attack on Canada and the United States is an attack on the freedom of Canadian and American Muslims. Any attack on Canada and the United States is an attack on thousands of mosques across North America. It is a duty of every Canadian and American Muslim to safeguard Canada and the USA.

“They must expose any person, Muslim OR non-Muslim, who would cause harm to fellow Canadians OR Americans. We, Canadian and American Muslims, must condemn and stand up against these attacks on Canada and the United States.”
“May Allah (God) save Canada, the United States and the entire world from the evil of wrong doers. Ameen.”

Signed by:

Prof. Imam Syed B. Soharwardy – Calgary
Allama Imam Ghalib Hussain Chishty – Calgary
Allama Imam Syed Mukhtar Naeemi – Houston, USA
Allama Imam Muhammad Nasir Qadri – Montreal
Allama Imam Abdul Latif No’mani – Vancouver
Imam Hafiz Muhammad Zarif Naeemi – Calgary
Imam Nizamuddin Sayed Qadri – Calgary
Imam Qazi Bashiruddin Qadri – Hamilton
Imam Osman Qazi – Toronto
Imam Saeed Ahmed Saifee – Toronto
Alimah Hafizah Sister Zaheera Tariq – Calgary
Imam Ayaz Khan Qadri – Calgary
Alimah Sister Fatimah Zohra – Toronto
Imam Shahid Bashir Lahori – Calgary
Imam Hafiz Intizar Ahmed Qadri – Montreal
Imam Sayed Sajid Qadri – Calgary
Imam Arif Mahmood Naqshbandi – Calgary
Imam Muhammad Anees Siddiqui – Calgary
Sister Shahana Kamil – Mississauga
Mr. Mushtaq Khan – Mississauga