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New Saudi Fatwa forbids killing of non-Muslims
Saudi Arabia's chief cleric deemed it a sin for Muslim to kill non-Muslims in a religious ruling meant to counter terrorism. Muslims who kill or rape non-Muslims or steal their money are committing not jihad, but "great sin (and) causing harm to themselves," Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik said in the fatwa issued Thursday and carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
The mufti called for "true understanding of religion, especially the meaning of jihad (holy war) for the sake of God." Islamic extremists have declared jihad against the West and Arabs seen as supporting the West, but al-Sheik argued in his fatwa that only spiritual leaders can declare jihad. Al-Sheik's fatwa came one day after two suicide bombings targeted civilians and UN officials in Jerusalem and Baghdad.
| Either of which claimed more lives than the Riyadh bombings in May... |
Last week, the Saudi Council of Senior Clerics issued another fatwa condemning terrorists and urging citizens not to help them.
The Mufti also urged Muslims on Thursday to shun extremism and avoid waging unjustified jihad (holy struggle). Grand Mufti told Saudis to listen to their religious authorities and ignore fanatic interpretations of Islam or risk "banning God's bounty." "One of the fall-outs from extremism in understanding Islam is that some people call for jihad for the sake of God without justification," Sheikh Abdul-Aziz said.
| It's an Islamic vanity thing... |
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-08-23 |
