Thursday, 20 September 2001 13:44 (ET)
UPI: Text of ulema statement
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Following is the text of the
decisions and religious decree issued by the religious council, or ulema, in
Kabul on Thursday:
The Afghan nation has always referred major issues for solution to the
religious scholars. The ulema have always tried to find out solution to
these problems in difficult times.
Now, when Afghanistan is facing a possible attack from the United States,
the ulema of Afghanistan have issued the following religious decree and
decisions in the light of sacred Islam:
1. The ulema of Afghanistan are very sad over the losses in the United
States. The ulema of Afghanistan hope that the United States will not launch
attacks on Afghanistan and will demonstrate flexibility and patience and
(hold) full investigation into the incidents.
2. Afghan ulema demand that the United Nations and the Organization of
Islamic Conference should investigate to find out the real facts behind the
attack, and innocent people must not suffer.
3. The United Nations and OIC should take note of the U.S. president's
remarks, in which he has said the war will be a crusade. These remarks have
hurt the feelings of the Muslim ummah and have always posed a major threat
to the world community.
4. In order to stop such incidents from happening again and also to
stop the creation of misunderstanding, the ulema council proposed to the
Islamic emirates to tell Osama bin Laden if it is possible for him to leave
Afghanistan voluntarily and select a new destination or place for him.
If the United States does not demonstrate patience despite the above
decisions and attacks Afghanistan, then the following fatwa (decree) will be
applicable under the Islamic Sharia (law):
i. All jurisprudence books say if non-Muslims commit aggression on Muslim
land or launch attacks against Muslims, then jihad (the holy war) will
become obligatory on the Muslims of that country. Koran, hadith and all the
jurisprudence books call upon Muslims to wage jihad in such circumstances.
ii.
The fatwa quotes several verses from the holy Koran, hadith and
illustrations from Islamic jurisprudence to substantiate that jihad is
obligatory against the non-Muslim when a Muslim country is attacked.
iii.
If the non-Muslims attack Muslim land in this situation, the Muslims
can seek assistance from the Muslim and non-Muslim governments but the
Islamic principle should remain supreme as has been written in our Islamic
jurisprudence book.