WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of North American Islamic scholars issued a formal fatwa, or religious ruling, condemning terrorism July 28.
Although several Muslim groups and leaders in the United States have repeatedly condemned terrorism, the fatwa carries the force of religious law for Muslims, much as a papal edict would for Roman Catholics.
The Fiqh Council of North America, a committee of 18 experts in Islamic theology and law, released the statement during a press conference in Washington. It reads, in part, “Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians' life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram — or forbidden — and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not 'martyrs.'”
The fatwa goes on to say that committing acts of terror and aiding terrorists are forbidden in Islam and tells American and Canadian Muslims that they have a “civic and religious duty” to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies in combating terrorism.
Dozens of U.S. Muslim groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, endorsed the edict. In a statement read at the press conference announcing the fatwa, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said, “The presence here today of American Muslim leaders indicates the willingness of our community to strengthen national security and to work with policymakers to gain victory over this international menace to humanity.”
Awad also encouraged imams, or mosque leaders, across America to read the fatwa text aloud during Friday prayer services on July 29.
CAIR and other American Muslim groups have repeatedly expressed frustration with what they perceive to be many Americans' view of their faith: that all forms of Islam are prone to, or synonymous with, terrorism.
Four days before the fatwa, a prominent conservative host on a Washington talk-radio station stirred nation-wide controversy with several statements about Islam. Among other things, WMAL-AM morning host Michael Graham said “Islam is a terrorist organization” and that “Islam is at war with America.”
CAIR condemned the remarks. The station announced July 28 that Graham had been suspended, pending an investigation of his statements.