By Achal Narayanan
Religion News Service
CHENNAI, India (RNS) An influential group of Muslim theologians at a prominent Islamic seminary in northern India have denounced terrorism, saying it is goes against the teachings of Islam.
The denouncement came during the All India Anti-Terrorism Conference in the state of Uttar Pradesh, home to the 150-year-old Darul Uloom Deoband Islamic seminary.
Opening the conference, the seminary’s vice chancellor, Maulana Margoobur Rahman, called terrorism a thoughtless act that is “un-Islamic” and prohibited by the Quran.
“Islam preaches the tenets of peace, justice and brotherhood. There is no place for terror and violence in Islam,” Rahamn said in his address, which was read by a deputy. “Allah will never have mercy on those elements who think they are serving the faith by perpetrating violence.”
Rahman also objected to the term “Islamic terrorism,” saying Muslims have “blindly accepted this term thrust upon us by the Americans.”
Seminary officials, who have issued more than 700,000 fatwas (religious edicts) over the years, cautioned that the latest declaration was not a fatwa. The seminary, however, is recognized as a renowned religious and academic center with influence over the Islamic world, especially in South and Southeast Asia.
The seminary’s general secretary, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, convened the conference and said top clerics arrived at a common definition of terrorism: “Any action that targets innocents, whether by an individual or by any government and its agencies, or by a private organization anywhere in the world, constitutes, according to Islam, an act of terrorism.”
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted February 29, 2008 at 3:55 pm
This religion like many others has it’s extremists. The extremists are the ones who ruin the reputation of religions. It is nice to hear that the leader of this Muslim seminary is speaking out to try and remind people that the Muslims are NOT a violent religion and that it teaches non-violence. That, of course, won’t change too many people’s minds, once they have decided that Muslims can’t be trusted.
posted February 29, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Well said, pagansister.
I’m sure this is not the first event of its kind, but this kind of thing is important for Islam and of course for the “War” on terror. I doubt the US had anything to do with this, and given the US’s unpopularity in the world since the Republicans invaded Iraq, if we did have anything to do with it we should keep it quiet. But we should, quietly, do anything we can to encourage more such acts by moderate clerics.
In the struggle against terror things like this are very important. Islam is a widespread religion and in many places with Islamic majorities people get along pretty well and go about their business. We should be doing everything we can to catch or kill Usamah bin Laden and his fellows while being clear we are not in a war against Islam, so most Muslims will continue un-radicalized.
posted February 29, 2008 at 8:37 pm
The U.S. government should key on the statement that the seminary objects to the term “Islamic terrorism.” They should approach representatives of this seminary and others who hold similar beliefs and work with them to come up with a more appropriate term. It would buy the U.S. some good will that we sorely need.
posted February 29, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Good point, |.