Islam-Israel Fellowship/News: NINE COURAGEOUS MUSLIM CLERICS CONDEMN
"ARAFAT" (including text)

Introduction:

The Declaration of the Majlis al-Ulema (Council of Scholars) of the Italian
Muslim Association condemns The Egyptian from Alexandria (alias "Yasser
Arafat", previous alias "Abdul Rauf el-Codbi el-Husseini"), and his
associated thugs and murderers, for the Philistine Authority Pogrom that
they have unleashed on both the Children of Israel and the Children of
Ishmael living in the Land of Israel.

Qadi Abu Ibrahim Ali al-Siddiqi serves as President of the Italian Muslim
Association Majlis al-Ulema (Council of Scholars).

Sheikh Imam Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi, also a member of the Italian Muslim
Association Majlis al-Ulema (Council of Scholars), serves as Italian Muslim
Association Secretary General; as Muslim Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the
Root & Branch Association Islam-Israel Fellowship; and as Muslim Chair of
the Root & Branch Association Jerusalem Embassy Initiative.

The nine sheikhs (scholars) who serve as members of the Italian Muslim
Association Majlis al-Ulema (Council of Scholars) live in Rome, Italy, and
come from the following countries: Bangladesh (1), Egypt (2), Ethiopia
(1), Italy (1), Morocco (1), Pakistan (1), Somalia (2).

We should appreciate the tremendous courage of these Muslim scholars in
issuing such a Declaration.

Shabbat Shalom/Salaam from Yerushaliyim,

Aryeh Gallin

President, Root & Branch Association, Ltd.
Member, Foreign Press Association in Israel
Member, New York City Chapter, U.S. Society of Professional Journalists
"Root & Branch Association, Ltd."

+++++++++++++

Declaration

by the Majlis al-Ulema (Council of Scholars)
of the Italian Muslim Association

As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmat-Ullahi wa barakatuH
(May peace, Allah's mercy and His blessings be upon you)

Allah (God) will bless the nations and true leaders who condemn, in clear
uncompromising terms, those parents, teachers, and murderous criminals, who
raise children on a poisoned diet of apostasy, hatred and violence. These
so-called Muslims send our children to die in acts of fitnah (sedition),
while they direct the suicidal sacrifice and slaughter of these children
from safe command posts, far from the battle.

In defense of a wicked regime, innocent ignorant children are sent to be
killed in criminal actions. This regime even dares to declare that Islam
approves of these criminal acts, and compares them to jihad fi sabili-Llah
(actions for the sake of Allah).

There are courageous Ulema of Ahlu-s-Sunnah (Sunni scholars) in Jerusalem,
risking their lives and the lives of their children by declaring that
sedition against the State of Israel, shooting, stabbing and throwing
stones at Israelis are acts of fitnah (sedition) and are, therefore, haram
(forbidden), deserving Allah's (God's) punishment.

W-Allahi (We swear by Allah's name), one noble Sunni 'alim (scholar) we
know, a Sheikh in al-Quds (Jerusalem) who sits on the Advisory Board of the
Islam-Israel Fellowship of the Root & Branch Association, prays and fasts
for the peace of al-Quds (Jerusalem). He is ready to speak the truth
against those who declare anti-Israeli fitnah permissible and dare to
compare it to jihad (an act for the sake of God). His son was invited by
ten and eleven year old schoolmates to go and throw stones at
Israelis. When his son declared, "doing so is haram (forbidden)", the son
was harassed by the other boys. A spiritual brother in Italy of this
Sheikh was harassed for saying that one who dies as a suicide bomber risks
dying the death of jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic pagans).

Since we here in Italy and the free nations are not in the situation of our
brothers in the lands of darkness and dictatorship, since no one until now
prevents us to speak, we must condemn in absolutely clear and
uncompromising voices the people of fitnah (sedition). We must identify by
name the criminals who spread Jew-hatred ("anti-semitism" and
"anti-Zionism") among Muslims. Know, and may Allah (God) prevent you and
us from being counted among al-mufsidun (mischief makers), that Allah
(God) prescribed to His servants al-islah (prosperity and peace), and
forbade them al-fasad (making mischief).

In the noble Shari'ah (religious law) of Islam (The Faith), as long as a
government is established, and as long as this government does not prevent
Muslims from abiding by their Din (religion) and to recite the five salawat
(prayers) in jama'at (communally), obeying the ruler is wajib (required),
except when the ruler compels Muslims to commit haram (forbidden acts).
Only in that case is disobeying the government's order wajib
(required). However, rebelling against the government is even in this case
haram (forbidden), while committing acts of rebellion against the
government is the sin of fitnah (sedition), which is worse than murder.

A day is coming when Iman (faith/belief) will be close to disappearing from
the earth. On that day calling that which is haram (prohibited) halal
(permitted) and visa versa will be common. On that day those who do so
will earn a reputation as learned ulema (scholars). On that day only forty
men in the whole Ummah (community) will abide by the limits of Allah (God)
and will be saved from heresy.

Since that day is now clearly approaching, we must educate Muslims to avoid
fitnah (sedition), and cease every act of rebellion against the government
established in the territory where they live, be it the State of Israel or
any other state in the world that does not prevent Muslims from raising
their salawat (prayers) in their masajid (mosques).

Believing that acts of rebellion, such as throwing stones and Molotov
cocktails or shooting at the Israeli army, police or civilian population
are permissible according to Islamic Shari'ah (Law) is even more dangerous
than committing them while convinced that they are haram (forbidden). The
one who confuses fitnah (sedition) with jihad (an act for the sake of God)
is excused if he does so out of ignorance, but the one who is learned is
really risking making batil (nullified) his Islam (Faith).

Rasul-Ullah, sall-Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam (the Prophet Muhammed),
said: "There will be a huge fitnah (sedition) within my Community. There
will not remain one Arab house where fitnah (sedition) will not
enter. Those who die because of it are in the hellfire. The harm of the
tongue in that day will be greater than that of the sword".

That day is rapidly approaching now, and especially in Bilad as-Sham (the
greater Levant) where the innocent, ignorant and illiterate masses are
completely poisoned, perverted and pervaded by fitnah (sedition). The harm
of the sword is in committing crimes of sedition and rebellion by using
weapons. The even greater harm of the tongue is in declaring this behavior
permissible (!), and even deserving a thawwab (reward in the world to come
for good deeds) from Allah (God).

May Allah Ta'ala (God the Most High) save Muslims from being involved in
fitnah (sedition) and from the risk of mingling their tongues with the
tongues of those who commit that harm which is even greater than the harm
of the sword.

Praise be to Allah and Allah knows best.

Wa-s-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmat-Ullahi wa barakatuH
(May peace, Allah's mercy and His blessings be upon you)

Majlis al-Ulema (Board of Scholars)
Italian Muslim Association
Rome, Italy

17 Safar, 1422
May 11, 2001
18 Iyar, 5761

SOURCE: Associazione Musulmani Italiani
Via G. Barracco 12-6
00162 Roma
Italia
E-mail: islamic@nopay.it
Sito Web: http://shell.aspqr.net/islam/history.html