There has been a lot of fuss over the fatwa of Tahir ul-Qadri –
released in London today – and after receiving the PR from the
Quilliam Foundation about the issue my interest was doubly aroused,
since this is not the first time this particular fatwa has been
released.

In fact, this fatwa was initially released in Pakistan and Canada,
with translations available in both English and Arabic, in December
2009:
http://www.minhajuk.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=1

It was subsequently released in the UK in January:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6991483.ece

However, after being available online in English for a while, the
fatwa was taken down within the last week in the run-up to the
“re-launch”, heavily backed by the Quilliam Foundation who sponsored
the speech (http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/03/02/uk-fatwa-terrorism.html).
The reason for this removal could be due to passages such as this:

http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:2LuN_5Qvh4UJ:www.minhajbooks.com/en.php?bookid%3D376+tahir+ul+qadri+fatwa&cd=25&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
“Injustice being currently meted out to the Muslims in certain
matters, double standards displayed by bigger powers and their
open-ended and long-term military engagements in a number of
countries, under the pretext of eliminating terror, form some of the
fundamental local, national and international causes that underpin
terrorism, and add a punch to the war cry of militants”

Passages like this undermine the core call of Quilliam, who claim that
it is “Islamists” who set the mood music for terrorism, and grievances
are not a sufficient explanation. Therefore – the fatwa has to be
retranslated, after all – the newly claimed reason for its authorship
by Tahir ul-Qadri is that “he felt compelled to issue the edict
because of concerns about the radicalisation of British Muslims at
university campuses and because there had been a lack of condemnation
of extremism by Muslim clerics and scholars.” Therefore passages such
as the above may prove unsuitable for the Western audience of
politicians etc. This is despite the fact that terrorism has been
condemned time and time again by a multitude of scholars as any google
search will throw up.

Anyhow back to Quilliam, who helpfully define “Islamists” and “Islamism” as:
“The modernist attempt to claim that political sovereignty belongs to
God, that the Shari’ah equates to state law, and that it is a
religious duty on all Muslims to create a political entity that
reflects the above…In short, Islamism is the belief that Islam is a
political ideology.”
http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/faqs.html

Now, Tahir ul-Qadri has written many books in English. Just by looking
at one of them – “Islam – the State Religion” – found on the following
link
http://www.minhajbooks.com/english/control/btext/cid/16/bid/270/btid/1952/read/img/Islam%20-%20The%20State%20Religion-Islam%20-%20The%20State%20Religion.html

We find he has said the following:

He claims that “there is a fundamental contrast between an Islamic
state and a secular state.” Why? Because “ The authority of a secular
state derives from the people themselves. Religion plays no obligatory
role in its functioning. But the authority of an Islamic state derives
from the Almighty Allah”. He also claims that “Islam is the basis of
polity in an Islamic state”, and that the first constitution of
Madinah “declared the state of Madinah as a political unit”. He also
mentions that the constitution declared the “indivisible composition
of the Muslim nation (Ummah) and its total and unquestioning
submission to the will of God”.

Furthermore, in a tip to the “dar ul Islam/ dar al-Kufr” split in
Islamic political view, he mentions that “In the Holy Quran God
Himself has categorically expressed the concept of two-nation theory.
There are those people who belong to the Ummah and there are those who
are outside it” those who embrace Islam, and those who reject from the
other nation”

He also believes in the “Supremacy of Islam over other systems of
life” and that “a state is Islamic only when it recognises the
constitutional and political predominance of Islam”.

With respect to modern constitutions, Tahir ul-Qadri says “since the
constitution itself is a document of law, it has to derive its
validity from Qur’an and Sunnah”, and modern political rulers have the
“religious and moral responsibility to implement the “revealed laws””.
In fact – he rejects secular rule stating that “a constitution is a
man-made law and by no means it can be declared superior to a God-made
law” and that “no authority in the land can suspend enforcement or
curtail the implementation of Shariah”

In other words – he is a man who believes in the Sovereignty of God’s
law, that Shari’ah equates to State law, that it is a political duty
for Muslims to create a political entity that reflects that. In short
– there is no doubt that Tahir ul-Qadri sees Islam as a political
ideology, whatever Harry’s Place may tell us. Perhaps Tahir ul-Qadri
does believe in democracy and human rights, but as is clear from the
above his conception of such a State is where the people choose Islam
and the rights are defined by Islam. As he mentions in other books,
hudood prescriptions are primary/ core issues in the law which must be
implemented unless there are societal reasons such as famine or lack
of education to do so.

Ed Hussain has proclaimed Tahir ul Qadri as “the head of a global
social movement of mainstream Muslims, a teacher to thousands, and a
compassionate Muslim leader who has drawn millions to normative
Islam”. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/26/fatwa-salman-rushdie-terrorism/print)
In other words – the ideas mentioned above are all part of normative
Islam. Which means, according to the Quilliam Foundation themselves –
“Islamism” is part of “normative Islam”.

Which brings us to the point – exactly why are people like Ed Hussain,
Douglas Murray and Harry’s Place
(http://www.hurryupharry.org/2010/03/02/tahir-ul-qadri-and-his-fatwa-on-terrorism-and-islamist-extremism/)
promoting Tahir ul Qadri? While Douglas Murray and Harry’s Place
obviously have no clue about this man, nor any clue that rather than
being against “Islamism” as they define and hate it, but rather he is
against other “Islamic sects” which he claims are “conservative”, Ed
and the Quilliam Foundation surely have no excuse for this underhanded
sleight of hand? This is hardly the first fatwa condemning suicide
bombings or terrorism, and coming from a man whose political party
achieved 0.7% of the vote in 2002 Pakistani elections there is doubt
that he is the most popular to have done so either.
Ed claims “Shaikh Tahir is a leader of that caravan of ordinary
Muslims, trying to rescue our Islam from the Saudi clerics that issue
fatwas of death, and leading the way for announcing fatwas against
death”.

Ahhh, so now we get it. This isn’t about “Islamism” at all. Its
Quilliam and Minhaj ul Quran politicking to discredit “conservatives”
(read” Deobandis” and “Salafi/ Wahabis”) and ingratiate themselves to
a political class that has no clue about the inner workings of the
wider Muslim community. They are probably also jealous of the work
that Andrew Gilligan did on his dispatches program (which basically
told us that Muslims are working within the political
system…creeeeepy) without so much as involving them, and wanted to
steal the limelight back.

It all makes sense now.

Confused?

That’s what 1£ million of taxpayers money gets you.

This gentlemen is a well-known megalomaniac who has a history of deceit and duplicity. His antics in Pakistan are well documented with even high court judgments admonishing him. In classic ‘living’saint’ style he can do no wrong before his disciples who nod at his every statement and command. We don’t need him to tell us that suicide bombing is a heinous and despicable crime against humanity and the Divine.

Dr. Qadri’s discrimination againsts certain Muslims is actually his theological position which he had derived from the sunnah of the Holy Prophet. If it seems secterian then its only because he is following the letter and spirit of the tradition.

Dr. Qadri in no way whatsoever is siding with anyone out of his whim- be they Muslim or non-Muslim: This is his position which he has derived directly from the sunnah so you cannot blame him- you will have to put forward a theological/scriptural challenge not one based on emotions or popularist notions.

If you want to know the sources from which he has derived his theological position then you will have to read his fatwa: refer to chapter 7 concerning the Khwarij; or you can read his hadith collection called: al-intibah li’l-khwarij wa’l-harura (the warning concerning the khwarij and harura)which can be accessed online on Minhaj books:

http://www.minhajbooks.com/eng.....D8%AA.html

There are three sections in this chapter within chapter 7 of the fatwa which sets out a scripture-based policy of how to deal with terrorist and extremists. If you read it then you will actually understand why Dr. Qadri made the comment he made. I don’t think its out of his personal enmity, but out of his honest feelings about the situation taking place today. Living in Pakistan and having been involved in the political administration from within he is entitled to make such a view because he is at the end of the day a first-hand observer of the situation there. As for his strong-headed approach and condemnation then it is because he is following the sunnah of the Holy Prophet.

The point is Dr. Qadri through his research of the Qur’an and sunnah has legally derived the ruling that when the Khwarij appear at any given time or moment it is incumbent on Muslim authorites to do everything they can do to totally annihilate and obliterate the Khwarij. The Khwarij today are the terrorists and extremist who legitimize the killings of non-combatants, and as the deobandi and salafi scholars reject it they are in no way the khwarij per say; but however you must be honest with yourself and accept that those who are khwarij usually tend to be extremist from that spectrum (this my personal experience through the last many years meeting Muslims of all kinds this is why I beleive it and agree with that not all deobandis and salafis are khwarij, majority of them have nothing to do with the khwarij, but whenever I meet a khwariji it is always from a deobandi and salafi background; I’m still yet to meet a Barelwi Khwariji or Sufi khwariji).

This is the policy that Dr. Qadri is following; he has made it clear that there is no negotiation with the Khwarij as they have to be destroyed like the way Allah destroyed the Aad and Thamud. The Khwarij are the worst of creation (this is not Dr. Qadri’s self indulged opinion but is the express words of the Holy Prophet). So when the worst of creation show up and declare war and kill innocent people be they Muslim or non-Muslim it is incumbent on all Muslims who are not Khwarij regardless they are Barelwi, Deobandi, Salafi or Shia to unite against them and obliterate them completely. And those who do not follow this policy are no different to the Khwarij in meaning, though in appearance they may have nothing to do with them.

I’ll give you some references from the Sunnah so you can see how Dr. Qadri made his mind up about the Khwarij:

1) Sahih Bukhari: bab qatli khwarij wa’l-mulhidin #6531 No doubt I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “During the last days there will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words but their faith will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they will have no faith) and will go out from (leave) their religion as an arrow goes out of the game. So, where-ever you find them, kill them, for who-ever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection.”

This is the ruling concerning the Khwarij which Dr. Qadri has based his view upon. It is a Sahih Hadith of Bukhari which states that the Khwarij will be young brainwashed individuals who will have no religion. And what is to be done with such people who appear at the end of time? They are to be obliterated by those who are against terrorism, there is no other option.

2) If one reads Sahih Muslim and refers to Kitab az-Zakah there is two chapter dedicated by Imam Muslim on the Khwarij some hadiths state:

A) The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), said: From this very person’s posterity there would arise people who would recite the Qur’an, but it would not go beyond their throat; they would kill the followers of Islam and would spare the idol-worshippers. They would glance through the teachings of Islam so hurriedly just as the arrow passes through the prey. If I were to ever find them I would kill them like ‘Ad.

B) (The Holy Prophet) said: There would arise a people from the progeny of this (man) who would recite the Qur’an glibly, but it would not go beyond their throats; they would (hurriedly) pass through (the teachings of their) religion just as the arrow passes through the prey. I conceive that he (the Holy Prophet) also said this: If I find them I would certainly kill them as were killed the (people of) Thamud.

C) Abu Sa’id al-Khudri said that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) made a mention of a sect that would be among his Ummah which would emerge out of the dissension of the people. Their distinctive mark would be shaven heads. They would be the worst creatures or the worst of the creatures. The group who would be nearer to the truth out of the two would kill them.

D)Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: A group would secede itself (from the Ummah) when there would be dissension among the Muslims. Out of the two groups who would be nearer the truth would kill them.

E) There would arise at the end of the age a people who would be young in age and immature in thought, but they would talk (in such a manner) as if their words are the best among the creatures. They would recite the Qur’an, but it would not go beyond their throats, and they would pass through the religion as an arrow goes through the prey. So when you meet them, kill them, for in their killing you would get a reward with Allah on the Day of judgment.

F) Verily there would arise from my Ummah after me or soon after me a group (of people) who would recite the Qur’an, but it would not go beyond their throats, and they would pass clean through their religion just as the arrow passes through the prey, and they would never come back to it. They would be the worst among the creation and the creatures.

G) Usair b. ‘Amr reported that he inquired of Sahl b. Hunaif: Did you hear the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) making a mention of the Khwarij? He said: I heard him say (and he pointed with his hand towards the east) that these would be a people who would recite the Qur’an with their tongues and it would not go beyond their collar bones. They would pass clean through their religion just as the arrow passes through the prey.

You see? These are Sahih Hadiths which are recorded in Bukhari and Muslim the common point between them is that:

The khwarij will outwardly look religious but internally will be hypocrites, they will be the worst of creation, they will call to goodness but their intentions would be incorrect, they will attack the believers and consider their blood to be legitimate, these will be young people who will be brainwashed and they will appear time and time again until the day of judgement. So if you find them kill them and destroy and obliterate them like the way God destroyed Ad and thamud. So this is what Dr. Qadri is pursuing, he is following the practice of Ali who was the first person to destroy the Khwarij, and this process will continue till the end of time, when the Khwarij will finally side with the Dajjal.

This is what is different about this fatwas from all other fatwas. The other fatwas condemn terrorism, but Dr. Qadri’s fatwa prescribes a no-nonsense and strict policy for their elimination. This is what is different: no Muslim scholar today has given a theological position of how to eliminate terrorism they have only condemned it and affirmed Islam’s orthodox position concerning its condemnation of terrorism and suicide bombings.

Dr. Qadri is not seceterian he has nothing against Deobandis or Salafis that’s why he has included their scholars in the fatwa. However, he is 100% against the Khwarij and wants nothing but their total elimination (and remember he has based his view on the hadith of the Holy Prophet and the verdicts of past scholars). If Dr. Qadri is seceterian then he would have taken obsecure examples of how deobandis and salafis legitimze terrorism; but he did the complete opposite, he showed that the Salafis and deobandi scholars have the same position as all other Muslim groupings. How the media presents his views is a different case because they have their own aims to fulfill, but Dr. Qadri knows who he serves, and he is not in need of homage of any people regardless how powerful they are.

Dr. Qadri explictly states that his views are based on his honest readings of the Quran and sunnah, and that he wants to please the Holy Prophet. So if the Holy Prophet has commanded for the destruction of the Khwarij then Dr. Qadri as the servant of the Holy Prophet will do exactly what the Holy Prophet wants- this is not being seceterian this is what it means to be Muslim.

i bet no one has bother reading the fatwa to see what it includes, and stupid people, we one to comment on something like we are master of the particular news or event etc..

The gentleman in question would have made a impact with british muslims if he had bothered to start with words, no one has the right to take innocent life be he a state terrorist or a individual terrorist.
pressing a button to release a bomb which kills dozens of innocents is no diffrent from somone strapping a bomb and delivering it in person to kill innocent people.
Western state terrorism is a blot on western nations claims of human rights and democracy.
This is more or less a patwa to gain money and fame.

I always thought that declaring a Muslim a non-Muslim was against the Sunna.

In recent years, we have been told that Takfiris are fanatics, exactly because they behave in this extreme manner.

With regard to the political context, this is very dangerous, as only the naive would neglect to factor that in. The Muslim world is at the centre of a hegemonic storm & this is well-documented prior to 11/9 & 7/7.

No to sectarianism & the rise of Neo-Qadianism.

Mr 'Nodding Disciple of Tahir Qadri' Amin wht did he then brazenly call all deobandi's and salafis terrorist well-wishers?

that those who so readily defend the good dactor are doing so in blind faith, also without bothering to read the masterpiece of quantity, the 600 page fatwa.

P.S. Can anyone assist those who cannot read Urdu in the UK & the rest of the world, by giving links to an online Arabic & English versions? Surely the good scholar, or his acolytes who were thorough enough to prepare this "comprehensive" fatwa had prepared the case for peer-review?

Is it wise to apparently libel a large part of the Ummah, those whom we count as fellow Muslims in our daily lives, standing shoulder to shoulder in the masjids? Is it not myopic to appease the Islamophobes, standing shoulder to shoulder for those extremist fringe elements created after 7/7 such as the ludicrously named Quilliam Foundation?

Qadri's fatuous fatwa has without doubt pleased the Israelites:-

http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/2789

No prizes for guessing why Qadri does not seem to have the courage to issue fatwa's against the occupation of Afghanistan and Palestine by foreigners.

LOL...as I read through the comments I find myself ever more aware of why muslims continue to find themselves the butt of world criticism.

Who needs enemies when we so perfectly fight amongst ourselves. We all know that there will be a given number of sects till the day of judgement, and only God can judge us. So accept that fact and move on.

The ignorant argue, the scholars argue and those who have no knowledge and no care find themselves joining the party to argue. Follow what you believe, love your fellow muslim and let God decide who was right or wrong. For Allah knows best.

Peace.

The discussion/accusation about Dr Qadri being sectarian is completely baseless as the BBC has discovered. I have studied his life through various sources on the internet and have come to know that he has authored a 1000 books of which he has publsihed 400 and it is clear that none of them are sectarian and there is no evidence of sectarism in his 7000 speeches. Since 1981 he has been giving TV lectures and for the last 5 years he has given daily lectures on Islam and you will never find any evidence or any words spoken about sectarism. If you read the fatwa you will not find a single word which indicates anything of this kind.

I was present during his news conferences last week and I witnessed myself someone questioning him about sectarianism but he refused to answer it and he said his Fatwa is global regardless of any sects.

Analysts see this Fatwa as a benchmark which will expose those who support terrorism and those who do not. You have to question what are the real motives behind such unfounded and irrelevant statements? Why don't they say what they really mean? Are they trying desperatly finding a way to dicredit Dr Qadri because in reality deep down they disagree with the fatwa? And they have no other way to do this but with mere unfounded statements because they know that they cant challenge his authority, his works, nor his evidences in his 600 page fatwa book. It is a known fact that some Al Azhar scholars are Dr Qadri's students and have even written commentries on his books.

The fact of the matter is that this Fatwa simply couldn't be digested by some individuals and organisations. Since they cannot disagree with it openly they feel the need to go about it indirectly by desperatly trying to discredit Dr Qadri.

Instead of being thankful to Dr Qadri for clarifying many issues relating to the British youth, promoting the right message, they seek to do the opposite.

'Tahir ul Qadri's sectarianism on show again' oh come on get a grip, we all know that the Muslim Ummah will be split into 73 sects as has been told to us through Hadith and we also know that the ones on the right path within all these sects will be 'Al Jamah' I say you ask yourself who Al Jamah within our Ummah is and then question where the sectarianism is coming from.

Anybody remotely familiar with Dr Qadri or his organisation will know that he is anything BUT sectarian. His strenuous efforts spanning over 3 decades with the intention to facilitate Muslim unity for which he has received severe criticism throughout his life from all corners has yielded practical and effective results. As a direct result of his intervention and facilitation Shia and Sunni’s in certain parts of Pakistan have learnt to live in peace with their differences resulting in many innocent lives being spared the fate of sectarian bloodshed. By setting up the Muslim Christian Dialogue Forum in the 90’s Dr Qadri proved instrumental in helping protect minority rights in Pakistan calling on the majority Muslim population to respect and honour the constitutional rights of Pakistan’s religious minorities. One should ask the Christian communities in Pakistan what they feel about Dr Qadri and his interfaith work in order to ascertain a more accurate and reflective opinion.
http://www.minhaj.org/english/tid/3095/
http://www.islamicresearcher.com/bishop-andrew-frances-chairman-christian-coordination-council
http://www.minhaj.org/english/tid/389/
In the 1980’s when there existed wave of accusations and counter accusations whereby different Muslim schools were declaring takfir on one another it was Dr Qadri that promoted the acceptance of differences and counselled the various schools in Pakistan to refrain from calling one another Kafir. Below is an interesting link of a talk delivered in the 80’s in which Dr Qadri presents his position on deobhadhi’s and wahabi’s. As you’ll find contrary to the unfounded accusation on this website Dr Qadri’s views are anything but sectarian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nugLwCgr020&feature=related
History does not lie, this man has been promoting tolerance and acceptance of difference both within the Muslim community and other religious communities for decades and his position has been consistent. This latest accusation is just a cheap gimmick on the part of those who find themselves unable to refute his exhaustively researched work on terrorism based on the Quran, Hadith and the opinion of classical Islamic scholarship. This inability to refute the fatwa has resulted in people using cheap tactics such as slurring Dr Qadri with allegations of sectarianism to divert attention from the real issues dealt with by his fatwa. It’s very easy for uninformed Muslims residing in the in the safe and secure environment of the UK to make ill informed comments in the knowledge that at the very most people will differ from their opinion. However, Dr Qadri has shown courage and bravery to tackle these immensely sensitive issues in a very hostile environment (Pakistan) where merely airing a different opinion from fellow countrymen can have one killed. Incidentally Dr Qadri has been the target of numerous failed assassination attempts because of his accepting disposition. How hypocritical for people who have never faced such hostility to spout rubbish on websites such as this one knowing full well the truth is something contrary to that which they publicise.

Tahir ul-Qadri is one of those scholars who compromises and goes with whatever the prevailing ideology is - at the moment it is democracy so he will twist Islam to fit that and avoid any confrontation with it as will his followers... shame as Islamic scholars are meant to be the inheritors of the Prophets and he let's this tradition down!

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is one of the most learned and qualified authorities of Islam at this present time. See his biography:

http://www.minhaj.org/english/tid/8718/A-Profile-of-Shaykh-ul-Islam-Dr-Muhammad-Tahir-ul-Qadri.html

His work is meant to unite people. Whoever reads his fatwa will have no objection to it.

IF DR QADRI IS SUCH A HIGH CALIBRE SCHOLAR WHO HAS ALLEGEDLY HAD SPIRITUAL VISITATIONS FROM THE PROHET SALLALAHUALAHIWASSALAM,WHY HAS HE GIVEN PLATFORM TO THE MARASI OF PAKISTAN FROM JUNOON GROUP,TO PERFORM AT HIS MOSQUE AND PROMOTE THE MARASI ISLAMIC-ROCK MUSIC MARRIAGE.
CLEARLY MUSIC IS UNISLAMIC,BUT I REMEMBER AN INTERVIEW,IN WHICH THE"LEARNED" SCHOLAR WHEN ASKED WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE WON THE ELECTIONS,REGARDING PAKISTAN`S FILM AND MUSIC INDUSTRY,REPLIED THAT THOSE WHO SAY MUSIC IS HARAM AND FORBIDDEN IN ISLAM,DO NOT KNOW ISLAM!
WITH SCHOLARS SUCH AS THESE,I WOULD RATHER REMAIN IGNORANT,AND JUST ADHERE TO MY BASIC 5 PILLARS.

Wow - you people say everything but state the bleeding obvious - suicide bombings are haram - and there is plenty of evidence for it which he has presented. So the author of this piece doesn't bother addressing that issue. But just like the right wing press do in the UK you choose character assassination instead as a 'defence'. Why? Because the truth is on Tahir Ul Qadri's side and not yours. And the truth is never popular. Pathetic. Wake up before its too late

time will tell who says right or wrong
read his fatwa that contained with Qur'an,Hadith, and any imam of muslim school of thoughts