ISLAMABAD: Egypt’s Grand Mufti Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel Karim Allam Wednesday said that no individual can declare anyone as infidel.
“Islam doesn’t permit that an individual declares anyone infidel,” he told a roundtable on ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan’, the national counter-terrorism narrative of Pakistan. “Issuing fatwas is not the job of terrorists sitting in caves. Only competent researchers, Ulema and Mutfis having vast knowledge of Quran, Hadith and Fiqa can issue a fatwa on sensitive issues,” he said.
The Grand Mufti said that declaring any one infidel is a very dangerous approach and the Muslim Ummah should play its role to counter such trends. “Punishing any one on wrongdoing is the purview of the state and the judiciary … individuals must not take law into their own hands,” he said, adding that the negative thinking must be transformed into positive one with joint efforts.
He said the modern tools of communications should be used to counter the narrative of terrorist organizations. We should spread Islamic teachings to save the young generation from extremism and terrorism. “We have to wage jihad to combat the menaces like Daesh which sends over 30,000 messages daily on Twitter,” he stressed.
The Mufti said Ulema, Mashaikh, scholars and intellectuals can overcome multiple challenges with joint efforts. “The thinking of terrorists is very dangerous which can not only devastate them but also their innocent followers. Ulema, Mashaikh and intellectuals should make joint efforts to save the Muslim Ummah from certain devastation,” he said. If allowed to spread in a society unchecked, the extremism can definitely lead to terrorism in the country, he added.
The Grand Mufti endorsed Pakistan’s national narrative against extremism and terrorism Paigham-e-Pakistan. He said consensus on Paigham-e-Pakistan is the part of collective efforts against terrorism and extremism which are common foes of both Pakistan and Egypt. He said he had read the Arabic translation of Paighan-e-Pakistan, which comprises a joint declaration and a unanimous fatwa reflecting collective message of the state of Pakistan. “This is compatible with the thinking of the whole world,” he said.
Lauding the efforts of Pakistani Ulema, he said they are working in a challenging situation being faced by both Egypt and Pakistan.
Earlier, Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Secretary Dr Ikram-ul-Haq welcomed Dr Shawki Ibrahim in the federal capital.
Dr Aftab Ahmed of the International Islamic University Islamabad elaborated Paigham-e-Pakistan in detail.
Dr Farkhanda said women could play vital role in elimination of terrorism and extremism.
Member CII Dr Raghib Naeemi said Paigham-e-Pakistan narrative has been lauded by Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and various other countries. He said the narrative should be taught to the children in schools, colleges and universities.
The Grand Mufti of Egypt Wednesday arrived in Pakistan on a five-day visit. He was welcomed by Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat.
He will attend the Pakistan conference, national parade and international religious harmony conference during his visit.
Grand Mufti will also meet President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders. Later he will visit Badshahi Mosque and Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore.
Published in Daily Times, March 22nd 2018.
