Gathering of Indian Muslims declare terrorism un-Islamic

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

Deoband (UP): A large gathering of Muslim scholars representing different schools of thoughts and Muslims organizations unanimously declared that terrorism has no place in Islam and all terror activities are un-Islamic.

The anti-terrorism conference organized by Darul Uloom Deoband and attended by about 10,000 scholars from all over India issued a declaration at the end of the conference, here today. "Killing of innocents is not compatible with Islam. It is anti-Islamic," read the declaration.

Maulana Marguburrehman, Maulana Salim Qasmi, and Mufti Hilal Usmani at the Anti-Terrorism Conference

Declaration stated that "Islam is a religion of mercy for all humanity. Islam sternly condemns all kinds of oppression, violence and terrorism. It has regarded oppression, mischief, rioting and murder among severest sins and crimes."

Various fatwas have been issued in the past against terrorism but this is the first time that such a large gathering of scholars have came out strongly against terrorism. This is also a first attempt to define terrorism in light of Islam.

The gathering defined terrorism as "any action that targets innocents, whether by an individual or by any government and its agencies or by a private organisation anywhere in the world constitutes, according to Islam, an act of terrorism."

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)'s 2005 fatwa against terrorism did not define terrorism. In the absence of any universal definition of terrorism, this attempt by Darul Uloom Deoband can be a useful guide for Muslims to confront terrorist and terror groups.

Deoband conference condemned attempts by government agencies and media to associate terrorism with Islam and madrasas.

Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi addressing the confrence

The declaration raised the issue of innocent Muslims being arrested and forced to spend years behind bars while guilty are not being caught or their activities stopped.

"And those spreading terror, attacking police stations, killing the police in broad daylight and having illegal arms are roaming about freely with no effective and preventive steps being taken by the government to check their acts of terrorism and violence."

"This partial attitude has put a big question mark on the secular character of the government, posing great threats to the country."

"The administrative machinery should be asked to conduct impartial investigation in activities disturbing public peace in the country and to punish only those found guilty," the declaration demanded.

Representatives of many different Muslim schools of thought and Muslim organizations attended the conference. Apart from madrasas following Darul Uloom Deoband's school of thought, the representatives and Ulama of Baraelwi, Ahl-e-Hadith, Jama'at-e-Islami and Shi'ah schools of thought, as well as Sajjada Nashins of various Dargahs attended the conference.

The heads and representatives of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat(Salim Qasmi), Milli Council and the Darul Uloom Deoband's Old Boys Association also participated in the conference.