Jordan Times
Friday, April 6, 2007
Iraqi scholars call for formation of
fatwa council
Iraqi scholars on Thursday called for the creation of a fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) complex
for the issuance of fatwas, preparing sharia studies and coordinating efforts with other sharia institutions.
The scholars made their remarks yesterday at the conclusion of a two-day conference held by
the Diwan Al Waqf Al Sunni in Iraq, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The waqf was formed after the US-led war, when Iraq’s ministry for religious affairs was
dissolved and replaced by separate councils for Shiites, Sunnis and other religions.
On Thursday, the gathering called for forming a body that would be the sole authority among
Iraqi Sunnis in issuing fatwas, the scholars said in a statement.
The move was an attempt to preempt fatwas issued by those without the required scholarly
qualifications, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
The scholars also decided to form a council for Iraq’s Ulema to fill the gap in the field
of fiqh and sharia.
“It is necessary that fatwas be issued by a group of those who have knowledge, awareness
and piety, while implementing the principle of shura or Islamic consultation in the issuance
of fatwas,” the statement said.
Participants at the event adopted the aspects of Amman Message, which was launched by His
Majesty King Abdullah in 2004.
Translated into several languages, the document seeks to reveal a message of tolerance and
humanity and rejects extremism as a deviation from Islamic beliefs.
It stresses the true values of Islam and advocates a proper understanding of the faith,
which honours all human beings and provides common ground among different faiths and peoples.
The Amman Message stipulates that any person who is an affiliate of any of the four religious
schools in Islam, or any Muslim group that believes in God, the Prophet Mohammad and the pillars
of the faith, is a Muslim who should not be labelled as an infidel and whose property and honour
should be safeguarded.
The message determined that fatwas should only be issued by those who are qualified and possess
the knowledge in this regard.
They also demanded that those persons detained or kidnapped in Iraq be released as a sign of
good intentions for reconciliation between Sunnis and Shiites.
“The conference condemned the inhumane practices, such as kidnapping, assassination, arrest,
bombing and assault of prayer houses,” the statement said.
Denouncing sectarian violence, the participants called on all parties to preserve the unity
of Iraq and condemned all inhumane practices such as kidnappings, assassinations and attacks
on holy places.
They also underlined the importance of entrenching the culture of dialogue and fighting
the takfiri ideology.
The Iraqi scholars also called for holding an extended conference for Muslims scholars from
all religious schools in Iraq to end the bloodshed in the country and activate the deal
arrived at in Mecca late last year between Sunni and Shiite religious scholars.
In addition, the scholars urged for an end to the US-led occupation in Iraq through “taking
all the legal ways and means to rid Iraq of those who occupy it” and for the setting of a
“timetable for their withdrawal.”
At Wednesday’s opening, Sheikh Abdul Malik Al Saadi, a prominent member of the Sunni waqf,
called for ending the sectarian killing in the war-torn country and urged “our brothers the
Shiite scholars and politicians to advise those in the death squads against killing Sunnis.”
“By the same token, I also urge the other side [Sunnis] to stop the haphazard killing of
the Shiites,” he said.
Sheikh Ahmad Abdul Ghafour Al Sameraie, head of the Sunni waqf, called for national reconciliation
in Iraq. He said all Iraqis must work to promote moderation and counter the takfiri.