Thousands of Muslim scholars from across India have denounced terrorism as a violation of Islamic teachings.
Indian scholars condemn terror
CAIRO — Thousands of Muslim scholars from across India have denounced terrorism as a violation of Islamic teachings, stressing that Jihad can never be applied to terrorists acts, Times of India reported on Monday, November 10.
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"Terrorism is the biggest crime as per Qur'an," said a fatwa issued at the end of a two-day meeting in the southern city of Hyderabad, which drew around 6,000 scholars from across the country.
"Terrorism is the biggest crime as per Qur'an," said a fatwa issued at the end of a two-day meeting in the southern city of Hyderabad, which drew around 6,000 scholars from across the country.
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They insisted that the word "Jihad" means "struggle" to do good and to remove injustice, oppression and evil from society.
"Jihad is basically a constructive phenomenon. Terrorism is based on destruction alone," said the fatwa.
They insisted that the word "Jihad" means "struggle" to do good and to remove injustice, oppression and evil from society.
"Jihad is basically a constructive phenomenon. Terrorism is based on destruction alone," said the fatwa.
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"Jihad is permitted only for restoring peace and is a fundamental right of a human being."
Karen Armstrong, a prominent and prolific British writer on all three monotheistic religions, has criticized the West's abuse of the word Jihad for certain purposes.
"Jihad is permitted only for restoring peace and is a fundamental right of a human being."
Karen Armstrong, a prominent and prolific British writer on all three monotheistic religions, has criticized the West's abuse of the word Jihad for certain purposes.
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The fatwa is considered an endorsement to a previous one issued in February by the South Asian country's most respected madrasah, Darul Uloom Deoband, condemning terrorism and attempts to associate Islam with violence.
The fatwa is considered an endorsement to a previous one issued in February by the South Asian country's most respected madrasah, Darul Uloom Deoband, condemning terrorism and attempts to associate Islam with violence.
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There are some 140 million Muslims in Hindu-majority India, the world's third-largest Muslim population after those of Indonesia and Pakistan.
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There are some 140 million Muslims in Hindu-majority India, the world's third-largest Muslim population after those of Indonesia and Pakistan.
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Misguided
The scholars insisted that Islam never sanctions terrorism and violence, warning that the acts of a few misguided individuals are used to tarnish the image of Islam.
The scholars insisted that Islam never sanctions terrorism and violence, warning that the acts of a few misguided individuals are used to tarnish the image of Islam.
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"Some people are involved in terrorist activities in the name of Islam and some are defaming Islam by involvement in terrorist activities," organizer Abdul Hameed Nomani told the BBC News Online.
"We condemn both."
"Some people are involved in terrorist activities in the name of Islam and some are defaming Islam by involvement in terrorist activities," organizer Abdul Hameed Nomani told the BBC News Online.
"We condemn both."
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K. Rahman Khan, deputy speaker of India's upper house of parliament, echoes a similar feeling.
"It is only some misguided youth who are caught in the trap of those perpetrating terrorist acts."
But the Muslim leaders urged the government to end discrimination against their sizable community.
K. Rahman Khan, deputy speaker of India's upper house of parliament, echoes a similar feeling.
"It is only some misguided youth who are caught in the trap of those perpetrating terrorist acts."
But the Muslim leaders urged the government to end discrimination against their sizable community.
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"As per government records, Muslims constitute over 13 percent of the Indian population, but their representation in various spheres is less than two percent," they said in a final statement.
"It has resulted in their extreme poverty and socio-economic and educational backwardness."
Muslims are grossly under-represented in public sector jobs and in the army, police and other security agencies.
"As per government records, Muslims constitute over 13 percent of the Indian population, but their representation in various spheres is less than two percent," they said in a final statement.
"It has resulted in their extreme poverty and socio-economic and educational backwardness."
Muslims are grossly under-represented in public sector jobs and in the army, police and other security agencies.
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They have registered lower educational levels and, as a consequence, higher unemployment rates than the majority Hindus and other minorities like Christians and Sikhs.
Muslims account for less than seven percent of public service employees, only five percent of railways workers and around four percent of banking employees.
They have registered lower educational levels and, as a consequence, higher unemployment rates than the majority Hindus and other minorities like Christians and Sikhs.
Muslims account for less than seven percent of public service employees, only five percent of railways workers and around four percent of banking employees.
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More than 31 percent of Muslims are below the country's poverty line, just slightly above the lowest castes and tribes.
As many as a quarter of Muslim children in the 6-14 age group have either never attended school or dropped out.
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More than 31 percent of Muslims are below the country's poverty line, just slightly above the lowest castes and tribes.
As many as a quarter of Muslim children in the 6-14 age group have either never attended school or dropped out.
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Source: IslamOnline.net 10/11/2008 11:00:00 PM GMT
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