Islamic Center of Irvine

Condemnation of 9/11 Attacks

Words of Wisdom, Words of Compassion ?��Ǩ?�?��Ǩ�� If one takes a life, it is as if one has taken the life of all humanity. If one saves a single life, it is as if he has saved the life of all humanity.?��Ǩ�� [Qur'an 5:32] * "Hijacking Planes, terrorizing innocent people and shedding blood constitute a form of injustice that can not be tolerated by Islam, which views them as gross crimes and sinful acts." Shaykh Abdul Aziz al-Ashaikh (Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Senior Ulama, on September 15th, 2001) * "The terrorists acts, from the perspective of Islamic law, constitute the crime of hirabah (waging war against society)." Sept. 27, 2001 fatwa, signed by: Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi (Grand Islamic Scholar and Chairman of the Sunna and Sira Countil, Qatar), Judge Tariq al-Bishri (First Deputy President of the Council d'etat, Egypt), Dr. Muhammad s. al-Awa (Professor of Islamic Law and Shari'a, Egypt), Dr. Haytham al-Khayyat (Islamic scholar, Syria), Fahmi Houaydi (Islamic scholar, Syria), Shaykh Taha Jabir al-Alwani (Chairman, North America High Council) * "Neither the law of Islam nor its ethical system justify such a crime." Zaki Badawi, Principal of the Muslim College in London. Cited in Arab News, Sept. 28, 2001. * "It is wrong to kill innocent people. It is also wrong to Praise those who kill innocent people." Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, Pakistan. Cited in the New York Times, Sept. 28, 2001. * "What these people stand for is completely against all the principles that Arab Muslims believe in." King Abdullah II, of Jordan; cited in the Middle East Times, Sept. 28, 2001. * Ingrid Mattson, a professor of Islamic studies and Muslim-Christian relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, said there was no basis in Islamic law or sacred text for Mr. bin Laden's remarks. "The basic theological distortion is that any means are permitted to achieve the end of protesting against perceived oppression," said Dr. Mattson, a practicing Muslim. * "Islamic law is very clear: terrorism is not permitted," she added. "Even in a legitimate war ?��Ǩ�� even if Osama bin Laden were a legitimate head of state, which he's not ?��Ǩ�� you're not permitted to indiscriminately kill civilians, just to create terror in the general population." ("[url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/08/national/08ISLAM.html]Experts Say Bin Laden is Distorting Islamic Law[/url]", NY Times, Oct. 8, 2001) Islamic Statements Against Terrorism in the Wake of the September 11 Mass Murders Compiled by Charles Kurzman, Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Mustafa Mashhur, General Guide, Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt; Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Pakistan; Muti Rahman Nizami, Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Bangladesh; Shaykh Ahmad Yassin, Founder, Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Palestine; Rashid Ghannoushi, President, Nahda Renaissance Movement, Tunisia; Fazil Nour, President, PAS - Parti Islam SeMalaysia, Malaysia; and 40 other Muslim scholars and politicians: ?��Ǩ?�The undersigned, leaders of Islamic movements, are horrified by the events of Tuesday 11 September 2001 in the United States which resulted in massive killing, destruction and attack on innocent lives. We express our deepest sympathies and sorrow. We condemn, in the strongest terms, the incidents, which are against all human and Islamic norms. This is grounded in the Noble Laws of Islam which forbid all forms of attacks on innocents. God Almighty says in the Holy Qur'an: 'No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another' (Surah al-Isra 17:15).?��Ǩ�� [url=http://msanews.mynet.net/MSANEWS/200109/20010917.15.html]MSANews, September 14, 2001[/url] [url=http://www.alquds.co.uk/Alquds/2001/09Sep/14%20Sep%20Fri/Quds02.pdf ]Arabic original in al-Quds al-Arabi (London), September 14, 2001[/url] Shaykh Yusuf Qaradawi, Qatar; Tariq Bishri, Egypt; Muhammad S. Awwa, Egypt; Fahmi Huwaydi, Egypt; Haytham Khayyat, Syria; Shaykh Taha Jabir al-Alwani, U.S.: ?��Ǩ?�All Muslims ought to be united against all those who terrorize the innocents, and those who permit the killing of non-combatants without a justifiable reason. Islam has declared the spilling of blood and the destruction of property as absolute prohibitions until the Day of Judgment. ... [It is] necessary to apprehend the true perpetrators of these crimes, as well as those who aid and abet them through incitement, financing or other support. They must be brought to justice in an impartial court of law and [punished] appropriately. ... [It is] a duty of Muslims to participate in this effort with all possible means.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40545-2001Oct10.html ]Statement of September 27, 2001. The Washington Post, October 11, 2001,[/url] Shaykh Muhammed Sayyid al-Tantawi, imam of al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt: ?��Ǩ?�Attacking innocent people is not courageous, it is stupid and will be punished on the day of judgement. ... It?��Ǩ�Ѣs not courageous to attack innocent children, women and civilians. It is courageous to protect freedom, it is courageous to defend oneself and not to attack.?��Ǩ�� Agence France Presse, September 14, 2001 Abdel-Mo'tei Bayyoumi, al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy, Cairo, Egypt: ?��Ǩ?�There is no terrorism or a threat to civilians in jihad [religious struggle].?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.ahram.org.eg/weekly/2001/552/p4fall3.htm ]Al-Ahram Weekly Online, 20 - 26 September 2001[/url] Muslim Brotherhood, an opposition Islamist group in Egypt, said it was ?��Ǩ?�horrified?��Ǩ�� by the attack and expressed ?��Ǩ?�condolences and sadness?��Ǩ��: ?��Ǩ?�[We] strongly condemn such activities that are against all humanist and Islamic morals. ... [We] condemn and oppose all aggression on human life, freedom and dignity anywhere in the world.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.ahram.org.eg/weekly/2001/551/fo2.htm ]Al-Ahram Weekly Online, 13 - 19 September 2001[/url] Shaykh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, spiritual guide of Shi?��Ǩ��i Muslim radicals in Lebanon, said he was ?��Ǩ?�horrified?��Ǩ�� by these ?��Ǩ?�barbaric ... crimes?��Ǩ��: ?��Ǩ?�Beside the fact that they are forbidden by Islam, these acts do not serve those who carried them out but their victims, who will reap the sympathy of the whole world. ... Islamists who live according to the human values of Islam could not commit such crimes.?��Ǩ�� Agence France Presse, September 14, 2001 ?��Ǩ��Abdulaziz bin ?��Ǩ��Abdallah Al-Ashaykh, chief mufti of Saudi Arabia: ?��Ǩ?�Firstly: the recent developments in the United States including hijacking planes, terrorizing innocent people and shedding blood, constitute a form of injustice that cannot be tolerated by Islam, which views them as gross crimes and sinful acts. Secondly: any Muslim who is aware of the teachings of his religion and who adheres to the directives of the Holy Qur'an and the sunnah (the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad) will never involve himself in such acts, because they will invoke the anger of God Almighty and lead to harm and corruption on earth.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://saudiembassy.net/press_release/01-spa/09-15-Islam.htm]Statement of September 15, 2001[/url] ?��Ǩ��Abdulaziz bin ?��Ǩ��Abdallah Al-Ashaykh, chief mufti of Saudi Arabia: "You must know Islam?��Ǩ�Ѣs firm position against all these terrible crimes. The world must know that Islam is a religion of peace and mercy and goodness; it is a religion of justice and guidance?��Ǩ��Islam has forbidden violence in all its forms. It forbids the hijacking airplanes, ships and other means of transport, and it forbids all acts that undermine the security of the innocent." [url=http://www.saudiembassy.net/ReportLink/Report_Extremism_May04.pdf]Hajj sermon of February 2, 2004, in "Public Statements by Senior Saudi Officials Condemning Extremism and Promoting Moderation," May 2004[/url] Shaikh Saleh Al-Luheidan, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Saudi Arabia: "As a human community we must be vigilant and careful to oppose these pernicious and shameless evils, which are not justified by any sane logic, nor by the religion of Islam." [url=http://www.saudiembassy.net/ReportLink/Report_Extremism_May04.pdf]Statement of September 14, 2001, in "Public Statements by Senior Saudi Officials Condemning Extremism and Promoting Moderation," May 2004[/url] Shaikh Saleh Al-Luheidan, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Saudi Arabia: "And I repeat once again: that this act that the United states was afflicted with, with this vulgarity and barbarism, and which is even more barbaric than terrorist acts, I say that these acts are from the depths of depravity and the worst of evils." Televised statement of September 2001, in Muhammad ibn Hussin Al-Qahtani, editor, The Position of Saudi Muslim Scholars Regarding Terrorism in the Name of Islam (Saudi Arabia, 2004), pages 27-28. Shaykh Muhammad bin ?��Ǩ��Abdallah al-Sabil, member of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, Saudi Arabia: ?��Ǩ?�Any attack on innocent people is unlawful and contrary to shari'a (Islamic law). ... Muslims must safeguard the lives, honor and property of Christians and Jews. Attacking them contradicts shari'a.?��Ǩ�� Agence France Presse, December 4, 2001 Council of Saudi ?��Ǩ��Ulama', fatwa of February 2003: "What is happening in some countries from the shedding of the innocent blood and the bombing of buildings and ships and the destruction of public and private installations is a criminal act against Islam. ... Those who carry out such acts have the deviant beliefs and misleading ideologies and are responsible for the crime. Islam and Muslims should not be held responsible for such actions." [url=http://www.dawn.com/2003/02/08/top17.htm]The Dawn newspaper, Karachi, Pakistan, February 8, 2003[/url] ; also in [url=http://www.saudiembassy.net/ReportLink/Report_Extremism_May04.pdf]"Public Statements by Senior Saudi Officials Condemning Extremism and Promoting Moderation," May 2004[/url], page 10 Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, chairman of the Sunna and Sira Council, Qatar: ?��Ǩ?�Our hearts bleed for the attacks that has targeted the World Trade Center [WTC], as well as other institutions in the United States despite our strong oppositions to the American biased policy towards Israel on the military, political and economic fronts. Islam, the religion of tolerance, holds the human soul in high esteem, and considers the attack against innocent human beings a grave sin, this is backed by the Qur?��Ǩ�Ѣanic verse which reads: ?��Ǩ��Who so ever kills a human being [as punishment] for [crimes] other than manslaughter or [sowing] corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and who so ever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind?��Ǩ�Ѣ (Al-Ma?��Ǩ�Ѣidah:32).?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2001-09/13/article25.shtml]Statement of September 13, 2001[/url] Arabic original at [url=http://www.qaradawi.net/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=1665&version=1&template_id=130&parent_id=17]http://www.qaradawi.net[/url] Ayatollah Ali Khamene?��Ǩ�Ѣi, supreme jurist-ruler of Iran: ?��Ǩ?�Killing of people, in any place and with any kind of weapons, including atomic bombs, long-range missiles, biological or chemical weapons, passenger or war planes, carried out by any organization, country or individuals is condemned. ... It makes no difference whether such massacres happen in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Qana, Sabra, Shatila, Deir Yassin, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq or in New York and Washington.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.irna.com/en/hphoto/010916000000.ehp.shtml]Islamic Republic News Agency, September 16, 2001[/url] President Muhammad Khatami of Iran: ?��Ǩ?�[T]he September 11 terrorist blasts in America can only be the job of a group that have voluntarily severed their own ears and tongues, so that the only language with which they could communicate would be destroying and spreading death.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.president.ir/cronicnews/1380/8008/800818/800818.htm#b3]Address to the United Nations General Assembly, November 9, 2001[/url] League of Arab States: ?��Ǩ?�The General-Secretariat of the League of Arab States shares with the people and government of the United States of America the feelings of revulsion, horror and shock over the terrorist attacks that ripped through the World Trade Centre and Pentagon, inflicting heavy damage and killing and wounding thousands of many nationalities. These terrorist crimes have been viewed by the League as inadmissible and deserving all condemnation. Divergence of views between the Arabs and the United States over the latter?��Ǩ�Ѣs foreign policy on the Middle East crisis does in no way adversely affect the common Arab attitude of compassion with the people and government of the United States at such moments of facing the menace and ruthlessness of international terrorism. In more than one statement released since the horrendous attacks, the League has also expressed deep sympathy with the families of the victims. In remarks to newsmen immediately following the tragic events, Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa described the feelings of the Arab world as demonstrably sympathetic with the American people, particularly with families and individuals who lost their loved ones. ?��Ǩ?�It is indeed tormenting that any country or people or city anywhere in the world be the scene of such disastrous attacks,?��Ǩ�� he added. While convinced that it is both inconceivable and lamentable that such a large-scale, organised terrorist campaign take place anywhere, anytime, the League believes that the dreadful attacks against WTC and the Pentagon unveil, time and again, that the cancer of terrorism can be extensively damaging if left unchecked. It follows that there is a pressing and urgent need to combat world terrorism. In this context, an earlier call by [Egyptian] President Hosni Mubarak for convening an international conference to draw up universal accord on ways and means to eradicate this phenomenon and demonstrate international solidarity is worthy of active consideration. The Arabs have walked a large distancein the fight against cross-border terrorism by concluding in April 1998 the Arab Agreement on Combating Terrorism.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.leagueofarabstates.org/E_Perspectives_17_09_01.asp]September 17, 2001, [url]http://www.leagueofarabstates.org/[/url][/url] Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference: ?��Ǩ?�Following the bloody attacks against major buildings and installations in the United States yesterday, Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz, secretary-general of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), stated that he was shocked and deeply saddened when he heard of those attacks which led to the death and injury of a very large number of innocent American citizens. Dr. Belkeziz said he was denouncing and condemning those criminal and brutal acts that ran counter to all covenants, humanitarian values and divine religions foremost among which was Islam.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.oic-oci.org/press/english/september%202001/america%20on%20attack.htm]Press Release, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, September 12, 2001[/url] Organization of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers: ?��Ǩ?�The Conference strongly condemned the brutal terror acts that befell the United States, caused huge losses in human lives from various nationalities and wreaked tremendous destruction and damage in New York and Washington. It further reaffirmed that these terror acts ran counter to the teachings of the divine religions as well as ethical and human values, stressed the necessity of tracking down the perpetrators of these acts in the light of the results of investigations and bringing them to justice to inflict on them the penalty they deserve, and underscored its support of this effort. In this respect, the Conference expressed its condolences to and sympathy with the people and government of the United States and the families of the victims in these mournful and tragic circumstances.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.oic-oci.org/english/fm/All%20Download/frmex9.htm]Final Communique of the Ninth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, October 10, 2001[/url] Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, Head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey: ?��Ǩ?�Any human being, regardless of his ethnic and religious origin, will never think of carrying out such a violent, evil attack. Whatever its purpose is, this action cannot be justified and tolerated.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.diyanet.gov.tr/duyurular/regaibing.htm]Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, ?��Ǩ?�A Message on Ragaib Night and Terrorism,?��Ǩ�� September 21, 2001[/url] Harun Yahya (Adnan Oktar), Turkish author: ?��Ǩ?�Islam does not encourage any kind of terrorism; in fact, it denounces it. Those who use terrorism in the name of Islam, in fact, have no other faculty except ignorance and hatred.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.islamdenouncesterrorism.com]Harun Yahya, ?��Ǩ?�Islam Denounces Terrorism"[/url] Shaikh Muhammad Yusuf Islahi, Pakistani-American Muslim leader: ?��Ǩ?�The sudden barbaric attack on innocent citizens living in peace is extremely distressing and deplorable. Every gentle human heart goes out to the victims of this attack and as humans we are ashamed at the barbarism perpetrated by a few people. Islam, which is a religion of peace and tolerance, condemns this act and sees this is as a wounding scar on the face of humanity. I appeal to Muslims to strongly condemn this act, express unity with the victims' relatives, donate blood, money and do whatever it takes to help the affected people.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://www.icna.org/wtc_islahi.htm]?��Ǩ?�Messages From Shaikh Muhammad Yusuf Islahi,?��Ǩ�� [/url] Abdal-Hakim Murad, British Muslim author: ?��Ǩ?�Targeting civilians is a negation of every possible school of Sunni Islam. Suicide bombing is so foreign to the Quranic ethos that the Prophet Samson is entirely absent from our scriptures.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/masud/ISLAM/ahm/recapturing.htm ]?��Ǩ?�The Hijackers Were Not Muslims After All: Recapturing Islam From the Terrorists?��Ǩ�� [/url] Syed Mumtaz Ali, President of the Canadian Society of Muslims: ?��Ǩ?�We condemn in the strongest terms possible what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Canadians in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts.?��Ǩ�� [url=http://muslim-canada.org/news09112001.html]Canadian Society of Muslims, Media Release, September 12, 2001[/url] 15 American Muslim organizations: ?��Ǩ?�We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of the crime committed on September 11, 2001 and join our fellow Americans in mourning the loss of up to 6000 innocent civilians.?��Ǩ�� Muslim American Society (MAS), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), Muslim Student Association (MSA) Press statement from Council for Islamic American Relations U.S. MUSLIMS CONDEMN TERRORIST ATTACKS (9/11/2001) - Muslims in USA today condemned the apparent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and offered condolences to the families of those who were killed or injured. In a statement, local Muslim representatives said: "We condemn in the strongest terms possible what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts. " All members of the Muslim community are asked to offer whatever help they can to the victims and their families. Muslim medical professionals should go to the scenes of the attacks to offer aid and comfort to the victims. Muslim relief agencies should contact their counterparts to offer support in the recovery efforts. Individual Muslims should donate blood by contacting the local office of the Red Cross. They should also send donations to those relief agencies that are on the scene of the attacks. "We further call on media professionals to exercise restraint and not draw premature conclusions as to who was responsible for the apparent attacks." The Islamic Circle of North America declares Friday, September 14, 2001, a day of mourning and prayers The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) is extremely horrified and saddened by the tragedy in New York and Washington D.C. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this horrible and despicable crime. We condemn this heinous act and call upon our political leaders and the media to act responsibly, and not generalize when speculating about the perpetrators. Islam does not permit such unjust actions. Muslims are not terrorists and we condemn any terrorist attack against all people. There were several hundred Muslims working in the World Trade Center. And, a large number of Muslims used to offer Friday prayer in the World Trade Center. There are many Muslims, who are still among the missing. We appreciate and thank President Bush for acknowledging that American Muslims and Arab American are also saddened by this terrorist attack and by making it clear that any hate crime against Muslims will not be tolerated. Our hearts are with those who have lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy and our prayers are with the departed souls. The Islamic Circle of North America declares Friday, September 12, 2001, a day of mourning and prayers. All the Muslims are requested to make special prayers for the dead and the injured and also for the suffering families. Scholars of Islam speak out against terrorism; clarify position of Islam Monday, September 17, 2001 Scholars of Islam issued a statement today, condemning the violent attacks of September 11th. ?��Ǩ?�We are grief-stricken at these horrifying events,?��Ǩ�� they wrote; ?��Ǩ?�the murder of innocents can never be justified and must not be tolerated.?��Ǩ�� In a lengthy statement, professors from major colleges and universities throughout the country expressed their compassion for grieving family members while also decrying the increase in violence against American Muslims this past week. ?��Ǩ?�Anger and frustration are completely understandable and shared by us all,?��Ǩ�� they wrote ?��Ǩ?�yet that anger must not be directed at individuals utterly innocent of these terrible crimes.?��Ǩ�� In recent days, verbal and physical attacks against Muslims (and people who were thought to be Muslims) have been reported from California to Vermont. Muslims have been warned to stay home or to avoid wearing traditional dress. ?��Ǩ?�Particularly distressing is the fact that many American Muslims have fled to the United States, seeking a haven from intolerant regimes in Kosovo, Afghanistan or Iraq. For them now to face intolerance and violence here is an abuse of our Nation?��Ǩ�Ѣs most deeply cherished beliefs?��Ǩ�� they said. The co-signers of the statement are members of many scholarly societies in the United States and Canada. They include: Professor Asma Afsaruddin, of Notre Dame University Professor Vivienne Sm. Angeles, La Salle University Professor Ghazala Anwar of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand Professor Jonathan Brockopp, Director of the Religion Program at Bard College Professor Patrice C. Brodeur of Connecticut College Professor Arthur Buehler of Louisiana State University Professor Amila Buturovic of York University Professor Juan E. Campo of the University of California, Santa Barbara Professor Vincent J. Cornell of University of Arkansas Professor Frederick M. Denny Chair of Islamic Studies and the History of Religions, University of Colorado Professor Abdullahi Gallab of Hiram College Professor Behrooz Ghamari of Georgia State University Professor Alan Godlas of University of Georgia Professor Hugh Talat Halman, of University of Arkansas Professor Pieternella (Nelly) Harder Vandoorn,, of Valparaiso University Professor Marcia Hermansen of Loyola University, Chicago Professor Valerie J. Hoffman, of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Professor Qamar ul-Huda, of Boston College Professor Aaron Hughes of the University of Calgary Professor Amir Hussain of California State University, Northridge Professor John Iskander of Georgia State Univeristy Professor Ahmet Karamustafa of Washington University in St. Louis Professor Tazim Kassam of Syracuse University Professor Zayn Kassam of Pomona College Professor Ruqayya Khan of University of California at Santa Barbara Professor Kathryn Kueny, of Lawrence College Professor Jane Dammen McAuliffe, Dean of the College, Georgetown University Professor Richard C. Martin, Emory University Professor J.W. Morris, Chair of Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter Professor Gordon D. Newby, Executive Director, Institute for Comparative and International Studies at Emory University Professor James Pavlin of Rutgers University Professor Jack Renard of St. Louis University Professor Omid Safi of Colgate University Professor Walid Saleh of Middlebury College Professor Zeki Saritoprak of Berry College Professor Michael Sells, Haverford College Professor Laury Silvers-Alario of Holy Cross University Professor Alfons Teipen of Furman University The Islamic Center Of Irvine unequivocally condemns, without reservation, the killing of any innocent people by any persons through any means, irrespective of the religious affiliation or nationalities of the killers or the killed.