Riyadh: Muslim scholars in Saudi Arabia stressed the importance of backing Lebanese resistance against Israeli aggression, led by the Shiite group Hezbollah.
Abdul Aziz Al Qasem, Saudi writer and lawyer, said: "Religious obligation makes it inevitable for all to support the Islamic resistance led by the Hezbollah, regardless of the factional differences, because we are fighting an enemy that is destroying an Islamic Arab country.
"We should not differ over fighting tyranny and injustice. Factional differences do not strip the believers of their faith. The charges of blasphemy against the Shiites by the Sunnis remain an argument and ideological differences which do not measure up to an edict [fatwa]."
Dr Sharif Hatem Al Aouni, member of the Shura Council, stressed the importance of being impartial while tackling the current events. "It is odd to term the resistance in Lebanon as muscle flexing, because the reality of Lebanese situation refutes such an allegation. Therefore, we should keep silent if we are not in a position to support the resistance in Lebanon."
Al Sharif said: "We differ with the Shiites over basic principles in Islamic jurisprudence, but we should not blaspheme them, because they are Muslims. Which also makes it imperative for us to support them in their fight against the infidel enemy.
"We should delay our differences until these delicate circumstances are over."
He stressed the need to support the Lebanese resistance.
"It is wrong to compare the resistance in Lebanon to what is going on in Iraq," said Al Sharif.
"The situation in Iraq and Lebanon are completely different. "We are all the way with the national resistance in Lebanon," said Al Sharif.
Al Sharif rejected the edict issued by the prominent Saudi scholar Bin Gebrain, which prevented people from supporting Shiites.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah's leader on Thursday threatened to send rockets into Tel Aviv if Beirut proper was attacked, but offered a ceasefire in the air war, pledging to halt rocket attacks if Israel stops air strikes.
"You attack our cities, villages, civilians and our capital. We will react. Anytime you decide to stop your campaign against our cities, civilians and infrastructure, we will not fire on any Israeli settlement or city," Shaikh Hassan Nasrallah said.
