Manama: Some of Saudi Arabia’s religious scholars have come together in blasting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).
Dr Nahar Al Utaibi, a scholar, said that extremist groups like Daesh were guilty of declaring Muslims as unbelievers and acting against them without any religious evidence.
“No country or individual has been spared by Daesh who have become a thorn in the throats of Muslims,” he said. “They are helping the enemies of Islam and of Muslims who are plotting to occupy their country, loot their property and control them,” he said in remarks published by local news site Sabq on Monday.
Al Utaibi warned that people should keep away from such groups to avoid being implicated in anti-Islamic acts.
Shaikh Aidh Al Qurni, another scholar, stressed the need for young Muslims to “shield themselves from extremist and fanatical ideas”.
“Moderation is a must since Islam is against any form of extremism,” he said. “Moderation can be instilled in people through lectures and books,” he said.
The scholar said that the media should play a greater role in featuring moderate scholars.
“Programmes should host a greater number of scholars to explain to the people the extent of the dangers of extremism and fanaticism and to promote moderation,” he said. “Unfortunately, there is limited input from scholars in the daily newspapers and on the radio and television. There are very real dangers lurking around us while we are focusing on exchanging accusations and insults,” he said.
Last week, Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh said Isil was the number one enemy of Islam. “Fanatical, extremist ideas and terrorism that spoil the earth, destroy crops and wreck lives are not in any way part of Islam. Such groups are not linked in any way to Islam. They are an extension of Al Khawarij [the Seceders in the late 7th century who developed and adopted extreme doctrines, declaring other Muslims non-believers who could be killed],” he said in his statement last week
Saudi Arabia has recently intensified its drive against joining or supporting extremist groups, warning that violators would be jailed.
King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz this earlier this month was openly critical of the religious scholars’ lethargy and silence towards the growth of terrorism in the region.
He requested them to assume their responsibilities towards God and Muslims, foil attempts to malign Islam as a religion of extremism, hatred and terrorism and promote the tenets of the divine religion calling for moderation.
