Hundreds of Muslim clergymen in Pakistan have issued a joint religious directive that forbids Muslims from carrying out suicide bombing attacks.

Over 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued a fatwa aimed at prohibiting the use of probably one of the most gruesome and indiscriminate methods employed by terrorists across the world – suicide bombing.

According to a book soon to be revealed by the country’s government and cited by media, the fatwa declares suicide bombings "haram" ("forbidden") to Muslim faithful.

"We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam," Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain reportedly wrote in the book, adding that “this Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society."

The Pakistani scholars insisted that suicide bombings violate key teachings of Islam and that "no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad."

READ MORE: Indian Forces Kill 6 Militants, Foil Suicide Attack Bid Ahead of Republic Day

Earlier the US government announced that it had suspended security assistance to Pakistan, with US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley claiming that Islamabad works with Washington "at times" but also harbors the terrorists who attack US troops in Afghanistan, stating that "Pakistan has played a double game for years."</s>KARACHI: Over 1,800 Ulema from different schools of thoughts have issued a Fatwa (Islamic ruling) declaring suicide attacks in Pakistan to be Haram (forbidden).



Details of the Fatwa signed by 1829 clerics in Pakistan emerged on Monday. The ruling states that those who commit suicide attacks, those who order such attacks, those who train such people are all considered rebels against the true spirit of Islam.

The ruling further states that the State of Pakistan is in the right to act against such people.

It outlined clearly that the act of waging war and bloodshed in the name of Jihad can only be initiated by the State. Those who impose their viewpoints on by force are responsible for spreading mischief on earth (Fasad fil Arz).

The ruling also states that in Pakistan, armed conflict in the name of Islamic Law (Shariyat) is forbidden (Haram).

Speaking to Geo News, senior analyst Saleem Safi said that after the Constitution of Pakistan the Fatwa a sacrosanct document that provides answers to the questions faced by Pakistan and the Islamic world in light of the Holdy Quran and the Sunaat.

The document, signed by the clerics from all schools of thought, will be presented under the title Peghaam-e-Pakistan at a ceremony which will be held at the Presidency on Tuesday.</s>More than 1,800 Muslim clerics in Pakistan have jointly issued a fatwa against suicide bombings in the country and labelled such attacks "un-Islamic". All the clerics or ulemas belong to various Islamic schools of thought.

Suicide bombings are one of the deadliest methods employed by extremist groups not just in Pakistan but also elsewhere in the world in order to cause heavy damage. Militant leaders often brainwash would-be suicide bombers into believing that it is a holy war.

Releasing a book which contains the latest fatwa, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain said: "This fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society. We can seek guidance from this fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism, in keeping with the golden principles of Islam."

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who was also present at the ceremony, said: "With this narrative, we make it clear to the entire world that all national institutions are united against terrorism. We have rejected all forms of terrorism and extremism."

According to the fatwa, individuals who launch suicide attacks, those who motivate them to carry out attacks, as well as trainers are all considered anti-Islamic.

The fatwa also wants Pakistan, an Islamic state, to punish the perpetrators.

"Only the Islamic government has the right to declare jihad, which allows armed struggle," reads the fatwa and adds that "imposing your ideology on others on the basis of power is equivalent to spreading violence".

The fatwa is backed by a number of prominent clerics across the South Asian nation, which has been witnessing a sharp increase in armed insurgency in recent years.

The move also has the backing of the civilian and military leaderships which are often criticised for not being tough on radical organisations.</s>A group of 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics has issued a fatwa forbidding suicide bombings, according to a newly published, government-backed book."This Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society," Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote in the book, as cited by Reuters. "We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam."Despite widespread condemnation of suicide bombings by clerics and preachers in the country, extremists still view such attacks as their most effective weapon in their arsenal., with the government's war on terror costing upwards of $118 billion, Pakistan Today reports The group of clerics declared that, "no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad (holy war)." The book in which the fatwa was published was prepared and produced by Pakistan's International Islamic University and was released in Islamabad Tuesday.The Pakistani intelligence service has been accused of fostering terrorism and turning a blind eye to extremist groups. Most recently, US President Donald Trump accused the Pakistani government of giving safe haven to terrorists.Islamabad has vehemently denied such accusations over the years, with Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa saying he felt, "betrayed," by the US government's decision to cut almost $2 billion in military aid in January.</s>ISLAMABAD (REUTERS) - More than 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued an Islamic directive, or fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings, a book due to be unveiled by the government on Tuesday (Jan 16) says.

The South Asian nation has for years been plagued by violence by Islamist militants who often use suicide bombers and preach that their struggle is a holy war to impose Islamic rule.

Suicide attacks are frequently condemned as fanatical and immoral, especially when civilians are killed, but insurgents view the tactic as their most effective weapon.

Seeking to curb "terrorism" that has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties since the early 2000s, the clerics declared suicide bombings to be forbidden, or "haram".

"This Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society," Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote in the book.

"We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam."

Foreign and domestic critics of Pakistan's government and military accuse them of cosying up to radical groups for political and military purposes and say the state has for too long turned a blind eye to hate preachers in mosques.

Pakistani officials deny frequent US allegations about collaborating with militant Islamist proxies in Afghanistan and India, and say vast gains have been made over the past decade against militant outfits such as the Pakistani Taleban.

But privately they also warn any moves against some popular hardline groups based in Pakistan would take a long time and need to be undertaken carefully.

Similar fatwas appear to have yielded scant results in the Middle East where the practice is used by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other militant groups.

The Pakistani scholars, who declared that "no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad (holy war)", said suicide bombings violate key Islamic teachings and were as such forbidden.

The book was prepared by the state-run International Islamic University and Hussain was due at a ceremony to mark the book's release in Islamabad on Tuesday.</s>Over 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued a fatwa aimed at prohibiting the use of probably one of the most gruesome and indiscriminate methods employed by terrorists across the world – suicide bombing.

According to a book soon to be revealed by the country’s government and cited by media, the fatwa declares suicide bombings "haram" ("forbidden") to Muslim faithful.

The Pakistani scholars insisted that suicide bombings violate key teachings of Islam and that "no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad."

Earlier the US government announced that it had suspended security assistance to Pakistan, with US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley claiming that Islamabad works with Washington "at times" but also harbors the terrorists who attack US troops in Afghanistan, stating that "Pakistan has played a double game for years."</s>Afghan parliament members say the U.S. pressure on Pakistan has forced the country’s religious scholars to issue fatwa against suicide bombings.

About two weeks ago, the White House said that it will continue to withhold $255 million in military aid to Pakistan out of frustration over what it has characterized as Islamabad’s reluctance to confronting terrorist networks.

“The statements came as result of the [U.S.] pressures, they [Pakistani officials] attempting to decrease the [ongoing] political pressures; practically they don’t want to stop those who commit suicide attacks but they encourage them to do so,” said MP Khalil Ahmad Shahidzada.

The MPs stressed that Pakistani clerics’ fatwa against suicide bombing is to “deceive” the world.

This comes as more than 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued an Islamic directive, or fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings.

“This Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society,” Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote in a book, cited by Reuters.

“We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam.”</s>More than 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued an Islamic directive, or fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings, in a book unveiled by the government on Tuesday.

For years, the South Asian nation has been plagued by violence by Islamist militants, who often use suicide bombers and preach that their struggle is a holy war to impose Islamic rule. Suicide attacks are frequently condemned as fanatical and immoral, especially when civilians are killed, but insurgents view the tactic as their most effective weapon.

Seeking to curb “terrorism” that has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties since the early 2000s, the clerics declared suicide bombings to be forbidden, or “haraam”. “This fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society,” Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote in the book, prepared by the state-run International Islamic University and released at an official ceremony.

“We can seek guidance from this fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism, in keeping with the golden principles of Islam.”

Foreign and domestic critics of Pakistan’s government and military accuse them of cozying up to radical groups for political and military purposes and say the state has turned a blind eye to hate preachers in mosques for too long. The fatwa was ratified by a number of prominent clerics who are outspoken critics of liberalism and the West, and are seen as controversial for preaching sectarianism or supporting the Afghan Taliban.

One of the clerics who signed, Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, is the face of a banned sectarian organisation, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ), and has been placed on a Pakistani legislative list of individuals with suspected links to “terrorism”. The ASWJ figurehead, Aurangzeb Farooqi, attended the signing ceremony.

Another signatory, Hamid-ul-Haq, is the son of a cleric widely regarded as the “Father of the Afghan Taliban” after many prominent militants, including Taliban founder Mullah Mohammed Omar, were found to have graduated from his seminary in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Pakistani officials deny frequent US allegations about collaborating with militant Islamist proxies in Afghanistan and India, and say vast gains have been made over the past decade against militant outfits such as the Pakistani Taliban. But privately they also warn any moves against some popular hard-line groups based in Pakistan would take a long time and need to be undertaken carefully.

Similar anti-suicide bombing fatwas appear to have yielded scant results in the Middle East, where the practice is used by Islamic State and other militant groups. The Pakistani scholars, who declared that “no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad (holy war)”, said suicide bombings violate key Islamic teachings and, as such, were forbidden.

For all the latest Pakistan News, download Indian Express App</s>What Pakistani clerics mean, suicide bombing is unlawful in Pakistan, but Islamic in Afghanistan. They ignoreing estimated 700,000 religious madrassass functioning in Pakistan, producing suicide bombers

By Mansoor Faizy-The Muslim community around the globe knows better that suicide is forbidden (Haram) in Islam. Whether it is self suicide or suicide against a group of people to kill them, is absolutely against Islamic teachings and human valves. We don’t have such thing in Islam—our (Afghan scholars) by taking advantages of every occasion, they not only opposed suicide bombings but those who commits it will drive out from Islamic rules and regulations and directly jumps into infidelity. For sake of argument, if a person argues that suicide bombing is allowed if it’s necessary, okay, but not in words, you must come up with proof. Not only suicide bombing is not permissible, but rather it’s a sin with highly punishable. Our Prophet Mohammad, Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH) said, “Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell).” Nothing has left now for those who committees suicide to kill others, leaving himself. Like this, there are several other verses of the Holy Quran and Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) saying that carrying suicide attacks is totally prohibited—an act with severe punishment as well. If self suicide is forbidden then suicide bombing is strictly prohibited. Allah, the Almighty says that whoever kills someone—irrespective he/she, Muslim or none is like the whole of humanity is killed. Now the argument of suicide bombing that has taking place in Afghanistan and other war-hit countries is totally forbidden, and those who committed will find their place in Hell, instead they carried to go paradise. A true believer would neither commit such a forbidden act, nor will endanger others lives. Last year, Afghanistan witnessed more than 60 deadly suicide attacks carried out by the Taliban and Islamic State, widely known as Daesh terrorist groups across the country. The majority of hits in Kabul, Nangarhar, and Herat provinces, it has been reported. Out of the 63 attacks, Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for 48 of and Daesh 15 others. The civilians paid a high price for these forbidden acts of militant groups. Mostly civilians were martyred and wounded. Daesh terrorists martyred more civilians than Taliban. Below are some attacks carried out by Daesh terrorist in 2017.

Attack on Tabyan Culture Center in Kabul, the capital city, martyred over 40, and wounded over 80.

Attack on Shamshad TV in Kabul, two martyred and 21 others received injures.

Attack on Imam Zaman mosque again in Kabul, martyred 50, all of them worshippers, and wounded 46 others.

Attack on a mosque in Ghor province, martyred 33, and wounded 46 others.

Attack on al-Zahra mosque in Kabul, martyred seven and 21 others wounded.

There are several other attacks as well. But the most deadly one was May 31 truck bombing that martyred over 140, and wounded over 500 all of them civilians and Kabul residents. According to Islamic teachings, those who martyred will entered paradise and the Taliban and Daesh militant’s suicide bombers will definitely go to the Hell that last forever. Eternally, they (Taliban, Daesh fighters) will burn in fire—the innocent blood of Afghan masses will not go unpaid. However, the interesting while very important point, is the backing source of these militant groups, and that’s none other than our hostile neighbor—Pakistan that has been supporting and harboring various terrorist groups on its soil. It is not proclamation only—Pakistan’s new Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in his comments on May 31 truck bombing in Kabul, admitted in that time that three or four insurgents entered Afghanistan from Pakistan and carried out the deadly bombing. Wow, what a great confessions. Anyways, recently, the Pakistani clerics have issued a Fatwa (Religious decree) in which they prohibited suicide bombings only in Pakistan and remained tight lipped against the so-called Jihad in Afghanistan. At least 2,000 Pakistani religious scholars, representing different schools of thoughts, issued a Fatwa, declaring suicide attack, armed insurgency against a state and use of force in the name of imposing Shariah law (Islamic law) as forbidden in Islam. A very cleaver move—but not remembered that Islam is a religion which is for all humankind, not only for Pakistanis. Who is Pakistani clerics to declare prohibiting of suicide attacks at current time when the holy religion of Islam forbidden it 14 centuries ago. It was better for Pakistani scholars to issue Fatwa like this, ‘training and exporting suicide bombers in other countries, particular to Afghanistan is totally forbidden in Islam.” We want that statement. Afghanistan has always stressed the need for such a decree to be issued not only by Pakistan, but from a wider Islamic world. Suicide bombing in Afghanistan is also forbidden. Pakistan has over 35,337 registered madrassas, though it is believed to be thousands more unregistered ones. A report claims that some 3.5 million students were enrolled with 35,337 madrassass in Pakistan. Some people claim that there are more than 700,000 madrassas looking into official data of 35,337. Only in Qilla Abdullah district of Baluchistan, there are 191 madrassas are functioning. Moreover, Darul Uloom Haqqania, founded in 1947 is serving as a breeding nursery and production factory of the so-called Jihad. Based on Afghanistan National Directorate of Security (NDS’s) report, the May 31 truck bombing carried out by Haqqani terrorist network which belongs to Darul Uloom Haqqania and sheltering in big cities of Pakistan. The number of madrassas grew dramatically during and after the reign of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, and is especially popular among Pakistan’s poorest families in parts because they feed and housing their students. What these madrassas are teaching students. Surely, almost all of them producing suicide bombers, and it is like open book to the world and an established fact. The Fatwa is a very appreciable, but it was satisfaction when they (Pakistan scholars) declare suicide bombings un-Islamic in Afghanistan as well—moreover, to pressurize Pakistan officials to lock those madrassas that not only producing but exporting suicide bombers to Afghanistan. One thing is for must that until these madrassas are functioning in Pakistan and went without demolishing, the durable peace and stability in the region and to entire world could not be prevailed.

The writer is Editor-in-Chief of Afghanistan Times, and also member of Rana Think Tank. Could be reached here: mansoorfaizy01@gmail.com</s>More than 1,800 Pakistani clerics from different schools of Islamic thought have issued a fatwa declaring that suicide bombings are un-Islamic.

The clerics declared that suicide bombings are forbidden, or "haram," under the principles of Islam.

The Islamic directive was revealed on January 16 in a book unveiled by Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and the state-run International Islamic University.

Hussain wrote in the book that the fatwa "provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society."

He said Pakistanis can "seek guidance" from the fatwa "for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam."

Pakistan has been plagued for decades by Islamic militants who teach followers that suicide bombers are "martyrs" in a "holy war" to impose Islamic rule.

Foreign and domestic critics accuse the government and Pakistan's security forces of collaborating with Islamic militants in order to use them as proxies in Afghanistan and India to achieve Islamabad's political and military goals.

They say the government has turned a blind eye to radical clerics in Pakistan's mosques for too long.

Although Pakistani authorities frequently condemn suicide attacks as fanatical and immoral, especially when civilians are killed, insurgents see the tactic as one of their most effective weapons.

Based on reporting by Reuters and GEO-TV
Over 1,800 muslim clerics in Pakistan issue a fatwa aimed at prohibiting the use of suicide bombing, declaring it haram.