QATAR
Renowned Islamic scholars reacted to a movie that insulted Holy Prophet Muhammad and the ensuing attacks on embassies by issuing a joint statement.
In a statement released on Friday, the An Nusra Al Alamiya organization led by Yusuf al-Qaradawi made a call for prudence.
With its headquarters in Kuwait, An Nusra Al Alamiya pointed out that the movie targeting Holy Prophet Muhammad was provocative and all ensuing attacks on U.S. embassies should end.
"Reactions against the insult directed at Holy Prophet Muhammad were legal and were things desired. This is a necessity of our faith. Defending the Holy Prophet Muhammad is a desirable Islamic behaviour. However, a Muslim must act based on the Islamic law and directives issued by the Holy Prophet Muhammad. We should not be acting in opposition to our Prophet Muhammad while thinking that we are defending him," the statement underlined.
"Muslims must control their anger"
"The Muslims must control their anger. We need to focus on our aim. We need to stop the insult to our Prophet Muhammad immediately and punish those responsible for the insult. In connection with such an aim, we must stay away from acts that incite such insults, lead to the spread of such insults and protecting those making insults after they try to justify the insults based on freedom of expression," the statement noted.
"Insults on values have no aim other than causing unrest. Replying to such provocations with violence is doing what those troublemakers want," the statement underlined.
"The duty of the Muslims is not merely to respond to the insults directed against Prophet Muhammad. Holy Prophet Muhammad's life, his high moral values and permanent message must be carried to the whole world. All means must be utilized to introduce Muhammad in the most accurate manner. Organizing international symposiums on Muhammad may be beneficial," the statement stressed.
"Killing ambassadors forbidden"
"The violent attacks on U.S. embassies are not within the boundaries of Islam. According to Islamic rules and moral values, we need to be loyal to agreements. Ambassadors, tradesmen or other contracted individuals entering a country can not be harmed. Holy Prophet Muhammad has forbidden the killing of ambassadors," the statement also said.
Qaradawi calls for prudence
President of the Union of World Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, in a Friday's khutbah delivered in Qatar's capital of Doha, strongly condemned the movie insulting Holy Prophet Muhammad and the incidents taking place in Syria.
Delivering a khutbah at Doha's Omar bin Hattap Mosque, al-Qaradawi urged all those who would attend a rally to protest an anti-Islam movie following Friday's prayers to act with prudence and in peace.
"There are certain individuals with bad intentions who want to portray Holy Prophet Muhammad negatively. While some of them may be American citizens, they do not represent the United States. Some of them are coptic Christians. The copts should know that their safety depends on being with their Egyptian brothers and sisters and not the Americans or Europeans," al-Qaradawi stressed in his khutbah.
Touching on Holy Prophet Muhammad's merits in details in his khutbah, al-Qaradawi said that the Muslims had to show their reaction to the anti-Islam movie by talking to peoples about Muhammad and not by attacking embassies.
"Let us not show reaction through violence"
"The government of Qatar shot a movie that focused on the life of Holy Prophet Muhammad. Reactions should be made but without resorting to violent acts. We need to react through the same methods our enemies use," al-Qaradawi indicated.
On Syria, al-Qaradawi stated that several scholars from the Union of Scholars of Damascus visited him in Doha a short while ago and requested support.
"I told the Syrian scholars that I was with them. All Muslims of the world must help the Syrian people," al-Qaradawi stressed.
"Assistance to Syrian people a religious duty"
"Assistance to the Syrian people is a religious duty for the Muslims. Muslims must provide weapons to the Syrian people and, if necessary, go to Syria to fight," al-Qaradawi stressed in his khutbah.
"The people of Syria, just like the peoples of Egpyt, Libya and Tunisia, want freedom. Such a demand is the most natural right of the Syrian people. However, the Syrian regime tries to place pressure so the Syrian people give up their demand for freedom," al-Qaradawi underlined.
"God willing, the people of Syria will reach victory eventually," al-Qaradawi said.
Al-Qaradawi completed his khutbah by making prayers for the Muslim societies, primarily for those in Syria.
