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Memri
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Member Of Qatar-Based International Union Of Muslim Scholars: Muslims Must Move From Pilgrimage To Waging Jihad Against 'Enemies Of The Nation' And Support The Jihad Fighters In Palestine
In advance of Dhu al-Hijjah, the month during which Muslims perform the pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five basic commandments of the Muslim faith, Wasfi Ashour Abu Zeid, a member of the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS),[1] published an article in which he urged Muslims to implement the concepts and principles of the Hajj – namely the Oneness of Allah, the unity of the Muslim nation, reverence for religious rituals and jihad with one's wealth and one's life – both in their daily lives and in the current war in Gaza, and encouraged them to wage jihad against the "enemies of the nation" and to strive to become martyrs. According to Abu Zeid, the concepts associated with the Hajj imbue the Muslim with the courage to fight the enemy and the desire to become a martyr, and also cause the martyr's family to accept his martyrdom with satisfaction and see it as a reward from Allah. Abu Zeid stressed the connection between the commandment of Hajj and the commandment of jihad, noting that, in Surat al-Hajj in the Quran, Muslims are commanded to engage in jihad, and stressing that the Muslim nation must wage jihad "against its enemies in order to liberate the homelands and the holy places." Referring to Palestinian terrorists as "heroic jihad fighters" who have "revived the significance of jihad" in the heart of the nation and "returned it to the forefront," he exhorted Muslims to glorify and support the jihad fighters, including through financial contributions. He also accused the Muslim nation of abandoning the people of Gaza in the current war, saying that, "under the influence of its rulers and some evil religious scholars," this nation has become divided and suffers from "a state of unprecedented helplessness." He therefore called on the ummah (Islamic nation) to unite and come to the help of the Gazans.[2] Wasfi Ashour Abu Zeid and the logo of the IUMS (images: The following are translated excerpts from this article: [3] "The greater Hajj[4] is associated with immense significance, sublime words of wisdom and tremendous collective goals that the Muslims must understand and seek to realize in their daily lives, so that the ritual will have an effect on their lives and their livelihood, as well as on their faith and destiny… The greatest event currently being experienced by the [Muslim] nation and the world is the Al-Aqsa Flood war [i.e., the war in Gaza], which, as of this writing, has been ongoing for 20 months with no end in sight. "The following are some of the meanings of the Hajj that we [can] utilize in favor of the Al-Aqsa Flood: "A. The Oneness of Allah [i.e., monotheism]: "Whoever gives some thought to the commandment of the Hajj finds that its greatest objective is professing the Oneness of Allah, first of all by leaving one's homeland, family and business… turning to Allah and yearning to please Him and [to partake in] the various forms of the journey to Allah, including the talbiyah,[5] the tahlil,[6] the takbir,[7] and other religious rituals performed in remembrance of Allah… It is this Oneness, cemented and entrenched in people's hearts, that produces the courage to fight, infiltrate the enemy lines and seek to become a martyr, bravely and without fear. It is [also] the underlying reason for the beautiful scenes we witness from the martyrs' mothers, fathers and wives, who [bear] this martyrdom with patience and gratification, seeing it as a reward from Allah, thus eliciting admiration from all of mankind. "B. The unity of the nation: "During the Hajj the nation is united, since [the pilgrimage] brings people together in a single place and time: the place is Mecca, the time is the month of Dhu Al-Hijja, and the people [all] gather there… No ritual except for the Hajj brings together time, place and people [in this manner]! The Muslims [all] address and adhere to the same God, perform the same rituals in [observing] this commandment, face the same direction in prayer, pray behind the same imam, circle the same Kaaba, and run in the same place.[8] Hence, everything included in the Hajj calls for unity and for uniting the nation. "[Conversely], in the face of the Al-Aqsa Flood, what do we see? We see the [Muslim] nation doing nothing but abandoning the people of Gaza… and leaving them to their fate when they want support… Instead of standing united on the front lines of this great event, the nation is divided, under the influence of its rulers and some evil religious scholars, and suffers from a state of unprecedented helplessness. That is why I say that the commandment of the Hajj enjoins us to profess the Oneness of Allah and of the nation in the face of the challenges and duties about which Allah will question us on the Day of Judgement. "C. Entrenching the commandment of jihad: "Surat al-Hajj in the Quran [i.e., the 22nd surah of the Quran] discusses many of the rituals, lessons and meanings of the Hajj, and concludes with a verse in which Allah says: 'And embark on jihad for the sake of Allah, as is due to Him. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship [Quran 22:78]'… The nation must proceed from the Hajj – which involves jihad without [military] force – to jihad against the enemies of the nation in order to liberate the homelands and the holy places… That is a cause that transcends all others… aimed at freeing the prisoners and purging Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa. "That is what the jihad fighters are doing in the Al-Aqsa Flood: They have revived the significance of jihad in [the heart of] the nation and returned it to the forefront, after it was associated with 'terrorism' and almost vanished from the scene. The [Al-Aqsa Flood] war came along to return it to people's awareness, entrench it in their hearts and use it to associate the nation with values of honor, courage and martyrdom. "D. Honoring Allah's rites. "This expression appears in the Quran in the context of the rites of pilgrimage. Allah says: That [is so]: Whoever honors the rites of Allah, it is the sign of a pious heart [22:32].' This is because people prepare to perform this commandment and ready themselves for it. They leave their children and family, and that constitutes honoring Allah's rites. "Jihad and the way it is currently being realized in Palestine is [also] one of Allah's rites, and we should glorify what the heroic jihad fighters are doing there, just as we should glorify the bonds of brotherhood and, as a consequence, fulfill the duty of supporting [the jihad fighters] and mobilizing [to help them], in compliance with the directives of the Prophet… "E. Financial jihad: If the Hajj is the jihad of the weak, it also sheds light on [the concept of] financial jihad. For [undertaking] the Hajj costs money, and any Muslim who can bear the expense is required to perform this commandment… Giving money and spending it on performing commandments is clearly a kind of jihad that is explicitly mentioned in the Quran, for the Quran always mentions jihad by means of money before mentioning the jihad of [sacrificing] one's life, as Allah says: 'Among the believers, those who stay at home – except for the disabled – are not equal to those who engage in jihad for the sake of Allah with their property or with their lives. To those who engage in jihad for the sake of Allah with their property or their lives, Allah has granted a higher rank than to those who stay at home. To each, Allah has promised a reward most fair, but Allah has preferred those who engage in jihad over those who sit at home, giving them a mighty reward [Quran 4:95].' "Palestine now needs money more than ever before. Gaza is dying of hunger and thirst and its infrastructures, which have been destroyed, must be rebuilt. As a consequence, we need money before, during and after engaging in jihad." [4] The greater Hajj (al-hajj al-akbar) is pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, as opposed to the lesser Hajj (umrah), which is a pilgrimage undertaken at some other time of the year. [5] The talbiyah is a prayer uttered by pilgrims before entering the holy compound in Mecca. It begins with the words "At your service, Allah, at your service." [6] Tahlil is the act of uttering the words "there is no god but Allah." [7] Takbir is the act of uttering the words Allahu akbar.
Memri
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
International Union Of Muslim Scholars, Which Preaches Jihad And Terrorism, Working To Tighten Cooperation With Islamic Centers In Ireland And Elsewhere In Europe
Wanis Al-Mabrouk, assistant secretary-general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), recently visited Ireland's capital Dublin as part of the organization's efforts to strengthen its ties with Islamic centers and communities in Europe. In the course of his visit he met with prominent figures in Ireland's Muslim community and with mosque imams from across the country, and discussed cooperation between them and the IUMS, including the possibility of their joining the union. Currently numbering about 100,000 members in 92 countries, the IUMS serves as an organ of the Qatari regime for spreading an extremist and anti-West Islamist ideology. It routinely promotes hateful rhetoric and incitement to jihad, terrorism and antisemitism, in line with Qatar's decades-long support for various terrorist groups worldwide (see the Appendix). The IUMS has special ties with Ireland because it was founded there in 2004 by Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi. The union was headquartered in Dublin until 2010, when it came to be sponsored by Qatar and moved its headquarters to Doha.[1] Sheikh Al-Qaradawi, who was born in Egypt and settled in Qatar in the 1960s, was a leading authority for the Muslim Brotherhood movement, and was known for his extremist positions in praise of jihad and terrorism and even suicide bombings, and for his extreme anti-West views and his aspiration for Islamic control of Europe.[2] Due to his views he was designated a terrorist by several Arab countries and banned from entering several Western countries, including the U.S. His successors in the IUMS, Ahmad Al-Raissouni and the current chair Ali Al-Qaradaghi, have expressed similar opinions and praised jihad and terrorism. IUMS logo Below are details about Wanis Al-Mabrouk's visit to Dublin. IUMS Assistant Secretary-General Wanis Al-Mabrouk Visits Dublin To Strengthen Ties With Islamist Centers In Europe According to the IUMS official website, Al-Mabrouk's visit to Dublin was part of the union's "efforts to strengthen ties with the Islamic communities and centers in Europe." In the course of his visit he delivered a Friday sermon, organized a three-day seminar and met with Muslim community leaders and with mosque imams from around the country. He "discussed the IUMS vision and goals, avenues for future cooperation, and the possibility of integrating new members into the IUMS in the near future." The website added that "the visit was held as part of the IUMS ongoing interest in supporting and aiding Muslim minorities in Europe… so as to consolidate their positive presence and their balanced integration into [European] societies."[3] Wanis Al-Mabrouk on his visit to Ireland (Images: May 29, 2025) Appendix: MEMRI Reports And Clips About The IUMS And Its Members Over the years, MEMRI has monitored the extremist discourse disseminated by the IUMS which includes incitement to jihad and terrorism, and contains blatant antisemitism. The following are examples of these MEMRI reports: Special Dispatch No. 11903 - Fatwa By International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Based In And Funded By Qatar, Declares 'Armed Jihad' Against Israel Obligatory For All Muslims, Calls To Urgently Form 'Islamic Military Alliance' Against Israel - 03/31/25 Special Dispatch No. 11611 - Since Hamas' October 7 Attack On Israel, Qatar's Unreserved Support For Hamas, Incitement Against Israel, Continues On The Political, Media, Educational And Religious Levels - 10/10/24 Special Dispatch No. 11595 - Former Vice President Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Mauritanian Islamic Scholar Muhammad Al-Dadow Al-Shanqiti: The Most Noble Death A Person Can Have Is While Waging Jihad; This Is Not A War Against Israel, But The Infidel World; The Forces Of Evil Have Gathered Against Hamas - 10/02/24 Special Dispatch No. 11553 - Head Of Qatar-Funded IUMS Describes Perpetrator Of Terror Attack At Jordan-Israel Border Crossing As 'Hero' Whose Action Reflects The Sentiments And Ideas Of The Muslim Nation - 09/12/24 Special Dispatch No. 11519 - Member Of Qatar-Backed International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Says Gaza War Can Be Used To Teach Children Important Lessons: 'This War Is Pure Jihad'; Children 'Should Be Raised On Love Of Jihad'; The War Is Religious And Ideological, Not A Dispute Over Borders - 08/22/24 Special Dispatch No. 11413 - London Central Mosque Hosts Jihad Supporter Jassem Bin Muhammad Al-Jaber, Member Of Qatar-Backed International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Which Incites Terror - 06/24/24 Special Dispatch No. 11226 - Calls For Terrorist Operations Against Israel From Jordanian Territory – Hamas And Muslim Brotherhood Officials, Clerics Close To Qatar: Jordanians Must Buy Arms And Undergo Military Training; Fighting Jews Is 'Islamic Duty' - 03/25/24 Special Dispatch No. 11221 - Member Of Qatar-based, Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Touhami Medjouri Calls On All Muslims To Join Hamas' War Against Israel, Target Interest Of U.S., U.K., France, And Germany Everywhere - 03/21/24 Special Dispatch No. 11164 - Member Of Fiqh Councils In Europe And North America: The Islamic Nation Must Wage Jihad To Help The Palestinians; Sykes-Picot Borders Have No Legal Status In Religious Laws Of Jihad - 03/04/24 Clip No. 10699 - Hamas MP Marwan Abu Ras Calls On West Bank To Rise Up Against The Palestinian Authority: Mahmoud Abbas Is a Traitor; May Allah Take Revenge On Criminal, Nazi America - 12/02/23 Special Dispatch No. 11027 - In Interview With Pro-Afghan Taliban Media, Secretary-General Of Qatar-Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Dr. Ali Al-Qaradaghi, Alleges Zionist Propaganda Against Muslims, Cites Quran To Argue That 'Allah Has Called Media Jihad As The Greatest Jihad'; 'We Should Not Neglect The Significance Of Effective [TV] Channels In Languages Like Pashtu, Farsi, And Urdu' - 12/19/23 Clip No. 10727 - Former Sec.-Gen. Of The Qatar-Based IUMS Mohammad Salim Al-Awa: If The Two-State Solution Is Realized, It Will Be Temporary, Because Palestine Is Ours In Its Entirety – From The River To The Sea - 12/14/23 MEMRI Daily Brief No. 554 - Qatar-Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Delegation Meets With Taliban Ministers In Kabul: 'The Islamic Emirate's Mujahideen Achieved Success Against The World's Great Powers – Similarly The Palestinians, With Their Strong Will, Will Definitely Win This War' Against Israel - 12/13/23 Clip No. 10599 - Qatar-Based International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Issues Fatwa Obligating Palestinians In West Bank And Within 1948 Borders, Israel's Neighbors, All Arab And Muslim Countries To Intervene Militarily On Behalf Of Gaza - 10/31/23 Special Dispatch No. 10925 - Qatar-Based And Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Publishes Old Article By Senior Hamas Official Describing Takeover Of Gaza Border Region, Israeli City Of Ashkelon, In Preparation For Liberation Of Palestine And Realization Of Prophetic Promise - 11/01/23 Special Dispatch No. 10836 - In Statement, Qatar-Based And Funded International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Calls 'Al-Aqsa Storm' Operation An 'Effective' And 'Mandatory Development Of Legitimate Resistance,' States: Muslims Must Support Their Brothers In Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem And Gaza - 10/08/23 Special Dispatch No. 10786 - Condemning France's School Abaya Ban, Arab Intellectuals And Prominent Muslim Scholars Question French Secularism, Accusing The State Of Fomenting Hostility Toward Islam As A Distraction From Domestic And International Failures - 09/08/23 Special Dispatch No. 10783 - On X Platform, Prominent Islamist Figures, Jihadi Clerics Commemorate Anniversary Of Execution Of Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Ideologue Sayyid Qutb, Glorify His Legacy - 09/06/23 Special Dispatch No. 10769 - At IUMS-Sponsored Seminar In Turkey Featuring Grand Mufti Of Libya Sadiq Al-Ghariani And 'Ali Al-Qaradaghi: Jihad In Palestine Is A Personal Religious Duty For Every Muslim - 08/25/23 Clip No. 10408 - Indian Islamic Scholar Salman Husaini El-Nadwi Of IUMS Board Of Trustees: We Must Engage In Jihad By Means Of The Quran, 'Raid' Europe, America And Call People To Islam In Every City, Village, Home - 07/22/23 Special Dispatch No. 10699 - Reactions In Qatari Media To Riots In France: It Is A Racist Country Unworthy Of Hosting The Olympic Games Next Year; The Riots Are Divine Punishment For Its Crimes Against Islam And Muslims - 07/07/23 Special Dispatch No. 10656 - Qatar-Affiliated Journalists, Clerics: The Egyptian Border Guard Who Murdered Three Israeli Soldiers Is 'A Real Hero,' 'A Martyr' And 'The Pride Of The Arabs' - 06/08/23 Special Dispatch No. 10645 - Islamist Figures And Institutions Embrace Anti-LGBT Statement By U.S.-Based Clerics And Scholars, While Hardliners And Liberals Reject It - 06/02/23 Special Dispatch No. 10608 - Ahead Of Turkish Presidential Election, Dozens Of Prominent Islamist Scholars, Headed By Secretary-General Of Qatar-Funded-And-Operated International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) 'Ali Al-Qaradaghi, Endorse President Erdoğan, Call On Turkish Muslims To Reelect Him - 05/12/23 Special Dispatch No. 10557 - Qatar-Funded And Operated International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) And Hamas Leaders In Qatar Call Palestinians To I'tikaf In Al-Aqsa Mosque With Intention Of Waging Jihad Prior To April 5 Clashes, Declare April 7 As 'Day Of Rage' - 04/07/23 Special Dispatch No. 10553 - Member Of The International Union Of Muslim Scholars: Muslims Must Liberate Al-Aqsa By Any Means; It Is The Blood Of The Jihad Fighters That Lights The Flame Of Al-Aqsa; The Day Of Judgement Will Come When The Muslims Fight And Kill The Jews - 04/05/23 Special Dispatch No. 10463 - Islamic Religious Scholars From Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Libya Meet With Afghan Taliban Government Leaders, Applaud 'Victory Of Jihadi Struggle Of Afghans' - 02/06/23 Special Dispatch No. 10464 - International Union Of Muslim Clerics (IUMS) Member: The Jerusalem Terrorist Who Killed Seven Civilians Is A 'Hero' And A 'Role Model'; The Quran Explicitly Calls To Wage Jihad For The Sake Of Allah - 02/06/23 Special Dispatch No. 10356 - Youssef Al-Qaradawi's Successor Ali Al-Qaradaghi Shares Mentor's Hardline Views And Positions On West, Christianity, And Jihad, Actively Promotes Muslim Brotherhood Ideology To Millions Of People On Multiple Platforms - 12/05/22 Special Dispatch No. 10327 - In Qatar On The Eve Of The World Cup, Continuing Expressions Of Homophobia And Disgust Over LGBTQ+ Visitors To The Country - 11/18/22 Special Dispatch No. 10287 - Islamists, Prominent Arab Figures Say French Company's Guilty Plea For Paying ISIS Proves West's Involvement In Founding, Funding ISIS - 10/28/22 Special Dispatch No. 10253 - Prominent Islamists And Arab Intellectuals Condemn UAE For Opening Hindu Temple In Dubai, While Liberal Muslims Consider It Promotion Of Tolerance - 10/11/22 Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1652 - Al-Qaradawi: Qatar's Islamist Empire Builder - 10/03/22 Special Dispatch No. 10234 - Jihadi Clerics, Afghan Taliban Eulogize Jihadi Muslim Brotherhood Ideologue Yusuf Al-Qaradawi - 09/28/22 Special Dispatch No. 10222 - Analysts Describe New Indonesian President Of International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) As Muslim Brotherhood Loyalist, Say His Appointment Reflects Muslim Brotherhood Intention To Expand In East Asia - 09/23/22 Clip No. 9786 - President Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Moroccan Islamic Scholar Ahmad Al-Raysouni In Controversial Interview: We Should Organize A Jihad March In Western Sahara And Algeria's Tindouf; Establishing Mauritania Was A Mistake; Normalization With Israel Is A Mark Of Shame; Moroccan Jews Who Emigrated Were Traitors - 07/29/22 Special Dispatch No. 10040 - Ahead Of FIFA World Cup In Qatar, Homophobic Incitement In Country Continues - 06/27/22 Special Dispatch No. 9950 - Following Yesterday's Terror Attack In Elad, Israel, In Which Three Israelis Were Murdered, Users Tweet Praise For The Attack, Incitement To More Axe And Knife Attacks - 05/06/22 Clip No. 9569 - Palestinian Islamic Scholar Mraweh Nassar: Muslims Must Cut Off The Head Of The Zionist Snake If They Want To Solve Their Problems; The Zionist Occupation Is Ending – These People Will Be Eliminated - 05/16/22 Special Dispatch No. 9912 - Prominent Salafi Cleric Ali Al-Salabi: Major Islamic Conquests Took Place During Ramadan; Muslim Conquest Of Iberian Peninsula Was Natural Outcome Of Muslim Strategy During Invasions – Protecting Borders, Spreading The Religion, And Waging Jihad Beyond Borders - 04/19/22 Special Dispatch No. 9902 - In Statement, International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Which Is Funded By Qatar And Turkey, Praises Perpetrators Of Recent Terror Attacks In Israel, Calls On Palestinians To March To And Remain In Al-Aqsa Mosque Until Ramadan's End, Urges 'The People Of Palestine In Every Place, And From All Factions, To Carry Out All Forms Of Jihad Activity' - 04/15/22 Special Dispatch No. 9866 - Opinion Shapers In Qatar Praise Terror Attacks In Israel And Their Perpetrators - 03/31/22 Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1621 - Religious Authorities Across The Muslim World: Homosexuality Is A Dangerous Abomination That The West Is Trying To Impose On Us - 02/02/22 Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1613 - Despite Qatar's Promise To Respect Gay Community In World Cup, Incitement Against It In Qatari Media Continues - 12/15/21 Special Dispatch No. 9556 - International Union Of Muslim Scholars To Taliban Delegation: We Appreciate Your Jihad, Will Help You As Much As We Can In Establishing Islamic Rule - 09/20/21 Special Dispatch No. 9530 - Member Of Qatar-Supported International Union Of Muslims Scholars: The Taliban Are Paragons Of Steadfast Jihad; We Do Not Fear Them But Fear For Them - 09/01/21 Clip No. 8915 - Hamas MP, Member Of IUMS Board Marwan Abu Ras: It Is The Religious Duty Of The Islamic Nation To Help The Palestinians Massacre The Enemy, Strike Their Necks - 06/05/21 Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1576 - As Qatar Mediates Between Israel And Hamas, It Holds Mass Rally For Hamas In Doha Supporting Armed Struggle And Jihad Against Israel – Participants Included Hamas Political Bureau Head Isma'il Haniya - 05/21/21 Clip No. 8951 - Palestinian Islamic Scholar Mraweh Nassar: Western Society Attacks Islam For Sanctioning Polygamy Yet It Is Full of Infidelity; Christian Monks Would Fornicate With Nuns, Kill Their Fetuses - 05/02/21 Clip No. 8854 - Palestinian Islamic Scholar Mraweh Nassar: 'Humanity Will Not Thrive Until The Jewish Nation Is Annihilated... I Mean The Jews Living In Palestine' - 05/11/21 Special Dispatch No. 9325 - International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Funded By Qatar And Turkey, Urges Muslims To Wage Jihad, Sacrifice Their Souls For Al-Aqsa - 05/09/21 Special Dispatch No. 9208 - Facebook Shuts Down Account Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Which Frequently Calls For Terror And Jihad - 03/02/21 Special Dispatch No. 9173 - Fatwa Signed By Over 200 Mauritanian Muslim Clerics: Normalization With Israel Is 'A Betrayal Of Allah, His Messenger And The Muslims'; Jihad Against Israel Is A Religious Duty - 02/09/21 Special Dispatch No. 9073 - Senior Member Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars In Antisemitic Article Against Normalization With Israel: Muhammad Expelled The Jews From His Territory By Force - 12/07/20 Special Dispatch No. 8985 - Days After International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Posts, On Its Website, Article By IUMS Secretary-General Claiming French Teacher's Beheading Was Staged By French Authorities, IUMS Removes It – Along With Articles Inciting Against President Macron - 10/22/20 Clip No. 8426 - Palestinian Islamic Scholar Mraweh Nassar: France Is Hostile To Muslims Because It Fears The Spread Of Islam; Macron's Wife Is A Relative Of Rothschild - 10/27/20 Clip No. 8374 - Sheikh Ali Al-Yousuf Of The International Union Of Muslim Scholars: Killing Of French Teacher Paty Was In Keeping With The Ruling Of The Shari'a But It Should Have Been Done By The Islamic State, Not By Just Any Individual - 10/18/20 Clip No. 8369 - Sec-Gen. Of International Union Of Muslim Scholars Ali Qaradaghi: Macron Has A Crusader Ideology, Still Lives In The Middle Ages; The West Is In Moral Crisis - 10/14/20 Clip No. 8366 - Sudanese Islamic Scholar Abd Al-Hayy Yousuf: Normalization With Israel Is Treachery; Allah Forbids Us From Being Allies With The Jews; It Is Obligatory For Muslims To Be Hostile To The Jews - 10/06/20 Special Dispatch No. 8974 - Secretary-General Of International Union of Muslim Scholars, 'Ali Al-Qaradaghi, Resumes Jihadi Incitement: Claims Murder Of French Teacher Was Staged By French Authorities And Real Killer Is Still Alive - 10/20/20 Special Dispatch No. 8807 - Qatari Doublespeak: Pretending To Fight Terrorism While Holding Conference With Sheikhs Supporting ISIS And Suicide Bombings - 06/18/20 Special Dispatch No. 8770 - Member Of Qatar-Supported IUMS: Coronavirus Is Divine Retribution For Oppression Of Muslims In China And Elsewhere - 05/28/20 Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1501 - Qatar, Qatar-Backed International Union Of Muslim Scholars Blast Trump's Peace Plan: It Belongs In the Dustbin Of History, Must Be Opposed By Every Possible Means - 02/05/20 Special Dispatch No. 8367 - Petition By Muslim Brotherhood-Affiliated Clerics Calls For Economic Boycott Of UAE; Anti-MB Salafi-Jihadi Cleric: Boycott Is Not Enough; Petition Signatories Support Polytheistic Governments That Fail To Implement Allah's Laws - 11/15/19 Special Dispatch No. 8295 - IUMS Head Dr. Ahmed Al-Raissouni, Who Promotes Extremist, Antisemitic, Anti-Western Discourse, Joins Faculty Of Qatar University - 09/26/19 Special Dispatch No. 8135 - International Union Of Muslim Scholars, Supported By Qatar, Calls To Boycott Bahrain Conference On Deal Of The Century, Support Palestinians' Jihad - 06/24/19 Clip No. 7309 - IUMS Sheikh Sameer Saeed to Cape Town Mosque Congregation: You Will Be the Muslim Army to Protect Jerusalem; We Will Fight the Jews and Christians in the End Times - 06/14/19 Special Dispatch No. 8083 - Dr. Ahmed Al-Raissouni, Head Of The International Union Of Muslim Scholars Which Was Founded By Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi In Dublin: Questioning The Holocaust Is Not Just A Right But An Obligation - 05/23/19 Special Dispatch No. 8076 - Ramadan Religious Lesson By Muslim Brotherhood Spiritual Leader Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi, Published By Qatari Government Daily: The Jews Opposed Muhammad, Therefore Allah Cursed Them And Turned Them Into Apes And Pigs; The Christians Were Stricken With Ideological Blindness And Strayed - 05/21/19 Special Dispatch No. 7984 - International Union Of Muslim Scholars Urges Imams To Preach Armed Jihad Against Israel To Save Al-Aqsa - 04/04/19 Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1413 - French Manifesto Calling To 'Declare Obsolete' Violent Quranic Verses Sparks Fury From Islamic Religious Establishment, Writers In Arab Media - 08/20/18 Special Dispatch No. 7264 - Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi Calls For Resistance, Jihad And Martyrdom Following Trump's Recognition Of Jerusalem As Israel's Capital - 01/04/18 Clip No. 5297 - Palestinian Scholar Samir Said: The Jews Have a Criminal, Satanic Nature and Are the Enemies of Mankind - 01/21/16 Special Dispatch No. 6059 - Senior Sunni Cleric: Both ISIS And The Fight Against It Serve The Interests Of The West And The Shi'ite Regimes - 05/28/15 Special Dispatch No. 5316 - Al-Qaradhawi's Support For Jihad And Martyrdom During Gaza Visit And In Biography Of Hamas Bomb Maker Yahya 'Ayyash - 05/28/13 Special Dispatch No. 5298 - Saudi Professor And IUMS Member Tareq Hawwas In Antisemitic Diatribe: 'If Only Hitler Had Finished Them Off' - 05/10/13 Special Dispatch No. 5227 - International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS)Attacks UN For Promoting Resolutions Banning Polygamy, Underage Marriage, Marital Rape, Promotion Of Gender Equality - 03/08/13 Clip No. 3598 - Hamas MP Marwan Abu Ras: The Jews Are Behind Every Catastrophe on Earth - 09/12/12 Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 785 - Antisemitic and Anti-Israel Articles on Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Website - 01/13/12 Special Dispatch No. 3823 - Article on Muslim Brotherhood Website: U.S. Terrorism Worse than Bin Laden's - 05/09/11 Clip No. 3426 - Moroccan Cleric Abd Al-Bari Al-Zamzami: Husbands May Have Sex with Dead Wife's Corpse; Women May Use Carrots as Vibrators - 05/11/11 Special Dispatch No. 3600 - Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi in Friday Sermon at Cairo's Tahrir Square: Pray for the Conquest of Al-Aqsa - 02/18/11 Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Says He'll Boycott Interfaith Conference Due To Attendance Of Jews - 10/26/10 Clip No. 2624 - Muhammad Salim Al-Awa, Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars: Copts Amass Weapons in Egyptian Churches and Are "Preparing for War against the Muslims" - 09/16/10 Special Dispatch No. 3093 - Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Calls for Jihad of Self-Sacrifice and for Rejecting the Political Process - 07/13/10 Special Dispatch No. 2843 - Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi Gives Broad-Ranging Interview to BBC Arabic on His Support of Mayrtdom Attacks, His Condemnation of the U.S. Military Base in Qatar, His Position on Shi'ites, His Relations with the Egyptian Government, and More - 03/04/10 Special Dispatch No. 2709 - Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi on Christmas Celebrations in Muslim Countries: 'I Wanted To Warn My People That This Is Prohibited, Shameful, And Inappropriate... Ignorance Of What Islam Obliges Us To Do...;' '[Can] Muslims in Europe and America... Celebrate Ramadan... in the City Centers[?]' - 12/21/09 Special Dispatch No. 2662 - Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Explains His Objections to Muslim-Christian Interfaith Dialogue - 11/30/09 Special Dispatch No. 2285 - The Struggle for Power, Influence, and Control Surrounding Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi - 03/19/09
Saba Yemen
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Muslim Scholars Union calls for designating Friday as day of support for Al-Aqsa Mosque
Occupied Quds - Saba: The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) called on Thursday for tomorrow's Friday to be a day of solidarity with Al-Aqsa Mosque and outrage over the genocide in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the union said, 'In light of its religious and moral responsibility, the IUMS urges the scholars, preachers, imams, and religious leaders of the Muslim Ummah to make this Friday—3 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH, corresponding to May 30, 2025—a day of support for Al-Aqsa and condemnation of the occupation's crimes in Gaza.' The union renewed its call for a "broad Islamic mobilization" to express absolute rejection of the aggression and affirm the Ummah's support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people. It demanded that Friday sermons be dedicated to condemning the Israeli enemy's aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque and its atrocities in Gaza, while praising any stance calling for an end to the war and the genocide. Additionally, the IUMS called for organizing peaceful, civilized demonstrations in major cities and capitals, as well as in front of embassies and international missions, to amplify the Ummah's voice and pressure for an end to the aggression and the lifting of the siege, according to the Palestinian Ma'an News Agency. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Memri
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Memri
UAE Political Analyst: The Qatar-Supported International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Should Be Designated A Terrorist Organization – Are The U.S. And Europe Waiting For More Terrorist Attacks Like 9/11?
In response to the Qatar-backed International Union of Muslim Scholars' (IUMS) [1] publication of a fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) calling for waging jihad against Israel, UAE political analyst Salem Al-Ketbi wrote, in an article titled "The International Union of Muslim Scholars: A Platform for Terrorism Disguised as Religion," that the IUMS should be designated a terrorist organization and that decisive steps should be taken against it to protect global security and stability. According to Ketbi, the IUMS explicitly incites terror attacks, calls for financially supporting terrorist organizations, and casts the West as an infidel enemy. Thus, he says, it is a direct security threat to regional and international stability and to the national security of Western countries. Asserting that the IUMS exploits religion and its status as a religious platform to legitimize violence and terrorism, he asked whether the U.S. and Europe would take immediate action against it and similar organizations – before there were more attacks like 9/11 because of the IUMS's inciting and extremist discourse. Salem Al-Ketbi (Source: , October 12, 2023) The following are translated excerpts from Ketbi's article: "Are the U.S. and Europe waiting for new terrorist attacks like the events of September 11 to take decisive steps against the organizations that clearly call for violence and terrorism under the auspices of religion? What obliges me to ask this question is the recent statement from the Committee for Ijtihad and Fatwa at the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) [2] and the ruling issued by the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) – posted... on its official website ( and reposted and confirmed by IUMS chairman Ali Al-Qaradaghi on his personal X account. [It] is a clear example of an incitement discourse calling for violence and terrorism, under religious names, with the aim of recruiting Muslims from all over the world, including those who live in Western countries, to join operations of violence and terrorism. "This statement is part of a long history of similar calls issued by the IUMS, an organization which was founded in 2004 by [Sheikh] Yousuf Al-Qaradawi, the prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood movement. Despite attempts by the IUMS to present itself as a 'moderate and central' institution, its discourse and its activities reveal its true face as a global and religious arm of terrorist organizations, and specifically of the Muslim Brotherhood organization. "Many experts believe that the IUMS represents a dangerous platform that takes the guise of religion to issue calls of incitement to violence and to terrorism. The most recent statement released by the IUMS ijtihad, the council for religious rulings, includes explicit calls for waging armed jihad. This is a dangerous thing that is reiterated by the IUMS and constitutes a direct call to perpetrate operations of murder and terrorism. "Moreover, the statement calls for monetary jihad, in order to support what it refers to as 'the resistance.' This is in fact a clear call to financially support terrorist organizations in all countries of the world. These kinds of calls constitute a great danger, for they are likely to lead to the financing of terrorist operations in the guise of charitable activities. The IUMS also urges military intervention and the establishment of military alliances based on religious foundations, which will strengthen the idea of religious conflict and fuel the disputes across the globe. These calls are a threat to regional and international stability and thwart the efforts toward peace in which [efforts] have been invested for decades. Even worse, the IUMS urges the Muslim communities in the West to exert pressure on their governments, which generally leads to – as events have proven in the past – the radicalization of some members of these communities and the perpetration of terrorist operations. "These repeated calls for jihad and violence issued by the IUMS make it necessary for it to be designated a terrorist organization, and for decisive steps to be taken against it to protect global security and stability. "Without a doubt, the calls by the IUMS constitute a serious security threat, on several levels. On the level of the individual, they are likely to spur extremists to carry out individual attacks, known as the 'lone wolf' phenomenon. It is difficult for the security apparatuses to anticipate these types of attacks [and to prevent them]... and Europe and the U.S. have already experienced several [such] operations carried out by people influenced by a similar religious extremist discourse... "The IUMS call regarding 'the obligation of monetary jihad' also undoubtedly constitutes an additional threat, for it is likely to lead to fundraising that will be used to support terrorist operations. The danger here lies in the difficulty to follow the small financial transactions from supporters [of terrorist organizations], especially when this is done in the guise of charitable activities and one can use unofficial financial networks and charitable funds as a disguise for funding armed organizations. "The danger of the calls by the IUMS is not limited only to direct security threats – it has serious implications for societies in the West. The discourse of unity strengthens the perception of 'us against them' and presents the West as an infidel enemy. This is despite the fact that many [Muslim] extremists have emigrated to the West and to the U.S. to live, and enjoy the social assistance and the freedom of religion [there] and [also] establish organizations to exert political pressure on the countries that host them. The terrorist incidents in the West and in the U.S. prove this. "In light of the preceding, it has become clear that there are weighty reasons to designate the IUMS a terrorist organization. The organization explicitly calls for armed jihad, in a manner which contradicts the laws pertaining to fighting terrorism in most of the countries of the world. It also exploits [its] religious platform to justify violence and to grant it legitimacy. "Therefore, it is clear as day that the UIMS is a direct threat to the national security of Western countries, because it incites the Muslims who live in them and threatens the stability of Western societies by sowing the seeds of terrorism and extremism. "Thus, are the U.S. and Europe waiting for new terrorist attacks, such as the events of September 11, before taking decisive steps against these organizations? Or will they act now to deal with this threat before it is too late? The answer to this question will determine the future of peace and security in the coming years." [3] [1] See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11903, Fatwa By International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Based In And Funded By Qatar, Declares 'Armed Jihad' Against Israel Obligatory For All Muslims, Calls To Urgently Form 'Islamic Military Alliance' Against Israel, March 31, 2025. In response to the fatwa, on April 7, 2025, Dar Al-Ifta, Egypt's official fatwa-issuing body, published a statement harshly attacking the IUMS fatwa and declaring that it contradicts shari'a law. See MEMRI Special Dispatch No.11918, Egypt's Official Fatwa-Issuing Body In Attack On Calls For Jihad Against Israel By Qatar-Affiliated International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS): These Calls Are Irresponsible And A Violation Of Shari'a Law, April 9, 2025. It is notable that the IUMS is an arm of the Qatari regime that disseminates anti-Western extremist Islamic terrorist ideology, and is based in and funded by Qatar. The IUMS routinely disseminates extremist ideology and a discourse of hatred, incitement to jihad and terrorism and antisemitism, in a manner which corresponds to Qatar's decades-long support for various terrorist organizations across the world. The IUMS was founded in 2004 by Egyptian-born sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi, an important Muslim Brotherhood ideologue known for his extremist pro-jihad and terrorism positions, and even in support of suicide attacks, as well as for his extremist positions regarding the West and the aspiration that Islam will control Europe. As a result of these positions, Al-Qaradawi became a controversial figure in the Islamic world and appears on designated terrorist lists in several Arab countries, and is banned from entering a number of Western countries. Those who have followed in his footsteps in the IUMS, such as Ahmad Al-Raissouni who was the group's chairman until 2022, and Ali Al-Qaradaghi who has been chairman since 2024, have held similar positions in favor of jihad and terrorism. [2] The word ijtihad means a religious ruling made by an expert in Islamic religious law based on the sources of this law in cases where the ruling regarding an issue is unclear. [3] April 8, 2025.
Memri
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Egypt's Official Fatwa-Issuing Body In Attack On Calls For Jihad Against Israel By Qatar-Affiliated International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS): These Calls Are Irresponsible And A Violation Of Shari'a Law
On March 31, 2025, the Qatar-based and funded International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) – an arm of the Qatari regime that disseminates anti-West extremist Islamic terrorist ideology – issued a fatwa (religious ruling) calling on all Muslims and all Islamic countries to wage jihad against Israel, and presenting this as an duty incumbent on every Muslim. [1] In response to the fatwa, on April 7, 2025, Dar Al-Ifta, Egypt's official fatwa-issuing body, published a statement harshly attacking the IUMS fatwa and declaring that it contradicts shari'a law. No element or organization, it said in the statement, is entitled to issue religious rulings on a sensitive matter such as jihad in a manner contradicting Islamic shari'a law and endangering the stability of the Muslim countries and societies. It added that it is only the ruler and the country that may make decisions about war – not any entity or association lacking legitimate authority, and went on to assert: "A call to wage jihad, without taking into account the capabilities of the ummah [Islamic nation] and its existing political, military, and economic situation, is an irresponsible call, which contradicts the principles of shari'a." Dar Al-Ifta further stressed in the statement that Islamic shari'a law warns against hasty decisions that do not take the public interest into consideration and are likely to increase the damage that will be done to the Muslim ummah (nation) and to society. It also said: "Whoever calls for waging jihad must, first and foremost, stand himself at the head of the ranks, just as the Prophet Muhammad led the battles." It is notable that several days before the Dar Al-Ifta issued this statement, the Egyptian Salafi sheikh Yasser Borhamy spoke out against the IUMS fatwa. His move was viewed as corresponding to the position of the Egyptian regime. [2] It may be that the tension between the IUMS and Dar Al-Ifta – religious institutions representing Qatar and Egypt respectively – reflects the tensions between the two countries, which have increased following the current "Qatargate" scandal in Israel and the allegations that Qatar had paid advisers to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to provide negative messages about Egypt to journalists, which would also lessen the latter's role as an honest broker between Israel and Hamas. These tensions were apparent in criticism of Qatar by Egyptian politicians and journalists, and accusations that it was scheming against Egypt. [3] Emblem of the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta (Source: The following is a translation of Dar Al-Ifta's statement in response to the IUMS fatwa calling for jihad against Israel: "In the name of Allah the Compassionate and the Merciful "The Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta studied the calls published recently announcing that it is the duty of every Muslim to wage armed jihad against the Israeli occupation, and demanded of the Islamic countries that they intervene militarily immediately to impose a counter siege [on Israel]. "In the framework of our shari'a responsibility and based on the rules of Muslim jurisprudence and the foundations of the Islamic shari'a, Dar Al-Ifta declares the following: "1. Jihad is an explicit shari'a concept that has clear and specific conditions, foundations, and goals from a standpoint of religious law. [No] particular element or organization has the right to initiate a religious ruling regarding such delicate and sensitive issues, in a manner which contradicts the rules of shari'a and its noble intentions or in a way which endangers the security of the societies and the stability of the Islamic countries. "2. The Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta asserts that support of the Palestinian people and its legitimate rights is a shari'a, humanitarian, and moral obligation, but on the condition that the support will be in the framework of the interests of the Palestinian people and not in service of certain agendas or escapades whose consequences have not been taken into account and which will bring upon the Palestinians themselves more destruction, displacement, and disasters. "3. One of the most prominent rules of the Islamic shari'a is that the declaration of jihad and the decision to wage war and fight are made only under a flag, and in our times, this is implemented [only] by a legitimate country and the political leadership, and not by means of statements that are issued by entities or associations which lack any legitimate authority and that do not represent the Muslims in theory or in practice. All incitement [urging] individuals to take action that opposes their countries and to come out against decisions made by the ruler are deemed a call to chaos, to unrest, and to degeneracy on earth, and this is forbidden by Allah and the Prophet [Muhammad]. "4. A call to wage jihad, without taking into consideration the capabilities of the ummah and its current political, military, and economic situation, is an irresponsible call which contradicts the principles of shari'a which instruct us to take measures and to take the outcomes into account. The Islamic shari'a encourages us to evaluate the benefits and damage, and warns against hasty decisions that don't consider the public interest and are even likely to multiply the damage that will be caused to the ummah and to society. "5. One of the laws of Islam is that whoever calls for jihad must, first and foremost, stand himself at the head of the ranks, just as the Prophet Muhammad led the battles, [4] instead of sparking feelings and arousing emotions and leaving it to others to deal with the consequences. "6. It would be wise and correspond to the aims of shari'a, if the efforts of the Islamic ummah were directed to serious work to stop the escalation and prevent the uprooting [of the Palestinians], rather than to ill-considered escapades that will deepen the crisis and worsen the tragedy of the Palestinians. "Based on the above, the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta stresses the necessity to gird oneself with knowledge of religious law, with wisdom and with insight and not to be influenced by grandiose slogans bereft of all logic or connection to reality..." [5] [1] See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11903, Fatwa By International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Based In And Funded By Qatar, Declares 'Armed Jihad' Against Israel Obligatory For All Muslims, Calls To Urgently Form 'Islamic Military Alliance' Against Israel, March 31, 2025. The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) routinely disseminates extremist ideology and a discourse of hatred, incitement to jihad and terrorism and antisemitism, in a manner which corresponds to Qatar's support, for decades, of various terrorist organizations across the world. The IUMS was founded in 2004 by Egyptian-born sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi, an important Muslim Brotherhood (MB) ideologue known for his extremist positions in favor of jihad and terrorism and even in support of suicide attacks, as well as for his extremist positions regarding the West and the aspiration that Islam will control Europe. As a result of these positions, Al-Qaradawi became a controversial figure in the Islamic world and appears on designated terrorist lists in several Arab countries while he is forbidden to enter a number of Western countries. Those who have followed in his footsteps in the IUMS, such as Ahmad Al-Raissouni who was the group's chairman until 2022, and Ali Al-Qaradaghi who has been chairman since 2024, have held similar positions in favor of jihad and terrorism. [2] April 5, 2024; April 6, 2025; and Al-Arab (London), April 6, 2025. [4] The Arabic term ghazwa is used to refer to raids and battles led by the Prophet Muhammad in the early days of Islam. [5] April 7, 2025.
