MOROCCO’S ULEMA ISSUES FATWA ON TRUE MEANING OF JIHAD

Rabat, 5 Safar 1437/17 November 2015 (MINA) –  Morocco’s Higher Council of Ulema on Saturday issued a fatwa (religious edict) on the true meaning of Jihad in Islam, according to Morocco World News.

This comes following the terrorist attacks that hit Paris on Friday night, killing at least 129 people, including a Moroccan engineer.

The religious institution clarified in the fatwa what “is actually the meaning of jihad in Islam and what is not, explaining that terrorism, aggression and the massacre of innocent people, are all acts formally banned by Islam, International Islamic News Agency (IINA) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The council explained the definition of jihad as: The jihad against oneself through education, purification of the soul and assuming responsibility;

Jihad by thinking through the shaping of the mind so as to serve the interests of humanity;

Jihad through writing, through the publication of useful work, the writing of articles illuminating and refuting accusations against Islam and Muslims,And Jihad with money, through the generous spending for the wellbeing of the nation and contributing to its socio-economic developments.

Jihad with weapons, is justified for Muslims “only in cases of extreme necessity when attacked by their enemies and that all peaceful means failed,” the Council added.

Even in this case, the council added that the proclamation of jihad falls within the exclusive purview of the great Imam to whom Islam has given the right to proclaim, to call and organize it. Therefore, “Islam does not allow any individual or group to declare jihad on their own,” added the fatwa. (T/Imt/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)