Dar al-Iftaa incriminated joining any armed organizations or supporting them in any manner due to their barbaric acts which cause destruction and distort the image of Islam. These horrific acts are condemned by humanity as it goes against the natural human disposition and are Islamically rejected.

Dar al Iftaa added that such organizations with their extremist ideologies have misguided many youth under the false name of religion, Jihad and Islamic state. In fact, their acts reveal nothing but their miserable attempt to distort religion, bring destruction and spread blood-shed. Such terrorist organizations failed to deduct legal evidence from its authentic Islamic sources and were driven by their incomplete interpretation of the verses of the Qur`an and hadiths of the Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him]. They twisted the meanings of religious texts in order to justify their appalling acts of extremism which leads them to desecrate the sanctity of life and ruthlessly shed people’s blood with thirst that never seems to stop. Furthermore, they issued extreme condemnable infedilizing fatwas which they exploited in killing their opponents and spreading corruption all over the globe.

They “Distort words from their [proper] usages” and break the adopted authentic rules for issuing fatwa which include possessing thorough knowledge of shari’a and perceiving the surrounding reality with proper understanding to enable them to deduct definitive rulings. However, they use a single verse or part of it without being aware of all what is mentioned in the Qur`an and sunnah in relevance to its subject and attach false rulings to Islam. God says in the Quran, “…So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do” 2:85

Dar al-Iftaa confirmed that the prohibition committed by these extremists due to their heinous crimes, blatant damage, and ruthless blood shed extends to anyone who gives them financial or moral support, or even shelter. Rather, they are cast out of God’s mercy. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever helps another to kill a believer, even if with part of a word, will meet God the Exalted, with the words ‘He has despaired of God’s mercy’ written between his eyes’.”

According to the fatwa, it is an obligatory condition for jihad to be undertaken under the leadership of the state and that it must be organized by those in authority and the concerned state organizations whom God has given rule over countries and people. They are those who more than others, are able to calculate the consequences of such decisive decisions since they study the extent of the necessity that calls for countering assaults and removing injustices. They carefully study the decision and measure the interests against the harms without subjectivity or foolish emotions unrestrained by rationality and wisdom.

Dar al-Iftaa confirmed the impermissibility of initiating jihad at one’s own accord by joining armed groups or organizations without taking into consideration the criteria and conditions that regulate jihad as this would be tantamount to arrogating the ruler’s prerogative, the harms of which may greatly outweigh its benefits. Moreover, he will also incur sin. Dar al-Iftaa further explained that if all the people embark upon jihad without the ruler’s decision, the people’s interests and livelihood will be disrupted. God the Almighty said, “It is not right for all the believers to go out [to battle] together” [Al-Tawbah: 122]. Not only is such an uncalculated move devoid of any perceived gains for Muslims, but it brings about their destruction, pits nations against them, wipes out their civilizations, drowns them in blind sedition, and results in destructive conflicts among Muslims. It is known in Islamic law and by reason that the lack of clarity of purpose and disunity of goal deprives jihad of its meticulous organization on the one hand and its value and noble purpose on the other.

The crimes committed by those falsely calling themselves “Islamic state” among other terrorist organizations which include indiscriminate slaughtering of men and women, terrifying the secured and destructing public and personal properties are completely irrelevant to Islam. The Islamic Shari’a set a well-defined regulations regarding war engagement in which it prohibited killing women, children, the elderly and civilians, causing destruction, cutting down trees and prohibited even killing riding animals. Let alone killing other Muslims.

Islamic Shari’a has prohibited all matters which distort the image of Islam and leads people to shun it as these heinous acts turn people away from God; a result which is inconsistent with the objective of jihad. Abu Dawud reported that Rabah ibn Rab’i said: We were with the Messenger of God [peace and blessings be upon him] in one of the battles and he saw people gathering around something. The Prophet sent a man there to see what they were gathering around and the man came back saying that they were gathering around a woman who was killed. The Prophet said: “this woman shouldn’t have been killed”. He sent a man to Khalid Ibn al-Walid who was leading the army and told him “tell Khalid not to kill women or Asif [a hired man who doesn’t participate in the war].

Concerning displacing the Christians and non-Muslims and forcing them to accept Islam, Dar al-Iftaa confirmed in its fatwa that Islam is a religion of coexistence and its principles emphatically prohibit compulsion in religion and vehemently condemn all forms of violence. Therefore, the history of Islam proves that non-Muslims were never forced to accept the religion. However, it leaves the matter of belief to one’s free will as established by many verses in the holy Qur`an: “There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.” [2: 256], and: “And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve.” [18: 29] and: “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." [109: 6]. Therefore, these terrorists contradict Islamic teachings and disobey our master Muhammad [peace and blessings be upon him] who prohibited killing the non-Muslims and commanded treating them kindly and granted them the rights of neighborhood. Those non-Muslims did not raise arms against the Muslims and lived in peace and coexistence with them. God the Almighty says in the holy Qur`an: “Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” [60: 8]

The fatwa added that when Islam has allowed people to keep their own religions, it was natural to permit them to freely practice their religious rites in their places of worship. Moreover, Islam has guaranteed the safety of all places of worship, gave them special consideration and prohibited all kinds of aggression towards them. Abu Bakr [may Allah be pleased with him] has commanded the army:”Do not hurt a monk or worshipper and don’t destroy a place of worship or a cell.”

Jihad in Islam is justified for the purpose of removing oppression and achieving justice which result in the Muslims’ empowerment on earth by God. The ultimate purpose for such empowerment is to maintain the safety of places of worship and their worshippers. This can be seen in the Qur`anic verse: “And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. [And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters.” [22: 40-41]

Finally, Dar al- Iftaa stated that these heinous and horrific crimes committed by terrorist organizations have caused harm to both Islam and Muslims. They have distorted the positive image of Islam globally and portrayed it as a religion which promotes violence and blood-shed. However, Islam will always remain a religion of peace and mercy as God the Almighty says in the holy Qur`an: “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” [21: 107] and: “So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.” [3: 159]. The Messenger of God [peace and blessings be upon him] said: “Be lenient and stay away of harshness and bad words.” [Narrated by Bukhari]

Islam was disseminated across the globe with means of mercy, compassion and love of others. The Quran says, “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided. 16:125