Muslim Scholars: Backing Resistance Is A Religious Duty

Daily New York Sun and United Press Agency quoted a fatwa issued by Saudi Mufti sheikh Abdullah Jebreen and Kuwaiti prominent scholar Sheikh Hamed el Aley as prohibiting support of Hizbullah in its war against Israel.

Due to the sensitivity of the issue, Ikhwanweb asked the fatwa of some Muslim scholars as well as several leaders of the Islamic movement. Dr. Mahmoud Ezzat, the Muslim Brotherhood Secretary General, said in a statement to Ikhwanweb that Muslims are brothers and therefore a Muslim should not let his brother down or abandon him in time of need, regardless of their schools of thought or sectarian status.  Dr. Ezzat added that as long as the Shiites declare themselves as Muslims, then supporting them is a religious obligation on all Muslims.

Lebanese MB Chairman Dr. Ibrahim el Masry said to Ikhwanweb that it is unanimously decided among Muslims that Hizbullah is an Islamic organization which emerged after the invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and has devoted all its potential to resisting the occupation and it has actually managed to free most of South Lebanon in the year 2000. Dr. el Masry added that Hizbullah’s public rhetoric is an Islamic and national one.

“All political forces in Lebanon today back Hizbullah and they unanimously agreed to close ranks and stand up against the Israeli aggression which targets Lebanon indiscriminately” Al Masry said.

He was stunned by the fatwa of the Saudi and Kuwaiti scholars and depicted it as untimely. “I believe that those who issued this fatwa lack sufficient information on the nature of Hizbullah and the nature of the Arab- Israeli conflict” he added.