Muslim scholars speak on violence

I read an interesting article from Freedom Magazine which is published by The Church of Scientology. This article speaks to the fact that prominent Islamic scholars and leaders are opposed to the types of violence—many of them outspokenly so - that are being promoted by some extremists.

Extremists of any religion (or the fanatics against a religion) do not speak to the core beliefs of that religion. Here are some excerpts from that issue of Freedom Magazine:

Prominent Islamic scholars and leaders are opposed to such violence—many of them outspokenly so.

Harun Yahya (pen name of Adnan Oktar), Muslim intellectual and author of Islam Denounces Terrorism:

“Religion commands love, mercy and peace. Terror, on the other hand, is the opposite of religion; it is cruel, merciless and demands bloodshed and misery. This being the case, the origins of a terrorist act should be sought in disbelief rather than in religion.

“The name or the identity of the triggerman is not important. If he can kill innocent people without blinking an eye, then he is a nonbeliever, not a believer. He is a murderer with no fear of God, whose main ambition is to shed blood and to cause harm.”
Sheik Abdul Aziz al-Sheik, grand mufti of Saudi Arabia:

“Muslim youth must try and better themselves and their country but not through violence as Islam is not a violent religion, it is a merciful religion.”

Imam Wallace Dean Mohammed, spiritual leader of the American Society of Muslims:

On murdering innocents: “Most of the religious scholars in Islam condemn such. They say, and I say along with them, that there is no support anywhere in Islam—in our Holy Book or in the life of our Prophet—for such.”

On jihad or holy war: “Every sincere religious person knows that jihad ... simply means, if literally translated, ’struggle.’ Firstly, with yourself to conquer that which is taking you away from the good person or behavior that God wants for you....”

Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, grand sheik, Al-Azhar theological institute, Cairo:

“I do not subscribe to the idea of a clash among civilizations. People of different beliefs should cooperate and not get into senseless conflicts and animosity.

“Extremism is the enemy of Islam. Whereas, jihad is allowed in Islam to defend one’s land, to help the oppressed. The difference between jihad in Islam and extremism is like the earth and the sky.”