Muslim scholars take umbrage against terrorists misusing religion

Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: City Muslim scholars have taken umbrage against terrorists naming their organisations after Holy Prophet and Quranic references.
In a fatwa issued in the wake of Varanasi blasts carried out by a hiterto unknown organisation Lashkar-e-Qahhar, Muslim scholars belonging to various religious institutions demanded that terrorists drop the "islamic tags" from their outfits as their activities are bringing ill-repute to Islam and Muslims the world over. Such a practice is nothing but Satanic, they say.
Lashkar-e-Qahhar, which means Army of the Subduer, is named after one of the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah (Asma-ul-Husna). Al-Qahhar (the Subduer) is one the attributes of the Almighty God.
Other terrorist outfits like Jaishne Muhammad (Army of Muhammad) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (Army of Righteous) are also named after the Prophet of Islam. Propher Muhammad is often referred to as Toiba or Tayyaba.
"Every time these terrorist outfits carry out anti-national or inhuman activities, they drag the names of holy personalities into the controversy. This is but insulting Islam, Quran and holy personalities. We demand that terrorists drop the religious tags since what they have been doing is not only irreligious but also anti-humanity," said Mufti Muhammad Mastan Ali of Jamiat-ul-Mominath in a fatwa.
The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board has also taken strong objections to Lashkar-e-Qahhar blasting bombs in Hanuman temple in Varanasi. Its general secretary Abdur Rahim Qureshi said the Board would launch a campaign against terror outfits. He demanded probe by retired judge of Supreme Court.
"What these terrorist organisations are doing is un-Islamic as killing of people goes against the tenets of Islam. They are the sourge of humanity and a bad name in the otherwise fair image of Islam. We demand that they shun violence. An unholy act and crime against humanity will not become a pious deed just by naming the organisation after holy personalities," Rahim Qureshi said.
In separate decrees All-India Jamiat-ul-Mashaiq and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat have opined that misuse of Islamic tags for terrorist and subversive activities is Satanic. Sunnat Jamaat all-India president Moulana Syed Shah Badruddin Quadri Al-Jeelani said Muslims were ashamed of these terrorist outfits. "We are unable to move freely in society. Because of their wrong actions, the entire community is getting a bad name. They should not misuse Islam to foster their mindless violence," he said in his decree.