At Islam Online, Taiwo from Nigeria asks the scholar:
What is the way to proceed regarding the Palestinian issue, which has, as the days pass, escalated in terms of complexity and violence?
Islam Online’s “scholar” responds:
Dear questioner, thank you very much for having confidence in us, and we implore Allah earnestly to guide Muslims in all their life affairs.Palestine is the land of Isra’ and Mi`raj (Night Journey and Ascension). It is the blessed land where Jesus was born and Muhammad led all other Prophets in prayer. Thus, it is the duty of every sincere Muslim to spare no efforts in backing its people and contribute in the so many efforts to restore this land.In this regard, we would like to cite for you the following fatwa issued by the late Saudi scholar Sheikh `Abdul `Az?Æz Ibn B?¢z, in which he states the following:Certainly, Muslims feel much pain and great sadness at the deteriorating situation in Palestine, with matters going from bad to worse, escalating in complexity as the days pass. This is due to the differences among the neighboring countries, and their lack of united resistance against their enemy, and their lack of adherence to the Shari`ah, which is an indispensable yardstick for victory.The neighboring countries need to rush to unite in their resistance (against the enemy) and adhere to the Shari`ah in confronting this issue, which concerns them and the entire Muslim world.It is worth stressing here that the Palestinian issue is an Islamic issue from the beginning (right through) to the end. However, the enemies of Islam have spared no pains distancing the Palestinian issue from the Islamic path and conveying to the non-Arab Muslims that they have nothing to do with the case, for it is an Arab issue. It appears they have succeeded in this to a certain extent.
That is why I feel it is not possible to reach a solution regarding this issue unless it’s perceived as an Islamic issue, and unless Muslims support one another in attaining salvation and launching Jihad against the Jews in an Islamic manner. This will help in restoring the land to its rightful owners (the Palestinians) and forcing the trespassing Jews to return to the lands where they came from.No doubt, the truth shall prevail, falsehood will perish and all rightful owners will one day return to their lands under Islamic rule.
Looks to me like Islam Online are explicitly calling for terrorism, since I don’t see how launching an “inner struggle against oneself” fits the above context. Nor do I see how “launching Jihad” above could possibly mean “launching peace negotiations.” Call me paranoid, but I guess the multiple references to Jews as “the enemy”, as well as the ominous call to force “the trespassing Jews to return to the lands where they came from” have colored my thinking.
Update: More wisdom from Islam Online: Don’t let marriage stand in the way of a good jihad.
