C-NE5-00725: ISLAMIC CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005456 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER KISL JO SUBJECT: C-NE5-00725: ISLAMIC CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS IN AMMAN ENDORSE FINAL STATEMENT REF: A. AMMAN 5357 ¶B. AMMAN 5258 ¶C. AMMAN 4991 Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) The three-day international conference "True Islam and its Role in Modern Society" closed on July 6 in Amman with a joint statement that forbids declaring adherents to any one of the eight schools of Islamic jurisprudence an apostate (takfir) (refs). Signed by a wide range of prominent Sunni and Shi'a scholars and clergy, the statement also limited the issuance of religious edits (or fatwas) to qualified Muslim clerics in the eight schools. ¶2. (C) Religious authorities who endorsed the statement included: Grand Imam of al-Azhar Mohammad Sayyed Tantawi, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Sistani, Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Jumaa, Grand Mufti of Oman Ahmad Khalili, the Islamic Fiqh Academy in Saudi Arabia, Grand Mufti of Jordan Izzeddine Tamimi and the King's National Fatwa Committee, and cleric Sheikh Yusef al-Qardawi, among others. The King noted during a meeting with CODEL Levin on July 7 that the fact that Sistani's fatwa endorsing the statement was issued from Qom gave the conference and resulting statement particular credibility and hoped that it would help heal the Sunni-Shi'a rift that has developed in the aftermath of the Iraq conflict, and deprive extremists of religious pretexts for Sunni-Shi'a violence. This is a first step toward ending religious justification for any violence, in the King's mind. ¶3. (C) The statement drew from King Abdullah's address to the conference, which urged the more than 170 scholars and clerics to unify the global Muslim community against threats to its integrity from both Muslims and non-Muslims. Reinforcing themes outlined in the "Amman Message," the King emphasized that divisions in the Islamic community, acts of violence and terrorism in the name of Islam, and the killing of Muslims in the name of religion violate the spirit of true Islam. ¶4. (U) The full text of the statement follows: In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Peace and Blessings be upon our master Mohammad and his Family. "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord who created you from a single soul..." (Al Nisa', 4.1) In accordance with the fatwas issued by the honorable and respectable Grand Imam Sheikh Al Azhar, the Grand Ayatollah Al Sayyid Ali Al Sistani, the honorable and respectable Grand Mufti of Egypt, the honorable and respectable Shi'a clerics (both Jaafari and Zaydi),the honorable and respectable Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Fiqh Academy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Grand Council for Religious Affairs of Turkey, the honorable and respectable Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the respectable members of its National Fatwa Committee, and the honorable and respectable Sheikh Dr. Yusef al-Qardawi. And in accordance with what was mentioned in the speech of His Majesty King Abdullah during the opening session of our conference; And in accordance with our own knowledge in sincerity to Allah the Bounteous; And in accordance with what was presented in this our conference by way of research papers and studies, and by way of the discussions that transpired in it; We, the undersigned, hereby express our approval and affirmation of what appears below: 1 -- Whosoever is an adherent of one of the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Hanafite, Malikite, Shafite, and Hanbalite),the Jaafari (Shi'a) school of jurisprudence, the Zaydi school of jurisprudence, the Ibadi school of jurisprudence, or the Thahiri school of jurisprudence, is a Muslim. Declaring that person an apostate is impossible. Verily his (or her) blood, honor and property are sacrosant. Moreover, in accordance with what appeared in a fatwa of the honorable and respectable Sheikh al Azhar, it is not possible to declare whosoever subscribes to the Ashaari creed or whoever practices true Sufism an apostate. Likewise, it is not possible to declare whosoever subscribes to true Salafi thought an apostate. Equally, it is note possible to declare as apostates any group of Muslim who believes in Allah the Mighty and Sublime and His Messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him) and the pillars of faith, and respects the pillars of Islam and does not deny any necessary article of religion. 2 -- There exists more in common between the various schools of jurisprudence than there is difference. The adherents to the eight schools of jurisprudence are in agreement as regards the basic Islamic principles. All believe in Allah the Mighty and Sublime, the One and the Unique, that the Noble Qur'an is the revealed word of Allah; and that our master Mohammad, may blessings and peace be upon him, is a prophet and messenger unto all mankind. All are in agreement about the five pillars of Islam: The two testaments of faith (shahadatayn),the ritual prayer (salat),almsgiving (zakat), fasting the month of Ramadan (Sawm),and the Hajj to the sacred house of Allah. All are also in agreement about the foundations of belief: belief in Allah, His Angels, His scriptures, His messengers, and in the day of judgment, in divine providence -- good and evil. Disagreements between the ulama is only with respect to the ancillary branches of religion (furou) and not the principles and fundamentals (usoul). Disagreement with respect to the ancillary branches of religion is a mercy. Long ago it was said that variance in opinion among ulama "is a good affair." 3 -- Acknowledgment of the schools of jurisprudence within Islam means adhering to a fundamental methodology in the issuance of fatwas. No one may issue a fatwa without the requisite personal qualifications which each school of jurisprudence defines. No one may issue a fatwa without adhering to the methodology of the schools of jurisprudence. No one may claim to do absolute ijtihad and create a new school of jurisprudence or to issue unacceptable fatwas that take Muslims out of the principles and certainties of the Shari'a and what has been established in respect of its schools of jurisprudence. 4 -- The essence of the Amman Message, which was issued on the Blessed Night of Power in the year 1425 Hijri and which was read aloud in Masjid al-Hashimiyyeen, is adherence to the schools of jurisprudence and their fundamental methodology. Acknowledging the schools of jurisprudence and affirming discussion and engagement between them ensures fairness, moderation, mutual forgiveness, compassion and engaging in dialogue with others. 5 -- We call for casting aside disagreement between Muslims and unifying their words and stances; reaffirming their mutual respect for each other; fortifying mutual affinity among their peoples and states; strengthening the ties of brotherhood which unite them in the mutual love of Allah. And we call upon Muslims to not permit discord and outside interference between them. Allah the Sublime says: "The believers are naught else than brothers. Therefore make peace between your brethren and observe your duty to Allah that ye may obtain mercy." (Al Hujurat, 49:10) Praise to be Allah alone. Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through the Department of State's SIPRNET home page. HALE