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