Grand Mufti sanctions owning nuclear weapons, warns against using them.CAIRO: Egypt's top Muslim leader said Sunday the use of weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or by armed groups or individuals against non-Muslim states is not religiously sanctioned.According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the state news agency, Grand Mufti Noun 1. grand mufti - the chief mufti of a district mufti - a jurist who interprets Muslim religious law Ali Gomaa's fatwa fat·wa n. A legal opinion or ruling issued by an Islamic scholar. [Arabic fatw , or religious edict A decree or law of major import promulgated by a king, queen, or other sovereign of a government. An edict can be distinguished from a public proclamation in that an edict puts a new statute into effect whereas a public proclamation is no more than a declaration of a law , came in response to reports that some groups have sanctioned the use of weapons of mass destruction against non-Muslim nations. It is not clear who these groups were and what countries they were referring to. Gomaa said those edicts were "false...and a slander of religion." Fatwas are religious edicts which pious Muslims consider as explicit instruction and observe closely. They can be issued on a range of subjects -- from religious matters to mundane daily life matters. In his fatwa, Gomaa said it is legitimate for Muslim nations to have nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons as a deterrent, and only the leaders of those countries have the right to decide when to use them. The use of these weapons by groups against non-Muslim nations would violate Islamic teachings, he said, because it would harm Muslims living in those nations, noncombatants, and neighboring countries who are not involved. "This constitutes a surprise [attack], and killing of the unaware. It is not sanctioned to kill them," Gomaa said. "This act also would necessitate killing and annihilating an·ni·hi·late v. an·ni·hi·lat·ed, an·ni·hi·lat·ing, an·ni·hi·lates v.tr. 1. a. To destroy completely: The naval force was annihilated during the attack. Muslims in those countries," which is unlawful in Islam. Pakistan is the only Muslim nation with nuclear weapons. There are fears that Al-Qaeda-linked groups would acquire weapons of mass destruction, even in the most primitive form. --AP Aa Daily NewsEgypt 2009 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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