Muslim Scholars ‘are not subject to rulers’ wishes in any particular state’

The International Union of Muslim Scholars has reiterated that it is not subject to the wishes of any ruler and does not follow the rules of a particular state, Quds Press has reported. The scholars’ organisation stressed that it works for the good of all humanity.

“Since its inception, the Union has stood as a representative of moderate scholars and a fortification against terrorism and extremism from all sides and in all its forms,” it insisted in a press release on Friday. “It repeatedly calls for the establishment of the principles of freedom, justice and equality all over the world.”

Following a press conference in Doha, the Union rejected the allegations of terrorism levelled against it. “The accusations against the International Union of Muslim Scholars are unfounded. We consider the attempt to weaken the position of the religious leadership of an institution – which represents 90,000 Muslim scholars and hundreds of millions of Muslims – for political purposes to be unacceptable and irrational.” The “false allegations” stem from “desperate” policies, it said.

“We have consistently led religious dialogue with several parties to stand against extremism and terrorism and advocate peaceful coexistence,” the Union explained, adding:

The scholars linked to the international body provide direction, guidance, advocacy of moderation and religious tolerance to large numbers of scholars and teachers who deal with young people around the world today.

Muslim body: ‘We do not follow rule of particular state’

The International Union of Muslim Scholars said it reserves the right to take legal action to protect its reputation and status in the face of unfounded and patently false accusations.

The organisation’s Secretary-General, Professor Ali Al-Qaradaghi, told a conference on “Building Bridges in the era of Extremism and Media Distortion” on Friday that the Union is working to spread the principles of freedom, justice and peace in a world full of problems and crises.

“The International Union of Muslim Scholars was born from the Islamic Ummah, which has suffered enough from the extremist currents that are trying to distort the image of Islam, the religion of peace,” he asserted. “I assure you that the Ummah is fed up with the extremists. We are fed up with those who act superior to people and we are fed up with the scholars of leaders who follow their rules excessively and indifferently, or in extreme or lenient approaches.

Al-Qaradaghi stressed that the Union will continue to identify the difficulties and challenges which face the Ummah, and to provide solutions through an institutional framework, in which Muslim scholars have a pioneering role in leading peaceful coexistence with the rest of humanity.

Read: Siege by Muslim states on another is ‘forbidden,’ say scholars

He insisted that the Union has done great work in the field of combating extremism and terrorism and in promoting rapprochement between people in conflict. It has also held several conferences to reform the current religious education system to be a program that trains the world’s moderate scholars.

The Union was prompted to clarify its position after the four countries boycotting Qatar – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain – added it to their “terrorist” list last month.