amman message

THEAMMAN

MESSAGE

the royal aal al-bayt institute for islamic thought2009 • jordan

the royal aal al-bayt institute for islamic thought

isbn 978-9957-428-30-3

CONTENTS

Introduction vTheAmman Message 1TheThree Points of theAmman Message 16Grand List of Signatories 23FrequentlyAsked Questions 84

INTRODUCTION

TheAmman Message started as a detailed statementreleased on the eve of the 27th of Ramadan 1425 ah

/ 9th November 2004ce by H.M. King Abdullah II binAl-Hussein in Amman, Jordan. It sought to declarewhat Islam is and what it is not, and what actions repre-sent it and what actions do not. Its goal was to clarify tothe modern world the true nature of Islam and thenature of true Islam.

In order to give this statement more religiousauthority, H.M. King Abdullah II then sent the follow-ing three questions to 24 of the most senior religiousscholars from all around the world representing all thebranches and schools of Islam: (1) Who is a Muslim? (2) Isit permissible to declare someone an apostate (takfir)? (3) Who

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has the right to undertake issuing fatwas (legal rulings)?Based on the fatwas provided by these great scholars

(who included the Sheikh Al-Azhar; Ayatollah Sistaniand Sheikh Qaradawi), in July 2005 ce, H.M. KingAbdullah II convened an international Islamic confer-ence of 200 of the world’s leading Islamic scholars‘Ulama) from 50 countries. In Amman, the scholarsunanimously issued a ruling on three fundamentalissues (which became known as the ‘Three Points of theAmman Message’):

1. They specifically recognized the validity of all 8Mathahib (legal schools) of Sunni, Shi‘a and IbadhiIslam; of traditional Islamic Theology (Ash‘arism);of Islamic Mysticism (Sufism), and of true Salafithought, and came to a precise definition of who isa Muslim.

2. Based upon this definition they forbade takfir (dec-larations of apostasy) between Muslims.

3. Based upon the Mathahib they set forth the subjec-tive and objective preconditions for the issuing offatwas, thereby exposing ignorant and illegitimateedicts in the name of Islam.

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TheseThree Points were then unanimously adoptedby the Islamic world’s political and temporal leader-ships at the Organization of the Islamic Conferencesummit at Mecca in December 2005. And over a periodof one year from July 2005 to July 2006, the “ThreePoints” were also unanimously adopted by six otherinternational Islamic scholarly assemblies, culminatingwith the International Islamic FiqhAcademy of Jeddah,in July 2006. In total, over 500 leading Muslim scholarsworldwide—as can be seen from the Grand List on thepages that follow—unanimously endorsed the AmmanMessage and its “Three Points”.

This amounts to a historical, universal and unani-mous religious and political consensus (ijma’) of theUmmah (nation) of Islam in our day, and a consolidationof traditional, orthodox Islam. The significance of thisis: (1) that it is the first time in over a thousand years thatthe Ummah has formally and specifically come to such apluralistic mutual inter-recognition; and (2) that such arecognition is religiously legally binding on Muslimssince the Prophet (may peace and blessings be uponhim) said: My Ummah will not agree upon an error (IbnMajah, Sunan, Kitab al-Fitan, Hadith no.4085).

This is good news not only for Muslims, for whom itprovides a basis for unity and a solution to infighting,

but also for non-Muslims. The safeguarding of the legalmethodologies of Islam (the Mathahib) necessarilymeans inherently preserving traditional Islam’s internal‘checks and balances’. It thus assures balanced Islamicsolutions for essential issues like human rights;women’s rights; freedom of religion; legitimate jihad;good citizenship of Muslims in non-Muslim countries,and just and democratic government. It also exposesthe illegitimate opinions of radical fundamentalists andterrorists from the point of view of true Islam. AsGeorge Yeo, the Foreign Minister of Singapore,declared in the 60th Session of the U.N. GeneralAssembly (about the Amman Message): “Without thisclarification, the war against terrorism would be muchharder to fight.”

Finally, whilst this—by the Grace of God—is a his-torical achievement, it will clearly remain onlyprincipial unless it is put into practice everywhere. Forthis reason, H.M. King Abdullah II is now seeking toimplement it, God willing, through various pragmaticmeasures, including (1) inter-Islamic treaties; (2) nation-al and international legislation using the “Three Points”of the Amman Message to define Islam and forbidtakfir; (3) the use of publishing and the multimedia in alltheir aspects to spread the Amman Message; (4) insti-

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tuting the teaching of the Amman Message in schoolcurricula and university courses worldwide; and (5) mak-ing it part of the training of mosque Imams andrequiring its inclusion in their sermons.

God says in the Holy Qur’an:There is no good in much of their secret conferences save(in) whosoever enjoineth charity and fairness andpeace-making among the people and whoso doeth that,seeking the good pleasure of God,We shall bestow on hima vast reward. (Al-Nisa,4:114).

THEAMMAN

MESSAGE

THEAMMAN MESSAGE

In the name of god, the Compassionate, theMerciful. Peace and blessings upon His chosenProphet, and upon his household, his noble blessed

companions, and upon all the messengers andprophets:

God Almighty has said: O humankind! We created youfrom a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribesthat you may know each other. Truly the most honored of youbefore God is the most pious of you. (49:13)

This is a declaration to our brethren in the lands ofIslam and throughout the world that Amman, the capi-tal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is proud toissue during the blessed month of Ramadan in which theQur’an descended as guidance to humankind and as clarifica-tions for guidance and discernment. (2:185)

In this declaration we speak frankly to the [Islamic]nation, at this difficult juncture in its history, regardingthe perils that beset it. We are aware of the challengesconfronting the nation, threatening its identity, assail-ing its tenets (kalima), and working to distort its religion

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and harm what is sacred to it. Today the magnanimousmessage of Islam faces a vicious attack from those whothrough distortion and fabrication try to portray Islamas an enemy to them. It is also under attack from somewho claim affiliation with Islam and commit irresponsi-ble acts in its name.

This magnanimous message that the Originator—great is His power—revealed to the unlettered ProphetMuhammad—(God’s blessings and peace upon him),and that was carried by his successors and the membersof his household after him, is an address of brother-hood, of humanity and a religion that encompasses allhuman activity. It states the truth directly, commandswhat is right, forbids what is wrong, honors the humanbeing, and accepts others.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has embracedthe path of promoting the true luminous image ofIslam, halting the accusations against it and repellingthe attacks upon it. This is in accordance with the in-herited spiritual and historical responsibility carried bythe Hashemite monarchy, honored as direct descen-dants of the Prophet, the Messenger of God—peaceand blessings upon him—who carried the message. Forfive decades, his late Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal—God rest his soul—demonstrated this way with the vig-

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orous eUort that he exerted. Since the day he took theflag, His Majesty King Abdullah II has continued thiseUort, with resolution and determination, as a serviceto Islam, fortifying the solidarity of 1.2 billion Muslimswho comprise one fifth of humanity, preventing theirmarginalization or extrication from the movement ofhuman society, and affirming their role in buildinghuman civilization and participating in its progress dur-ing our present age.

Islam is founded upon basic principles, the funda-mentals are attesting to the unity of God (tawhidAllah);belief in the message of His Prophet; continuous con-nection with the Creator through ritual prayer (salat);training and rectifying the soul through the fast ofRamadan; safeguarding one another by paying the almstax (zakat); the unity of the people through the annualpilgrimage (hajj) to God’s Sanctified House, [per-formed] by those who are able; and [observing] Hisrulings that regulate human behavior in all its dimen-sions. Over history these [basic principles] have formeda strong and cohesive nation and a great civilization.They bear witness to noble principles and values thatverify the good of humanity, whose foundation is theoneness of the human species, and that people are equalin rights and obligations, peace and justice, realizing

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comprehensive security, mutual social responsibility,being good to one’s neighbor, protecting belongingsand property, honoring pledges, and more.

Together, these are principles that provide commonground for the followers of religions and [diUerent]groups of people. That is because the origin of divinereligions is one, and Muslims believe in all Messengersof God and do not diUerentiate between any of them.Denying the message of any one of them is a deviationfrom Islam. This establishes a wide platform for thebelievers of [diUerent] religions to meet the other uponcommon ground, for the service of human society, with-out encroaching upon creedal distinctions or uponintellectual freedom. For all of this we base ourselvesupon His saying:

The messenger believes in what has been revealed untohim from his Lord as do the believers. Each one believesin God and His angels and His scriptures and His mes-sengers. We make no distinction between any of Hismessengers—and they say: “We hear, and we obey.[Grant us] Your forgiveness, our Lord. Unto You is thejourneying.” (2:285)

Islam honors every human being, regardless of his

color, race or religion: We have honored the sons of Adam,provided them transport on land and sea, sustained them withgood things, and conferred on them special favors above a greatpart of our creation. (17:70)

Islam also affirms that the way of calling [others] toGod is founded upon kindness and gentleness: Call tothe path of your Lord with wisdom and a beautiful exhorta-tion, and debate with them in that which is most beautiful(ahsan). (16:125) Furthermore, it shuns cruelty and vio-lence in how one faces and addresses [others]:

It is by some Mercy of God that you were gentle to them.Were you severe—cruel hearted—they would have bro-ken away from you. So pardon them and ask forgivenessfor them and consult with them in the conduct of affairs.And when you are resolved, put your trust in God; trulyGod loves those who trust [in Him]. (3:159)

Islam has made clear that the goal of its message isrealizing mercy and good for all people. TheTranscendent has said, We did not send you [Muhammad]but out of mercy for all creatures (21:107). And the ProphetMuhammad—blessings and peace upon Him—said,“The Merciful has mercy upon those who are merciful,be merciful to those on earth, He who is in heaven willbe merciful unto you.”

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Islam calls for treating others as one desires to betreated. It urges the tolerance and forgiveness thatexpress the nobility of the human being: The recompensefor an evil is an evil equal thereto, but who forgives and recon-ciles, his recompense is from God. (42:40) Good and evil arenot equal. Repel with what is most virtuous. Then he betweenwhom and you there is enmity will be as if he were an intimatefriend. (41:34)

Islam confirms the principle of justice in interactingwith others, safeguarding their rights, and confirms thatone must not deny people their possessions: And let notthe hatred of others make you swerve to wrong and depart fromjustice. Be just: that is closer to piety; (5:8) God commands you toreturn trusts to their owners, and if you judge between people,you shall judge with justice; (4:58) So give [full] measure and[full] weight and do not deny the people their goods, and workno corruption in the land, after it has been set right. (7:85)

Islam requires respect for pledges and covenants,and adhering to what has been specified; and it forbidstreachery and treason: Fulfill the covenant of God whenyou have entered into it, and break not oaths after they havebeen confirmed and you have made God your surety; truly Godknows what you do. (16:91)

Islam recognizes the noble station of [human] life, sothere is to be no fighting against non-combatants, and

no assault upon civilians and their properties, childrenat their mothers’ bosom, students in their schools, norupon elderly men and women.Assault upon the life of ahuman being, be it murder, injury or threat, is an assaultupon the right to life among all human beings. It isamong the gravest of sins; for human life is the basis forthe prosperity of humanity: Whoever kills a soul for otherthan slaying a soul or corruption upon the earth it is as if he haskilled the whole of humanity, and whoever saves a life, it is asif has revived the whole of humanity. (5:32)

The primordial religion of Islam is founded uponequanimity, balance, moderation, and facilitation: Thushave we made of you a middle nation that you might be wit-nesses over the people, and the Messenger a witness overyourselves. (2:143) The Prophet Muhammad—peace andblessings upon him—said: “Facilitate and do not makedifficult, bear good tidings and do not deter.” Islam hasprovided the foundation for the knowledge, reflectionand contemplation that has enabled the creation of thisdeep-rooted civilization that was a crucial link by whichtheWest arrived at the gates of modern knowledge, andin whose accomplishments non-Muslims participated,as a consequence of its being a comprehensive humancivilization.

No day has passed but that this religion has been at

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war against extremism, radicalism and fanaticism, forthey veil the intellect from foreseeing negative conse-quences [of one’s actions]. Such blind impetuousnessfalls outside the human regulations pertaining to reli-gion, reason and character. They are not from the truecharacter of the tolerant, accepting Muslim.

Islam rejects extremism, radicalism and fanati-cism—just as all noble, heavenly religions rejectthem— considering them as recalcitrant ways andforms of injustice. Furthermore, it is not a trait thatcharacterizes a particular nation; it is an aberration thathas been experienced by all nations, races, and reli-gions. They are not particular to one people; truly theyare a phenomenon that every people, every race andevery religion has known.

We denounce and condemn extremism, radicalismand fanaticism today, just as our forefathers tirelesslydenounced and opposed them throughout Islamic his-tory. They are the ones who affirmed, as do we, the firmand unshakeable understanding that Islam is a religionof [noble] character traits in both its ends and means; areligion that strives for the good of the people, theirhappiness in this life and the next; and a religion thatcan only be defended in ways that are ethical; and theends do not justify the means in this religion.

The source of relations between Muslims and othersis peace; for there is no fighting [permitted] when thereis no aggression. Even then, [it must be done with]benevolence, justice and virtue: God does not prevent you,as regards those who do not fight you in religion’s [cause], nordrive you from your homes, from dealing kindly and justlywith them: truly God loves the just; (60:8) Then if they cease,let there be no aggression, save against the oppressors. (2:193)

On religious and moral grounds, we denounce thecontemporary concept of terrorism that is associatedwith wrongful practices, whatever their source andform may be. Such acts are represented by aggressionagainst human life in an oppressive form that trans-gresses the rulings of God, frightening those who aresecure, violating peaceful civilians, finishing oU thewounded, and killing prisoners; and they employ uneth-ical means, such as destroying buildings and ransackingcities: Do not kill the soul that God has made sacrosanct, savefor justice. (6:151)

We condemn these practices and believe that resist-ing oppression and confirming justice should be alegitimate undertaking through legitimate means. Wecall on the people to take the necessary steps to achievethe strength and steadfastness for building identity andpreserving rights.

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We realize that over history extremism has beeninstrumental in destroying noble achievements in greatcivilizations, and that the tree of civilization witherswhen malice takes hold and breasts are shut. In all itsshapes,extremismisastranger toIslam,which is foundedupon equanimity and tolerance. No human whose hearthasbeen illuminedbyGodcouldbearadicalextremist.

At the same time, we decry the campaign of brazendistortion that portrays Islam as a religion that encour-ages violence and institutionalizes terrorism. We callupon the international community to work earnestly toimplement international laws and honor the interna-tional mandates and resolutions issued by the UnitedNations, ensuring that all parties accept them and thatthey be enacted without double standards, to guaranteethe return of rights to their [rightful] holders and theend of oppression. Achieving this will be a significantcontribution to uprooting the causes of violence,fanaticism and extremism.

The way of this great religion that we are honoredto belong to calls us to affiliate with and participate inmodern society, and to contribute to its elevation andprogress, helping one another with every faculty [toachieve] good and to comprehend, desiring justice forall peoples, while faithfully proclaiming the truth [of

our religion], and sincerely expressing the soundness ofour faith and beliefs—all of which are founded uponGod’s call for coexistence and piety. [We are called] towork toward renewing our civilization, based upon theguidance of religion, and following upon establishedpractical intellectual policies.

The primary components of these policies comprisedeveloping methods for preparing preachers, with thegoal of ensuring that they realize the spirit of Islam andits methodology for structuring human life, as well asproviding them with knowledge of contemporary cul-ture, so that they are able to interact with theircommunities on the basis of awareness and insight: Say,“This is my way. I, and those who follow me, call for God withinsight.” (12:108); taking advantage of the communica-tion revolution to refute the doubts that the enemies ofIslam are arousing, in a sound, intellectual manner,without weakness or agitation, and with a style thatattracts the reader, the listener and the viewer; consoli-dating the educational structure for individualMuslims, who are confident in their knowledge andabilities, working to form the integral identity that pro-tects against corrupting forces; interest in scientificresearch and working with the modern sciences uponthe basis of the Islamic perspective that distinguishes

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between creation, life and the human being; benefitingfrom modern achievements in the fields of science andtechnology; adopting an Islamic approach for realizingthe comprehensive development that is founded upon[maintaining] the delicate balance between the spiritu-al, economic and social dimensions [of life]; providingfor human rights and basic liberties, ensuring life, digni-ty and security, and guaranteeing basic needs;administering the aUairs of society in accordance withthe principles of justice and consultation; and benefit-ing from the goods and mechanisms for adoptingdemocracy that human society has presented.

Hope lies in the scholars of our Nation, that throughthe reality of Islam and its values they will enlighten theintellects of our youth—the ornament of our presentage and the promise of our future. The scholars shieldour youth from the danger of sliding down the paths ofignorance, corruption, close-mindedness and subordi-nation. It is our scholars who illuminate for them thepaths of tolerance, moderation, and goodness, and pre-vent them from [falling] into the abysses of extremismand fanaticism that destroy the spirit and body.

We look to our scholars to lead us in partaking of ourrole and verifying our priorities, that they may be exem-plars in religion, character, conduct, and discerning

enlightened speech, presenting to the nation their noblereligion that brings ease [in all matters] and its practicallaws in which lie the awakening and joy of the nation.Among the individuals of the nation and throughout theregions of the world, they disseminate good, peace andbenevolence, through subtle knowledge, insightful wis-dom and political guidance in all matters, uniting andnot dividing, appeasing hearts and not deterring them,looking to the horizons of fulfillment to meet therequirements and challenges of the 21st century.

We ask God to prepare for our Islamic Nation thepaths of renaissance, prosperity and advancement; toshield it from the evils of extremism and close-minded-ness; to preserve its rights, sustain its glory, and upholdits dignity. What an excellent Lord is He, and what anexcellent Supporter.

GodAlmighty says:This is My straight path, so follow it.And follow not the [other] ways, lest you be parted from Hisway. This has He ordained for you, that you may be God-fear-ing. (6:152 153)

And the last of our supplications is that praise be toGod, Lord of the worlds. (10:10) �

Amman Ramadan 1425hijriThe Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan November 2004ce

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the three pointsof the amman message

the official text of the three points(version 1)

(1) Whosoever is an adherent to one of the four Sunnischools (Mathahib) of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafi‘i and Hanbali), the two Shi‘i schools ofIslamic jurisprudence (Ja‘fari and Zaydi), the Ibadischool of Islamic jurisprudence and the Thahiri schoolof Islamic jurisprudence, is a Muslim. Declaring thatperson an apostate is impossible and impermissible.Verily his (or her) blood, honour, and property areinviolable. Moreover, in accordance with the SheikhAl-Azhar’s fatwa, it is neither possible nor permissibleto declare whosoever subscribes to the Ash‘ari creed orwhoever practices real Tasawwuf (Sufism) an apostate.Likewise, it is neither possible nor permissible todeclare whosoever subscribes to true Salafi thought anapostate.

Equally, it is neither possible nor permissible todeclare as apostates any group of Muslims who believesin God, Glorified and Exalted be He, and HisMessenger (may peace and blessings be upon him) andthe pillars of faith, and acknowledges the five pillars ofIslam, and does not deny any necessarily self-evidenttenet of religion.

(2) There exists more in common between the variousschools of Islamic jurisprudence than there isdifference between them. The adherents to the eightschools of Islamic jurisprudence are in agreement asregards the basic principles of Islam. All believe inAllah (God), Glorified and Exalted be He, the One andthe Unique; that the Noble Qur’an is the RevealedWord of God; and that our master Muhammad, mayblessings and peace be upon him, is a Prophet andMessenger unto all mankind. All are in agreementabout the five pillars of Islam: the two testaments offaith (shahadatayn); the ritual prayer (salat); almsgiving(zakat); fasting the month of Ramadan (sawm), and theHajj to the sacred house of God (in Mecca). All are alsoin agreement about the foundations of belief: belief inAllah (God), His angels, His scriptures, Hismessengers, and in the Day of Judgment, in Divine

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Providence in good and in evil. Disagreementsbetween the ‘ulama (scholars) of the eight schools ofIslamic jurisprudence are only with respect to theancillary branches of religion (furu‘) and not as regardsthe principles and fundamentals (usul) [of the religionof Islam]. Disagreement with respect to the ancillarybranches of religion (furu‘) is a mercy. Long ago it wassaid that variance in opinion among the ‘ulama(scholars) “is a good affair”.

(3) Acknowledgement of the schools of Islamicjurisprudence (Mathahib) within Islam means adheringto a fundamental methodology in the issuance offatwas: no one may issue a fatwa without the requisitepersonal qualifications which each school of Islamicjurisprudence determines [for its own adherents]. Noone may issue a fatwa without adhering to themethodology of the schools of Islamic jurisprudence.No one may claim to do absolute Ijtihad and create anew school of Islamic jurisprudence or to issueunacceptable fatwas that take Muslims out of theprinciples and certainties of the Shari‘ah and what hasbeen established in respect of its schools ofjurisprudence.

the three points endorsed at the islamicfiqh academy conference (version 2)

The Official version of the three points of the AmmanMessage (see above) was the version signed by most of thesignatories listed in the Grand List on the following pages.Thethree points were also endorsed at the Islamic Fiqh Academy’s17th session held in Amman, Jordan, on 24th-28th June, 2006.The text had slight variations to the official text yet itfollowed an essentially identical form. This is duly noted asversion 2 in the Grand List.The full text is as follows:

(1) Whosoever is an adherent to one of the four Sunnischools (Mathahib) of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafi‘i and Hanbali), the two Shi‘i schools ofIslamic jurisprudence (Ja‘fari and Zaydi), the Ibadischool of Islamic jurisprudence and the Thahiri schoolof Islamic jurisprudence, is a Muslim. Declaring thatperson an apostate is impossible and impermissible.Verily his (or her) blood, honour, and property areinviolable. Moreover, in accordance with the SheikhAl-Azhar’s fatwa, it is neither possible nor permissibleto declare whosoever subscribes to the Ash‘ari creed orwhoever practices real Tasawwuf (Sufism) an apostate.

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Likewise, it is neither possible nor permissible todeclare whosoever subscribes to true Salafi thought anapostate.

Equally, it is neither possible nor permissible todeclare as apostates any other group of Muslims thatbelieves in God, Glorified and Exalted be He, and HisMessenger (may peace and blessings be upon him), thepillars of faith (Iman), and the five pillars of Islam, anddoes not deny any necessarily self-evident tenet ofreligion.

(2) There exists more in common between the variousschools of Islamic jurisprudence than there is differencebetween them. The adherents to the eight schools ofIslamic jurisprudence are in agreement as regards thebasic principles of Islam. All believe in Allah (God),Glorified and Exalted be He, the One and the Unique;that the Noble Qur’an is the RevealedWord of God pre-served and protected by God, Exalted be He, from anychange or aberration; and that our master Muhammad,may blessings and peace be upon him, is a Prophet andMessenger unto all mankind.All are in agreement aboutthe five pillars of Islam: the two testaments of faith (sha-hadatayn); the ritual prayer (salat); almsgiving (zakat);

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fasting the month of Ramadan (sawm), and the Hajj tothe sacred house of God (in Mecca).All are also in agree-ment about the foundations of belief: belief in Allah(God), His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, andin the Day of Judgment, in Divine Providence in goodand in evil. Disagreements between the ‘ulama (scholars)of the eight schools of Islamic jurisprudence are onlywith respect to the ancillary branches of religion (furu‘)and some fundamentals (usul) [of the religion of Islam].Disagreement with respect to the ancillary branches ofreligion (furu`) is a mercy. Long ago it was said that vari-ance in opinion among the ‘ulama (scholars) “is a mercy”.

(3) Acknowledgement of the schools of Islamicjurisprudence (Mathahib) within Islam means adheringto a fundamental methodology in the issuance offatwas: no one may issue a fatwa without the requisitequalifications of knowledge. No one may issue a fatwawithout adhering to the methodology of the schoolsof Islamic jurisprudence. No one may claim to dounlimited Ijtihad and create a new opinion or issueunacceptable fatwas that take Muslims out of theprinciples and certainties of the Shari‘ah and what hasbeen established in respect of its schools ofjurisprudence.

(July 2005–July 2006)Total number of signatures:552 * from84 countries

code / conference

§ True Islam and Its Role in Modern SocietyConference,Amman (July 2005)[three points version 1] - signed

¶ Forum of Muslim Ulama andThinkers, Mecca(September 2005) - endorsed

* Islamic Schools of Jurisprudence Conference,AalAl-Bayt University, Jordan (November 2005)- endorsed

∞ 9th Session of the Council of Ministers of ReligiousEndowments and IslamicAffairs, Kuwait(November 2005) - endorsed

∫ 3rd Extraordinary Session, OIC, Mecca(December 2005) - endorsed

≈ Moderate IslamicThought and Culture,Amman(April 2006) [three points version 1] - signed

◊ International FiqhAcademy Conference,Amman(June 2006) [three points version 2] - signed

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grand list of all religious and politicalleaders who have endorsed the amman

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π Muslims of Europe Conference, Istanbul(July 2006) - endorsed

islamic republic of afghanistan

1 H.E.Mr.HamidKarzai ∫President

2 Amb.NusairAhmadNour §AfghaniAmbassador to QatarIslamic Envoy of the Government ofAfghanistan

republic of albania

3 H.E.Mr.FlorentCeliku ∫Deputy Minister of ForeignAffairs

4 Mr.TahirZenelhasani π

people’s democratic republic of algeria

5 H.E.Mr.AbdelAzizBelkhadem ∫Minister of ForeignAffairs

6 H.E.Lakhdar Ibrahimi §Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the UnitedNations; Former Foreign Minister ofAlgeria

157

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signatories

7 Prof.Dr.AbdAllahbinal-HajjMuhammadAlGhulamAllah §Minister of ReligiousAffairs

8 Dr.Mustafa Sharif §Minister of Higher Education andFormerAlgerianAmbassador to Cairo

9 SheikhYusuf binMahdi ¶Professor and Member of the Fatwa Committee inAlgeria

10 Dr.Sa‘idShayban §Former Minister of ReligiousAffairs

11 Prof.Dr.AmmarAl-Talibi §Department of Philosophy, University ofAlgeria

12 Mr.Abu JaraAl-Sultani § ≈Head of theAlgerian Peace Society Movement

13 Dr.Ammar Jaydal *Batina University

14 Dr.MuhammadZurman *Batina University

australia

15 SheikhSalim‘Ulwanal-Hassani fatwa §Secretary General Darulfatwa, Islamic High Council

16 Ms.MahaKarimAbdo ≈

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austria

17 Prof.AnasAl-Shaqfa §Head of the Islamic Commission

18 AymanAly πFederation of the Islamic Organizations in Europe, Graz

19 Mr.TarafaBaghajati § πInitiative ofAustrian Muslims

republic of azerbaijan

20 H.E.Mr.IlhamAliev ∫President

21 SheikhAl-IslamAllah-ShakurbinHemmatBashazada §Grand Mufti, MuslimAdministration of the Caucasus

kingdom of bahrain

22 H.M.KingHamadbin IsaAlKhalifa ∫

23 SheikhDr.MuhammadAliAl-Sutri §Minister of Justice

24 Dr.FaridbinYa‘qubAl-Miftah § ¶Undersecretary of the Ministry for IslamicAffairs

25 Mr.MansourAl-Jamri ≈26 Dr.IbrahimFadilAl-Dibbo ◊

Professor, Faculty of Humanities, University of Bahrain

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people’s republic of bangladesh

27 H.E.BegumKhaledaZia ∫Prime Minister

28 Prof.Dr.AbuAl-HasanSadiq §President of theAsian University of Bangladesh

29 Prof.ShamshirAli ¶President of theAcademy of Sciencesand UniversityVice-President

belgium

30 Mr.IsmailBatakli πProfessor of Islamic Studies

31 Mr.MohamedBoulif πPresident, Islamic Executive Council

32 Mr.AhmedBouziane π

33 Dr.KarimChemlal πPasteur Institute, Lille

34 Mrs.MalikaHamidi-Hosseinpour πCoordinator, European Muslim Network

35 Mr.IbrahimKocaoglu π

36 SheikhYacobMahi πProfessor of Islamic Studies,Athénée Royal Léonardo daVinci

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37 Dr.AbdelmajidMhauchi πProfessor of Islamic Studies

38 Mr.KhalladSwaid πPresident, FEMYSO

republic of benin

39 H.E.Mr.Dzulkifli Salami ∫Senior Minister of Planning, Economy and Development

40 SheikhFathi Shitu ◊

bosnia and herzegovina

41 Prof.Dr.SheikhMustafaCeric § πHead of the ‘Ulama’ and Grand Mufti of Bosnia andHerzegovina

42 Prof.HasanMakic §Mufti of Bihac

43 H.E.ProfessorEnesKaric ¶Professor in the Faculty of Islamic Studies

44 Prof.AnesLjevakovic §Researcher and Lecturer, Islamic Studies College

45 Dr.AhmetAlibasic πLecturer, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Sarajevo

46 Mr.AmerBukvic πIslamic Development Bank

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signatories

47 ImamSenaidKobilica πVice President, Islamic Council of Norway

48 Mr.MirnesKovac πJournalist, Preporod Islamic Newspaper

49 Dr.SukrijaRamic πUniversity of Zenica

brunei darussalam

50 H.M.SultanHajiHassanalBolkiah ∫

51 Prof.Suhaili binHajjMuhyiAl-Din ◊Deputy Mufti of Brunei

burkina faso

52 H.E.Mr.YoussoufOuedraogo ∫Minister of State, Minister of ForeignAffairs

53 Dr.AbuBakrDakuri ¶ ◊Member of the Executive Council, ISESCO

brazil

54 SheikhAliMuhammadAbduni §Representative of the International IslamicYouth Club inLatinAmerica; Accredited Religious Representative ofthe DarAl-Fatwa of the Republic of Lebanon in Sao Paolo

30

republic of cameroon

55 H.E.Mr.MarfaHamidouYaya ∫Minister of State

56 SheikhMahmudMalbakri ◊Imam, Grand Mosque and President of the Council of‘Ulama’

canada

57 SheikhFarazRabbani §Hanafi Scholar, Seekersguidance.com

58 Mr.FouzanKhan πReviving the Islamic Spirit Organization

republic of chad

59 H.E.Mr.IdrisDerby ∫President

60 SheikhDr.HusseinHasanAbkar §President, Higher Council for IslamicAffairs, Chad

61 Mr.Tijani SabunMuhammad ◊union of comoros

62 H.E.Mr.KubMohamedLisharti ∫Deputy President

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31

signatories

republic of cote d’ivoire

63 H.E.Mr.HamzaSalleh ∫Ambassador to Riyadh

denmark

64 Imam FatihAlev πDanishAssociation of Cybermuslims

republic of djibuti

65 H.E.Mr.IsmailOmarGulleh ∫President

66 SheikhAbdAl-RahmanSulaymanBashir ¶Member of the Higher Judiciary Council

arab republic of egypt

67 H.E.Mr.MohamedHosniMubarak ∫President

68 H.E.Grand ImamProf.Dr.MuhammadSayyidTantawi fatwaSheikhAl-Azhar

69 Prof.Dr.MahmudHamdiZaqzuq § ∞Minister of ReligiousAffairs

70 Prof.Dr.Ali Jumu‘a fatwa § * ∫ ◊Grand Mufti of theArab Republic of Egypt

32

71 Prof.Dr.AhmadMuhammadAl-Tayyib §President ofAl-Azhar University

72 Prof.Dr.KamalAbuAl-Majd §Islamic Intellectual; Former Minister of Information;Attorney in the Court of Cassation

73 Dr.MuhammadAl-AhmadiAbuAl-Nur § *Former Minister of ReligiousAffairs in theArab Republicof Egypt; Professor, Faculty of Islamic Law,YarmoukUniversity, Jordan

74 Prof.Dr.FawziAl-Zifzaf §Chairman of the Permanent Committee of the NobleAl-Azhar for DialogueAmong the Heavenly Religions;Member of theAcademy of Islamic Research

75 Prof.Dr.HasanHanafi §Researcher and Islamic Intellectual, Department ofPhilosophy, Cairo University; Fellow of theAal al-BaytInstitute for IslamicThought

76 Prof.Dr.MuhammadMuhammadAl-Kahlawi §Secretary General, Union of IslamicArchaeologists;Dean, Faculty ofAntiquities, Fayyum Branch, CairoUniversity

77 Prof.Dr.AymanFuadSayyid §Former Secretary General, DarAl-KutubAl-Misriyya

78 SheikhDr.ZaghlulNajjar §Head of the Committee on the Miraculous Nature of the

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33

signatories

Qur’an in the Higher Council for IslamicAffairs, Egypt

79 SheikhMoezMasood §Islamic Missionary

80 Prof.Dr.MuhammadAl-Dasuqi *Researcher and Member of the Forum for theProximity of the Islamic Schools of Jurisprudence

81 Mr.AmrKhaled πIslamic Missionary

82 Mr.BaraKherigi πDirector,Awakening Records

83 Dr.HebaRaouf Ezzat πDepartment of Political Science, Cairo University

84 Dr.Ja‘farAbdussalam ◊President of the League of Islamic Universities

85 Dr.ShawqiAhmadDunya ◊Dean of the (Women’s) Faculty of Commerce,Al-AzharUniversity

86 Dr.‘Umar‘AbdAl-Kafi ≈

87 Dr.Huda‘AbdAl-Sami‘ ≈

88 Eng.‘AmrFarukFarid ≈

89 Mr.MuhammadAl-SammanLutfi ≈

34

90 Eng.AbuAl-‘AlaMadi ≈

91 Dr.‘AbdAl-WahhabAl-Masiri ≈

92 Dr.‘AbdAl-HalimOweis ≈

93 Mr.AhmadSha‘ban ≈

94 Mr.HusamTammam ≈

95 Mr.MuntasirAl-Zayyat ≈

96 Dr.Ragedal-Sirjani §

97 Dr.MuhammadHidaya §

98 Dr.MuhammadAbdal-Mun‘imAbuZayd ◊Professor, Faculty of Shari‘ah, Department of IslamicEconomics,Yarmouk University

republic of france

99 SheikhProf.DalilAbuBakr §Chairman of the France Supreme Council of the IslamicReligion and Dean of the Paris Mosque

100 Dr.HusaynRais §Director of CulturalAffairs, Paris Grand Mosque

101 Prof.Dr.AbdAl-MajidAl-Najjar *President of the Islamic Centre, Paris

102 Dr.FouadAlaoui πPresident, Union of Islamic Organizations in France

the amman message

35

signatories

(UOIF)

103 Ms.FatihaAjbli πSociologist

104 Ms.SihamAndalouci πMember, Présence Musulman

105 Dr.AhmedBakcan πRepresentative, Milli Görüs

106 Mr.AbdelwahebBakli πPresident, MuslimYouth of France

107 SheikhKhalidAdlenBentounes πAlawiyah Sufi Order; Honorary President of theInternationalAssociation of the Friends of Islam

108 Mr.ElHadjiBabouBiteye πPresident, Muslim Students of France (EMF)

109 Mr.LajThamiBreze πUnion of Islamic Organizations in France (UOIF)

110 Mr.HaydarDemiryürek πSecretary General,The Islamic Council of France

111 Dr.BoubakerElHadjAmor πTreasurer, Union of Islamic Organizations in France(UOIF)

112 SheikhOunisGuergah πHead of the Fatwa House, Paris

36

113 Prof.Dr.ÖmerFarukHarman πDITIP, Germany

114 Mr.Fouad Imarraine πCollective of Muslims of France

115 Dr.Ahmed Jaballah πMember of the European Council for Fatwa and Research,France

116 Mrs.NouraBenHamouda Jaballah πPresident of EuropeanWomen Forum (France)

117 Dr.ZuhairMahmood πInstitute for the Human Sciences (IESH), Paris

118 Dr.MohamedMestiri πDirector, International Institute of IslamicThought, Paris

119 Mr.AbdelmajidNajar π

120 Ms.NoraRami πFree Community Organization, Paris

121 SheikhZakaria Seddiki π122 Dr.MuhamadBashari ◊

President, Federal Society for Muslims in France

republic of gabon

123 H.E.ElhadjAliBongoAwadamba ∫

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37

signatories

Minister of National Defence and Chairman of theSupreme Council for IslamicAffairs and Special Envoy ofthe President

republic of gambia

124 H.E.AlhajiDr.YahyaA.J. J. Jammeh ∫President

125 Mr.SambaFall ∞Minister of ForeignAffairs,Youth, Sport, and ReligiousAffairs, Gambia

126 Prof.Dr.Omar Jah ¶ ◊Former DeputyAssistant to the President for SpecialAssistance Programs, Islamic Development Bank,Jeddah

republic of germany

127 Prof.Dr.MuradHofmann §Former GermanAmbassador to Morocco; Intellectualand Researcher

128 SheikhSalahAl-DinAl-Ja‘farawi §Assistant Secretary-General of theWorld Council forIslamic Propagation

129 Mr.RidvanÇakir πPresident,Turkish-Islamic Union of Germany

130 SheikhBashirAhmadDultz πGerman Muslim League

38

131 Mr.Belal El-Mogaddedi π

132 Mr.IbrahimF.El-Zayat πHead of Public Relations, Federation of IslamicOrganisations in Europe (FIOE)

133 Dr.SabihaEl-Zayat πCentre for IslamicWomen Studies, Institutefor the Human Sciences (IESH), Paris

134 Mr.MesudGülbahar πIGMG President ofYouth Organisations, Germany

135 Mr.AliKizilkaya πHead, Islamic Council of Germany

136 Dr.EyüpA.Köhler π

137 Mr.MichaelMuhammedAbduhPfaff πGerman Muslim League

138 Mr.CelalTüter πIGMG President of University Org., Germany

139 Mr.RecepYildirim πEuropeanAssociation ofTurkish Cultural Centers,Germany

140 Mr.OsmanYoba π

141 Mr.NabilChabib ≈

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39

signatories

republic of guinea

142 H.E.Mr.CellouDaleinDiallo ∫Prime Minister

143 Mr.Al-HusayniDiallo ¶Inspector General, Ministry of Justice

144 Prof.Dr.QutbMustafa Sanu ◊Department of Usul al-Fiqh, International IslamicUniversity of Malaysia

republic of india

145 H.E.MaulanaMahmoodMadani § πMember of Parliament; General Secretary, JamiatUlema-i-Hindi

146 Prince Ja‘farAl-SadiqMufaddal SayfAl-Din §Islamic Intellectual

147 PrinceTahaSayfAl-Din §Islamic Intellectual

148 Prof.Dr.SayyidAwsafAli §President of Hamdard University

149 Prof.Dr.AkhtarAl-Wasi §Head of the Bureau of Islamic Studies, Dean of theCollege of Humanities and Languages; Director of theDhakir Husayn Centre for Islamic Studies

40

republic of indonesia

150 H.E.Dr.AlawibinShihab ∫Coordinating Minister for People’sWelfareand Special Envoy of the President

151 Dr.MuhammadMaftuhBasyuni ∞Minister of ReligiousAffairs

152 Dr.TuttyAlawiyah §President,Al-Shafi‘i Islamic University

153 Amb.RabhanAbdAl-Wahhab §Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to theHashemite Kingdom of Jordan

154 SheikhAl-HajjAhmadHashimMuzadi §Chairman, Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia

155 SheikhRozyMunir §Vice-Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama,Indonesia

156 Mr.Muhamad Iqbal Sullam §International Conference of Islamic Scholars, Indonesia

157 Dr.MuhammadMasyuriNaim ¶Professor, Islamic University

158 Prof.Dr.M.DinSyamsuddin πChairman of Muhammadiyah

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signatories

islamic republic of iran

159 SupremeSpiritual LeaderGrandAyatollahAl-SayyidAliKhamenei fatwa

160 H.E.Dr.MahmoodAhmedinejad ∫President

161 GrandAyatollahSheikhMuhammadAliAl-Taskhirifatwa § ¶ ◊Secretary General, Forum for the Proximity of the IslamicSchools of Jurisprudence

162 GrandAyatollahAl-SayyidFadil Lankarani fatwa

163 GrandAyatollahMuhammadWaez-zadehAl-Khorasani § ◊Former Secretary General, Forum for the Proximity of theIslamic Schools of Jurisprudence

164 GrandAyatollahProf.Dr. Sayyid Mustafa MohagheghDamad §Director of theAcademy of Sciences; Justice in theMinistry of Justice; Head of the Inspectorate General

165 HujjatAl-IslamDr.MahmoudMohammadi Iraqi §Chairman of the Cultural League and Islamic Relationsin the Islamic Republic of Iran

166 Dr.Al-SayyidMahmoudMar‘ashiAl-Najafi §Head of the GrandAyatollah Mar‘ashiAl-Najafi Library

167 Dr.MuhammadAliAdharshab §

42

Secretary-General,Arab-Iranian Friendship Society

168 Mr.MurtadaHashimBurQadi §Secretary-General, Bureau for International Relations,Great Islamic Encyclopaedia

169 SheikhAbbasAli Sulaymani §Representative of the Supreme Spiritual Leaderin Eastern Iran

170 Mr.GhulamRidaMirzai §Member, Consultative Council

171 Dr.SyedMuhammadRidaKhatimi §Political leader; Former Deputy Speaker of the IranianParliament

172 SheikhMuhammadShari‘ati §FormerAdvisor to the President of Iran; Member ofParliament

173 Amb.MuhammadKazemKhuwansari ◊Permanent Representative of Iran to the OIC

174 Mr.MaShaAllahMahmoudShamsAl-Waithin §Journalist andWriter

175 Dr.RuqayyaRustumYurmaki *Imam Sadiq University

176 Dr.MojganSakhaei *Imam Sadiq University

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43

signatories

177 SheikhAhmadMablaghi ◊Professor, Qom Seminary

178 Dr.GholamRezaNoor-Mohammadi ◊Director, Centre for Islamic Medical Research, Imam al-Sadiq University, Qom; Professor, Faculty of Medicine,University ofTehran

179 SheikhHassan JawahiriZadeh ◊Professor, Religious Seminary, Qom

republic of iraq

180 H.E.Mr.JalalTalabani ∫President

181 GrandAyatollahAl-SayyidAli Sistani fatwa

182 GrandAyatollahSheikh IshaqAl-Fayad fatwa

183 GrandAyatollahAl-SayyidMuhammadSa‘idAl-Hakimfatwa

184 GrandAyatollahSheikhBashirAl-Najafi fatwa

185 GrandAyatollahAl-SayyidSheikhHussein Isma‘ilAl-Sadr fatwa

186 GrandAyatollahSheikhHusaynAl-Mu‘ayyad § *Knowledge Forum, Baghdad

187 GrandAyatollahAhmadal-Bahadili §

44

Islamic Missionary

188 SheikhDr.HarithAl-Dari ≈Head of Ulema Organization

189 Dr.Muhsin‘AbdAl-Hamid ≈

190 Dr.AhmadAbdAl-GhaffurAl-Samara‘i §Head of the Diwan of the SunniWaqf

191 Al-SayyidAbdal-SahibAl-Khoei §Secretary General, ImamAl-Khoei Benevolent Foundation

192 Al-SayyidMuhammadAl-Musawi §Secretary General,World IslamicAhlAl-Bayt League

193 SheikhDr.MahmoudMuhammadDawudAl-Sumayda‘i ≈

194 Prof.Dr.AbdAl-AzizAl-Duri §Researcher and Historian, Department of History,University of Jordan; Fellow of theAal al-Bayt Institute forIslamicThought

195 Prof.Dr.BashsharAwwadMarouf § *Researcher and Editor; Fellow of theAal al-Bayt Institutefor IslamicThought

196 SheikhAbbasAliKashifAl-Ghita §College of Islamic Studies, University of al-Kufa

197 Dr.AbdAl-HamidAl-Najdi §Islamic Intellectual

198 SheikhWalidFarajAllahAl-Asadi §

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45

signatories

College of Islamic Studies, University of al-Kufa

199 SheikhProf.Dr.AhmadAl-Kubaysi § ≈Missionary and Islamic Intellectual

200 Prof.GhanemJawad §Director of CulturalAffairs, Khoei BenevolentFoundation

201 Mr.MuhammadAllawi §Assistant Director General,World IslamicAhlAl-BaytLeague

202 Prof.Sa‘dAl-Malla §Islamic Intellectual

203 Dr.MustafaAbdAl-IlahKamalAl-Din §Islamic Intellectual

204 Prof.Dr.AdnanAliAl-Faraji *Islamic University

205 Dr.AzizRashidAl-Dayini *Islamic University

206 Dr.AbdAl-QadirMustafaAl-Muhammadi *Islamic University

207 Mr.‘Ala’Al-DinAl-Mudarris *Researcher and Historian

republic of ireland

46

208 Mr.Noohal-Kaddo πDirector, Islamic Cultural Centre of Irelands

italy

209 Mr.YahyaSergioPallavicini § πVice President, Islamic Religious Community of Italy(CO.RE.IS.)

210 Dr.AliAbuShwaima πHead, Islamic Centre of Milan

hashemite kingdom of jordan

211 H.M.KingAbdullah IIbinAl-Hussein ∫

212 Prof.Dr.HRHPrinceGhazibinMuhammad § πPersonal Envoy and SpecialAdvisor to HM KingAbdullahII binAl-Hussein; Chairman of the Board ofTrustees oftheAal al-Bayt Institute for IslamicThought

213 Sheikh IzzedineAl-KhatibAl-Tamimi §IslamicAffairsAdvisor to HM the King; Chief Justice

214 Prof.Dr.Abdul-SalamAl-Abbadi § ¶ ∞ ◊Former Minister of IslamicAffairs; President,Aal al-BaytUniversity

215 Prof.Dr.SheikhAhmadHlayyel § ≈Advisor to HM the King and Imam of the Royal Court

216 SheikhSaidAl-Hijjawi § ≈

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signatories

Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

217 Mr.AkelBultaji §Advisor to HM the King

218 Prof.Dr.KhalidTouqan §Minister of Education; Minister of Higher Education andScientific Research

219 H.E.SheikhSalimFalahat §Director General of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan

220 H.E.SheikhDr.AbdAl-Aziz Khayyat § ◊Former Minister of ReligiousAffairs

221 SheikhNuhAl-Quda §Former Mufti of the JordanianArmed Forces

222 Prof.Dr.KhalidAl-Karaki §Deputy-Chairman, Board ofTrustees,Aal al-BaytInstitute for IslamicThought; President, Jerash PrivateUniversity

223 Prof.Dr. IshaqAl-Farhan §President of Zarqa Private University;Former Minister of Education

224 Prof.Kamil IsmailHamdanAl-Sharif § ¶Secretary General, International Council for IslamicPropagation and Relief

225 Dr.AbdAl-Latif Arabiyyat §

48

Former Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament;Chairman of the Consultative Committee of the IslamicAction Front

226 SheikhAbdAl-KarimSalimS.Al-Khasawneh §Grand Mufti of the JordanianArmed Forces

227 Prof.Dr.AdelAl-Toweisi § *Former President,Aal al-Bayt University; Minister ofCulture

228 Prof.Dr.YusufAl-Ghaydhan §Dean of the Faculty of Religion, Balqa’Applied University

229 SheikhHasanAl-Saqqaf §Advisor to the Chairman of the Board ofTrustees of theAal al-Bayt Institute for IslamicThought; Director ofImamAl-Nawawi Publishers and Distributors

230 Eng.MarwanAl-Faouri § ≈Chairman, Forum for Moderation inThought and Culture

231 Mrs.NawalAl-Faouri § ◊Educator and Islamic Intellectual

232 Prof.Dr.AbdAl-NasirAbuAl-Basal § ◊Former Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Law,YarmoukUniversity

233 Mr.BilalAl-Tal § ◊Editor-in-Chief, Liwa’ Newspaper

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49

signatories

234 Prof.Dr.AzmiTahaAl-Sayyid §College of Jurisprudential and Legal Studies,Aal al-BaytUniversity

235 Prof.Dr.MuhammadHishamSultan *Vice-President for Islamic Studies,Aal al-Bayt University

236 Prof.Dr.ZiyadAl-Daghamin *Dean of the College of Jurisprudential and JuridicalStudies, Head of the Preparatory Committee of theInternal Islamic Conference

237 Dr.RashidSa‘idShahwan ◊Faculty of Islamic Propagation and the Fundamentals ofReligion, BalqaApplied University

238 Prof.Dr.QahtanAl-Duri *Aal al-Bayt University

239 Prof.Dr.Sharif Al-SheikhSalihAl-Khatib *Aal al-Bayt University

240 Prof.Dr.AbdAl-MajidAl-Salahin *Dean of the College of Islamic Law, University of Jordan

241 Dr.Hayil‘AbdAl-Hafiz ≈

242 Sheikh‘AbdAl-KarimAl-‘Akor ≈

243 Mr.HaythamAl-‘Amayreh ≈

244 Dr.MuhammadAl-Khatib ≈

50

245 Mr.HatimAl-Manasir ≈

246 Dr.MalikAl-Moumini ≈

247 Dr.MuhammadAl-Qada ≈

248 Dr.FayezAl-Rabi‘ ≈

republic of kazakhstan

249 H.E.Mr.AskarMussinov ∫Ambassador to Riyadh and Special Envoy of the President

kenya

250 SheikhAbdullahiAbdi πChief Executive Officer, NorthernAid

state of kuwait

251 H.H.SheikhSabahAlAhmadAl JaberAl Sabah ∫Prime Minister

252 Dr.AbdullahMatuqal-Matuq ∞Minister ofAwqaf and ReligiousAffairs, Kuwait

253 Prof.Dr.AbdullahYusufAl-Ghoneim §Head of the Kuwaiti Centre for Research and Study

254 Dr.AdelAbdullahAl-Fallah §Undersecretary of the Ministry of ReligiousAffairs

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51

signatories

255 Dr.MohamedAbdulGhaffarAl-Sharif ◊Secretary-General, Secretariat General of ReligiousAffairs

256 Dr.MuhammadAbdAllah Ja‘farAl-Sharif ¶Undersecretary ofWaqf Foundation

257 Dr.KhaledMadhkourAbdallahMadhkour ◊Professor, Faculty of Shari‘ah, University of Kuwait

258 Mr.MutlaqRashedAl-Qarawi ≈

259 SheikhDr.‘Ajil Jassimal-Nashami ◊Professor, Faculty of Shari‘ah, University of Kuwait

260 Dr.AhmadRaja‘i al-Jundi ◊Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, Kuwait

kyrgyz republic

261 H.E.Mr.DastanSarygulov ∫Secretary of State

republic of lebanon

262 H.E.Mr.FouadSinoura ∫Prime Minister

263 Prof.Dr.HishamNashabeh §Chairman of the Board of Higher EducationDean of Education at MakassedAssociation

52

264 Al-SayyidMuhammadHusaynFadlallah fatwa

265 SheikhMuhammadRashidQabbani ¶Grand Mufti, Republic of Lebanon (Mufti of the SunniMuslims)

266 Prof.Dr.HaniFahs § ≈Member of the Higher Shi‘i Council

267 SheikhAbdullahal-Harari fatwa §Head of the Habashi Order

268 Prof.Dr.RidwanAl-Sayyid §Faculty of Humanities, Lebanese University;Editor-in-Chief,Al-Ijtihad Magazine

269 Prof.MuhammadAl-Sammak § ¶Secretary General of the National Council for Islamic-Christian Dialogue; Secretary General of the IslamicSpiritual Summit

270 Ja‘fariQadi SheikhAsadAllahAl-Harashi §Higher Islamic Shi‘i Council

271 SheikhKhalilAl-Mays § ◊Mufti of Zahleh andWestern Beqa‘

272 SheikhAbdAl-EmirQublan §Deputy Head of the Higher Shi‘i Council

273 Prof.Dr.ZakariyyaAbdAl-RazzaqAl-Misri *ImamAl-Awza‘i University

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53

signatories

274 Prof.Dr.AhmadAl-Sahmarani *ImamAl-Awza‘i University

275 Dr.Muhammad‘Assaf ≈

276 Dr.As‘adAl-Sahmarani ≈

277 SheikhAbdAl-Naser Jabri ≈

278 Sheikh JamilMuhammadHusseini fatwa §

279 Mr.HasanFarhat §

great socialist people’s libyan arab jamahiriya

280 H.E.Mr.AbdelRahmanMohamedShalqam ∫Minister of ForeignAffairs

281 Prof. IbrahimAliAbuAl-QasimAl-Rabu § ¶Secretary of the Office of Conferences, InternationalIslamic Propagation Society

282 Dr.Al-Ujaili FarhatAl-Miri §Official for Dialogue in the International Islamic PopularLeadership

283 Dr.MuhammadAl-Ziyadi ◊President, International Islamic Call University

284 Prof.Dr.HamzahAbuFaris *Al-Fatih University

54

285 Mr.AbdAl-SalamMuhammadAl-Sharif Al-Alim *Al-Fatih University

macedonia

286 Mr.Rufat Sherifi π

malaysia

287 H.E.Dato’SeriAbdullahbinHajiAhmadBadawi ∫Prime Minister

288 Dr.Anwar Ibrahim § πFormer Deputy Prime Minister

289 Dato’Dr.AbdulHamidOthman §Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister

290 Prof.Dr.KamalHasan ¶President, Islamic International University, Kuala Lumpur

291 Prof.Dr.MohammadHashimKamali § πDean of the International Institute of IslamicThoughtand Civilisation

292 Mr.ShahidanKasem §First Minister of Perlis State, Malaysia

293 Mr.Khayri JamalAl-Din §Deputy Chairman for theYouth Sector, the United MalaysNational Organisation

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55

signatories

294 Dr.SalihQadirKarimAl-Zanki *International Islamic University

maldives

295 H.E.Mr.MaumoonAbdulGayoom ∫President

296 Dr.MahmudAl-Shawqi §Minister of Education

297 SheikhMohamedRasheed Ibrahim ◊President of the Supreme Council for IslamicAffairs

republic of mali

298 H.E.Mr.AmadouToumaniToure ∫President

299 Mr.SidiMohamedYoussoufDjire ◊General President of the Islamic Foundation forProduction

islamic republic of mauritania

300 H.E.Mr.AlOuldMohamedFal ∫President

301 H.E.SheikhAbdallahBinBayyah fatwa πFormerVice President of Mauritania;Vice President ofthe International Union of Muslim Scholars

56

302 Mr.Al-HajjWuldAl-HajiAhmad ¶Advisor to the Minister of Education and IslamicGuidance

303 Mr.CheikhnaBinBayyah π

mauritius

304 SheikhGhulamMuhammad §Chairman and Secretary General of the Blue CrescentSociety

moldova

305 Mr.AbdulraheemAljabari π

kingdom of morocco

306 H.M.KingMohammedVI ∫

307 Prof.Dr.AbbasAl-Jarari § ¶Advisor to HM the King

308 Prof.Dr.AbdAl-HadiBuTalib §FormerAdvisor to HM the King

309 Amb.Al-MakkiKawan ∞Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Kuwait,representing Dr.AhmadAl-Tawfiq,Minister of ReligiousAffairs, Kingdom of Morocco

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57

signatories

310 Prof.Dr.AbdelhadiAl-Tazi §Fellow of the Royal MoroccanAcademy; FormerAmbassador

311 Prof.Dr.MohammadFaroukAl-Nabhan §Former Director of DarAl-HadithAl-Hasaniyya

312 Prof.Dr.AhmadShawqiBenbin §Director of the Hasaniyya Library

313 Dr.HamdatiChbihannaMalainine ◊Member, Supreme Constitutional Council;President, Regional Scientific Council,Al-Qunaitra

314 Prof.Dr.NajatAl-Marini §Department ofArabic Language, MohammedVUniversity

315 Dr.AbdulFilaliAnsary §Director, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations,Aga Khan University

316 Dr.Abdel-KabeerAl-Madghari ◊Former Minister ofAwqaf and IslamicAffairs

317 Dr.MaryamAyatAhmad ≈

318 Mr.MuhammadAl-Amin ≈

319 Mr.MuhammadTullabi ≈

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320 Dr.Sa‘dAl-DinAl-‘Uthmani ≈

republic of mozambique

321 H.E.Mr.ArisAli ∫Minister of Education and Culture

the netherlands

322 Mr.ZakariaHamidi πDirector, New Horizon

republic of niger

323 H.E.Mr.HamaAmadou ∫Prime Minister

federal republic of nigeria

324 H.E.Mr.IbrahimMousaKazawari ∫Ambassador in Riyadh

325 H.H.PrinceHajiAdoBayero §Emir of Kano

326 Mr.SulaymanOsho §Secretary General of the Islamic Conference forAfrica

327 Dr.AhmadLimu ¶Head of the Organization of the Islamic Endowment forEducation and Guidance

328 Dr.Al-KhidrAbdAl-BaqiMuhammad *

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signatories

Researcher andWriter

norway

329 Mr.BrahimBelkilani πJournalist, ITRI

330 Dr.LenaLarsen πCoordinator, the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religionor Belief, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights,University of Oslo

sultanate of oman

331 H.H.Al SyedAsaadbinTareqAl Said ∫Special Envoy of the Sultan

332 SheikhAhmadbinHamadAl-Khalili fatwa § ¶ ◊Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman

333 SheikhAhmadbinSa‘udAl-Siyabi § ◊Secretary General, Office of the Grand Mufti

334 Dr.AbdAllahMubarakAl-Shanfari ¶Professor, University of Dhofar

335 SheikhDr.KahlanbinNahbanAl-Kharusi * ≈JurisprudentialAdvisor, Office for the Issuance of Fatwas

336 Mr.AflahbinAhmadAl-Khalili *Researcher, Office for the Issuance of Fatwas

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337 AbdAl-Latif Al-Humaym ≈republic of pakistan

338 H.E.GeneralPervezMusharraf ∫President

339 H.E.AmbassadorMuhammadAslam∞Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan toKuwaitrepresenting Dr. Muhammad I‘jazAl-Haqq, Minister ofReligiousAffairs, Islamic Republic of Pakistan

340 SheikhMuftiMuhammadTaqiUthmani fatwa ¶ ◊Deputy Chairman, Islamic Fiqh Council, Jeddah;Vice President, Dar al-Ulum, Karachi

341 SheikhDr.MuhammadTahirul-Qadri § πDirector General, Centre for Islamic Research, Islamabad

342 Prof.Dr.Zafar IshaqAnsari §Director General, Centre for Islamic Research, Islamabad

343 Dr.RezaShah-Kazemi § πResearcher and Islamic Intellectual

344 H.E.AmbassadorArif Kamal §Ambassador of the Republic of Pakistan to the HashemiteKingdom of Jordan

345 H.E.Prof. Dr.MahmoudAhmadGhazi §President of the Islamic University, Islamabad;Former Minister of ReligiousAffairs, Pakistan

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signatories

state of palestine

346 H.E.Mr.AhmedQorei ¶Prime Minister

347 SheikhDr.IkrimahSabri § ≈ ◊Grand Mufti of Jerusalem andAll of Palestine;Imam of the BlessedAl-Aqsa Mosque

348 SheikhTaysirRajabAl-Tamimi § ≈Chief Justice of Palestine

349 Dr.MustafaMahmudYusufAbuSuway ¶Lecturer in the Department of Philosophyand Islamic Studies inAl-Quds University

350 Dr.MuhammadAliAl-Salibi *Al-Najah University

351 Dr.MarwanAliAl-Qaddumi *Al-Najah University

poland

352 Dr.Samir Ismail π

portugal

353 Mr.AbdoolMagidVakil § πChairman, Banco Efisa

354 Mr.SohailNakhooda § π

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Inter-Faith Research Fellow and Research and PublicationManager at Kalam Research & Media

qatar

355 H.E.SheikhHamadbin JassemAlThani ∫First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of ForeignAffairs

356 Prof.Dr.SheikhYusufAl-Qaradawi fatwa § πDirector of the Sunna and Sira Council;Vice Presidentof the International Union of Muslim Scholars

357 SheikhThaqil binSayerZaydAl-Shammari ◊Justice, Court of Cassation, Member of the SupremeJudicial Council

358 Prof.Dr.AishaAl-Mana‘i §Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Law, University of Qatar

359 SheikhAbdAl-RahmanbinAbdAllahbinZaydAlMahmud¶Member of the Prominent Persons Committee,Organization of the Islamic Conference

360 Dr.AliMuhyiAl-DinQaradaghi ◊Professor, Faculty of Shari‘ah, University of Qatar

361 Dr.AliAhmadAl-Salus ◊Professor, Faculty of Shari‘ah, University of Qatar

362 SheikhMohammadHajYusufAhmad ◊

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signatories

Imam, Doha Mosquerussian federation

363 SheikhRawiAynAl-Din §Mufti; Head of the Muslim ReligiousAdministration

364 Prof.Dr.SaidHibatullahKamilev § ¶Director, Moscow Institute of Islamic Civilisation

365 Dr.MuradMurtazein §President, Islamic University, Moscow

366 Mr.RushanAbassoof §Director of ExternalAffairs, Department of Council ofMuftis, Russia

367 Mr.YakupovValiulla πAssistant to the Chief Mufti ofTatarstan

kingdom of saudi arabia

368 H.M.KingAbdullahbinAbdelAzizAl Saud ∫King of SaudiArabia; Custodian of theTwo Holy Mosques

369 Dr.AbdAl-AzizbinUthmanAl-Touaijiri § ¶Director General, the Islamic Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization (ISESCO)

370 H.E.SheikhAbdAllahSulaymanbinMani‘ ◊Member, Council of Senior ‘Ulama’ of SaudiArabia

371 Dr.HassanbinMohamedSafar ◊

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Professor, Islamic Studies Department, Faculty ofHumanities, KingAbdulaziz University, Jeddah

372 Mr.AbobakrAbdelfatah π

373 SheikhAliBaddahdah π

374 Dr.SalihAl-Wuhaibi ≈

375 Sheikh‘AbdAllahYahya ≈

376 Mr.NabilAbdAl-IlahNassif ◊Assistant to the President forAssistanceAffairsIslamic Development Bank, Jeddah

377 Dr.MuhammadJabrAl-Alfi ◊Professor, Higher Judiciary Institute, Departmentof Comparative Jurisprudence, Riyadh

378 Dr.MuhammadbinYahyabinHasanAl-Najimi ◊Associate Professor, King Fahd Defence College

379 Dr.AhmadAbdal-AlimAbdAl-Latif ◊Researcher, Department of Studies, the InternationalIslamic FiqhAcademy, Jeddah

380 Dr.AbdAl-QahirQamar ◊Researcher, Department of Studies,The InternationalIslamic FiqhAcademy, Jeddah

381 Sheikhal-HabibMuhammadbinAbdurrahmanal-Saqqaf §

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signatories

382 Dr.MohamedAliAl-Bar ◊King Fahd Centre for Medical Research

republic of senegal

383 H.E.Mr.AbdoulayeWade ∫President

384 Mr.Al-HajjMustafa Sisi § ≈SpecialAdvisor to the President of Senegal

385 Prof.AbdallahBah §President of the Union of Volunteers in Islamic Educationand Culture

386 Prof.AbadirTiyam ¶University Press and President of the National Society,Dakar

387 Prof.AhmadMukhtarEmbo ¶Former Director General, UNESCO, Paris

388 Prof.RohanMbaye ◊Director, Islamic Institute, Dakar

republic of sierra leone

389 H.E.AlhajiDr.AhmadTejanKabbah ∫President

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republic of singapore

390 Dr.Yaqub Ibrahim §Minister of the Environment andWater Resources, andMuslimAffairs

republic of somalia

391 H.E.Mr.AbdullahYoussefAhmed ∫President

republic of south africa

392 Sheikh IbrahimGabriels §Head of SouthAfrican ‘Ulama’

spain

393 Mr.MansurEscudero πSpanish Islamic Commission

394 Mr.AliBoussaid πIslamic League for Dialogue and Conviviality

republic of sudan

395 H.E.GeneralOmarHassanAlBashir ∫President

396 AbdAl-RahmanSawarAl-Dhahab §Former President of the Republic of Sudan

397 Al-ImamAl-SadiqAl-Mahdi ≈

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signatories

Former Prime Minister of Sudan, Head of AnsarMovement

398 Dr.IsamAhmadAl-Bashir § ¶Minister of Guidance and ReligiousAffairs

399 Mr.TariqAliBakhit ¶Director in the General Secretariat and Head of theCultural and IslamicThought Committee, Khartoum

400 Prof.Dr. Izz al-DinUmarMusa §Lecturer in the Department of History, King SaudUniversity, Riyadh

401 Dr.MuhammadMahjubHarun ¶Journalist and University Professor, University ofKhartoum

402 Dr.AhmadAliAl-Imam ¶Advisor to the Sudanese President

403 Dr.Mustafa‘UthmanIsma‘il ≈Former Foreign Minister of SudanSpecial Envoy of the Secretary General of theArabLeague

404 Dr.IbrahimAhmadUthman ◊Secretary General, Supreme Judiciary Council

405 Dr.AhmadKhaledBabacar ◊Secretary General of the Islamic FiqhAcademy of Sudan

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sweden

406 Mr.MahmoudKhalfiDriri π

switzerland

407 Prof.TariqRamadan § πIslamic Intellectual

syrian arab republic

408 H.E.Mr.FaroukAl-Sharaa’ ∫Minister of ForeignAffairs

409 SheikhDr.AhmadBadrHasoun §Grand Mufti of the SyrianArab Republic

410 Prof.Dr.MuhammadSa‘idRamadanAl-Buti § ≈Head of the Department of Religion, Faculty of Law,University of Damascus

411 Prof.Dr.SheikhWahbaMustafaAl-Zuhayli § ≈ ¶Head of the Department of Islamic Jurisprudence and itsSchools, Islamic Law Faculty, Damascus University

412 Dr.SalahAl-DinAhmadKuftaro §Director General, SheikhAhmad KuftaroAcademyand Islamic Intellectual

413 Dr.MuhammadTawfiqSa‘idAl-Buti §Professor of Shari‘ah at Damascus University

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signatories

414 Dr.MahmudAl-Sayyid ¶Academic Researcher in the Centre of Islamic Studies,School of Oriental andAfrican Studies, University ofLondon

415 SheikhAbdallahAdhami § πIslamic missionary and scholar

416 Dr.MuhammadHabash ≈

417 Dr.MuhammadAbdal-Latif Salehal-Farfur ◊Secretary General, International ScientificAcademy

418 Prof.Dr.AbdAl-SattarAbuGhuddah ◊President of the United Shari‘ah Council of the BarakaGroup, Jeddah

republic of tajikistan

419 H.E.Mr.ImamAlyRahmanov ∫President

thailand

420 Mr.WanMuhammadNurMatha §Advisor to the Prime Minister

421 Amb.WiboonKhusakul §Ambassador ofThailand to Baghdad

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republic of togo

422 H.E.Mr.ZarifouAyéva ∫Minister of ForeignAffairs

republic of tunisia

423 Mr.MohamedAl-Ghanousi ∫Prime Minister

424 Prof.Dr.Al-HadiAl-Bakkoush §Former Prime Minister ofTunisia

425 Dr.AbuBakerAl-Akhzuri §Minister of ReligiousAffairs

426 Prof.Dr.AliAl-Shabi §Chairman of the Higher Islamic Council;Former Minister of IslamicAffairs

427 Prof. IbrahimChabbouh §Advisor to the Higher Chairman of theAal al-BaytInstitute for IslamicThought; Director of theAal al-BaytInstitute for IslamicThought

428 SheikhDr.MohammadAlHabib ibnAlKhojah ◊Secretary General, International Islamic Fiqh Council,Jeddah

429 Prof.Dr.MuhammadAl-BashirAl-Buzaydi ¶Director of the Higher Institute for the Fundamentals ofReligion, Zaytuna University

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signatories

430 Mr.AhmadAl-‘Ujaymi ¶Advisor, Office of the Secretary General of theOrganization of the Islamic Conference

431 SheikhDr.RachidGhannouchi πLeader of Ennada

432 Prof.HabibShaybub §Writer and Historian

433 Dr.AmirAl-Zamali §Advisor on IslamicWorldAffairs, InternationalCommittee for the Red Cross

434 Dr.SheikhMohieddineGadi ◊The Higher Islamic Council,Tunis

435 Dr.TaiebSalama ◊The Higher Islamic Council,Tunis

republic of turkey

436 H.E.Mr.BulentArinc ∫President of the GrandTurkishAssembly

437 Prof.Dr.Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu § π ◊Secretary General, Organisation of the IslamicConference

438 H.E.Prof.Dr.MehmetAydin π

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Minister of State

439 Prof.Dr.AliBardakoglu ¶Head of the ReligiousAffairs Directorate

440 Prof.Dr.AliAuzakHead of the Endowment for Islamic Scientific Studies,Istanbul

441 Prof.Dr.Mualla Saljuq §Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Law,Ankara

442 Prof.Dr.MustafaÇagrici § π ≈Grand Mufti of Istanbul and Professor of IslamicPhilosophy

443 Prof. IbrahimKafiDönmez §Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence at the University ofMarmara

444 Dr.Ali IhsanBala *YüzüncüYil University

445 Mr.UfukGökçen πAdvisor to the Secretary General of the OIC

446 Mr.MustafaAkyol πWriter and Journalist

447 Dr.MuhammetAruçi πTurkish Religious Endownment (DiyanetVakfi)

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signatories

448 Prof.Dr.AkifAydin πMarmara University

449 Mr.KurtuluAykan π

450 Dr.SavasBarçin π

451 Ms.SelinBölme πMarmara University

452 Prof.AliDere πForeignAffairs Department, Presidency of ReligiousAffairs,Ankara

453 Mr.MuammerDumanli π

454 Mr.AhmetHakan π

455 Dr.IbrahimKalin πAssistant Professor of Islamic Studies, College of the HolyCross, USA; Director, SETAFoundation,Ankara

456 Prof.RecepKaymakcan πAssistant Professor of Religious Education, SakaryaUniversity

457 H.E.AmbassadorFazliKesmir πCounsellorTurkish Embassy and PermanentRepresentative ofTurkey to FAO, Rome

458 Dr.AbdülhamidKirmizi π

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459 Mr.FehmiKoru πJournalist,Yeni Safak

460 Dr.AliKöse πLecturer, Faculty ofTheology, Marmara University

461 Mr.TalhaKöse π

462 Prof.TalipKüçukcan πCentre for Islamic Studies, Istanbul

463 AmbassadorÖmürOrhun πOCSE Personal Representative on CombatingIslamophobia

464 Mr.TahaÖzhan π

465 Prof.MehmetPaçaci πFaculty ofTheology,Ankara University

466 Mr.Ali Sarikaya πPresident, Islamic ConferenceYouth Forum for Dialogueand Cooperation

467 Prof.Bülent Senay πProfessor of Comparative Religion, Uludag University,Bursa

468 Dr.Nazife Sisman π

469 Dr.IsmailTaspinar πFaculty ofTheology, Marmara University

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signatories

470 Mr.AhmetSelimTekelioglu πSETA,Anakara

471 Dr.NuriTinaz πCentre for Islamic Studies, Istanbul

472 Mrs.ÜmareYazar π

473 ProfessorAliMuratYel πLecturer in Sociology andAnthropology, Fatih University

turkmenistan

474 H.E.Mr.RashidMirdov ∫Minister of ForeignAffairs

ukraine

475 Mufti SheikhAhmadTamim §Mufti of Ukraine

uganda

476 Mr.AnasAbdunnoorKalissa ◊Director of Research and Shari‘ah

united arab emirates

477 H.H.SheikhKhalifabinZayedAlNahyan ∫President

478 H.H.AmbassadorNasir binAbdAllahbinHamdan ¶

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479 Mr.Ali binAl-SayyidAbdAl-RahmanAl-Hashim §Advisor to the President for Judiciary and ReligiousAffairs

480 SheikhMuhammadAl-Banani §Judge in the Supreme Federal Court

481 Dr.SalehbinZabinAl-Marzuqi §Secretary General, International Islamic FiqhAcademy,Jeddah

482 MuhammadAbdulrahimSultanAl-Ulama ◊Deputy Dean of Scientific ResearchAffairs, UnitedArabEmirates University

483 Dr.HamadbinAl-SheikhAhmadAl-Chibani ◊Secretary General, Bureau for IslamicAffairs andCharitableWorks, Dubai

484 SheikhMansur‘Etahal-Minhali ◊Director, IslamicAffairs andAwqaf

485 Dr.AhmadAbdulAzizAl-Haddad ◊Chief Mufti, Bureau of IslamicAffairs and CharitableWorks, Dubai

486 SheikhTalibMuhammadAl-Shehi ◊Preacher, Ministry of Justice and IslamicAffairs

487 Dr.MahmudAhmadAbuLayl ◊Professor, Faculty of Shari‘ah,Al-‘Ain University

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signatories

488 Dr.KhalidSulaymanAl-Fahdawi ≈

489 Dr.AliMuhammadUjla ◊

490 Dr.MuhammadAl-Zahili ◊Dean, Faculty of Shari‘ah, University of Sharjah

united kingdom

491 Dr.AbbasMahajarani §Member of the ImamAl-Khoei Benevolent Foundation

492 Dr.HassanShamsiBasha ◊Expert, the International Islamic FiqhAcademy, Jeddah

493 Mr.ShamsVellani §Director, Special Studies, the Institute of Ismaili Studies

494 Dr.FarhadDaftary §Associate Director, the Institute of Ismaili Studies

495 SheikhYusuf Islam §Islamic Missionary

496 Dr.FuadNahdi §Editor-in-Chief, Q-News International

497 SheikhWanisAl-Mabrouk *Representative, Union of Muslim Organisations of UK &EIRE

498 Mr.Sharif Banna π

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Co-Founder,Awakening Records;President, Union of Muslim Students in the UK

499 Mr.SamiYusuf § πIslamic singer

500 MohamedAbdulAziz πDirector, Faithwise

501 Dr.ManazirAhsan πDirector,The Islamic Foundation

502 Mr.KhurshidAhmed πBritish Muslim Forum (BMF)

503 Mrs.FareenaAlam πEditor, Q-News International

504 Dr.AnasShaikh-Ali πDirector, International Institute of IslamicThought,London

505 Mr.AhmedAl-Rawi πPresident, Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe

506 Mr.IsmailAmla π

507 Mr.IqbalAsaria πFinance Director, Muslim Council of Britain

508 Dr.MehmetAsutay πDepartment of Economics, Durham University

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signatories

509 Mr.YasarÇolak πCounsellor forTurkish ReligiousAffairs in London

510 Mr.SaidFerjani πMuslimAssociation of Britain

511 Dr.SophieGilliat-Ray πCardiff University

512 Mr.AbdelRahmanHelbawy π

513 Mr.DilwarHussain πThe Islamic Foundation

514 Mrs.Sarah Joseph πEditor, Emel Magazine

515 Mr.WakkasKhan πPresident, FOSIS

516 Mr.MustafaKöker πChief Editor, Haber Newspapers (Turkish)

517 Ms.MaleihaMalik πDepartment of Law, King’s College

518 Ms.UnaizaMalik πMuslim Council of Britain

519 Mr.AhmedSheikhMohamed π

520 Dr.MohamedMukadam πAssociation of Muslim Schools

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521 Mr.AhmedMusawi π

522 Prof.FarhanNizami πDirector, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

523 Mr.HabiburRahman π

524 Sir Iqbal Sacranie πFormer Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain

525 SheikhHaythamTamim πUtrujj Institute

526 Mr.AhmedVersi πEditor,The Muslim News

527 Mr.ShaukatWarraich πCommunity leader

528 SheikhAbdalHakimMurad /TimWinter § πLecturer, University of Cambridge

529 Mr.HaiderAli πBook distributor

united states of america

530 H.E.Prof.Dr.SeyyedHosseinNasr §Author and Professor of Islamic Studies at the GeorgeWashington University

531 SheikhHamzaYusufHanson § π

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signatories

President of the Zaytuna Institute

532 SheikhFaisalAbdulRauf §Imam of the NewYork City Central Mosque

533 Prof.Dr. IngridMattson §Professor of Islamic Studies, Hartford Seminary;President of the Islamic Society of NorthAmerica (ISNA)

534 Prof.Dr.SuleimanAbdallahSchleifer §Director Emeritus of theAdham Center forTelevisionJournalism

535 Mr.NihadAwad § ≈Executive Director, Council onAmerican-IslamicRelations

536 SheikhNuhHaMimKeller § πIslamic Missionary and Intellectual;Fellow of theAal al-Bayt Institute for IslamicThought

537 SheikhSuhaibD.Webb πIslamic Missionary

538 Dr.CanerDagli πSpecialAdvisor for InterfaithAffairs, Royal HashemiteCourt of Jordan; Professor of Islamic Studies, RoanokeCollege, USA

539 Prof. JamesMorris § πUniversity of Exeter

540 Mr.RadwanAl-Masmudi ≈

541 Prof. JosephLumbard §Former SpecialAssistant to H.M. KingAbdullah II forInterfaithAffairs

republic of uzbekistan

542 H.E.Mr.Shawkat Sirdayev ∫Prime Minister

543 SheikhMuhammadAl-SadiqMuhammadYusuf §Grand Mufti of the Republic

544 Prof.YusufovOrtoqbek §Islamic Intellectual

republic of yemen

545 H.E.GeneralAliAbdullahSaleh ∫President of the Republic

546 SheikhMuhammadbinMuhammadIsma‘ilAl-Mansur fatwa

547 SheikhHumudbin‘Abbas al-Mu‘ayyad fatwa

548 Sheikh IbrahimbinMuhammadAl-Wazir fatwa §Secretary General of the Islamic Unification andWorksMovement

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signatories

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549 SheikhHabib‘UmarbinMuhammadbinSalimbinHafiz §Principal, Dar al-Mustafa,Tarim

550 SheikhAl-HabibAl-Jifri §Islamic Missionary and Intellectual

551 SheikhMuhammadAbduhUmar ◊Head, Bureau of Direction and Guidance, PermanentCommittee of the General People’s Conference

552 Prof.Dr.HusaynAl-Umari §Member of the Consultative Committee, Member of theUNESCO Executive Committee; Professor of ModernHistory, University of Sana‘a’

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How does Islam function?Islam has no central authority or church. It has beenheld together over the centuries and generations,across geographic, juridical and intellectual diversity,by texts and by established, authoritative interpreta-tions of these texts—starting with the Holy Qur’anitself. Misinterpretation of these texts, and misunder-standing of the methodologies of their interpretationcan have very dangerous consequences and can lead toan entirely diUerent civilization from that of tradition-al orthodox Islam.

2. What are the greatest challenges facing Islam today?Islam today as a religion faces many challenges andproblems. Perhaps one of the greatest of these is mis-understanding and confusion about the true nature ofthe religion of Islam amongst Muslims and non-Mus-lims alike. This misunderstanding has led to erroneousinterpretations of Islamic texts and thus illegitimate

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religious rulings (fatwas) by people who are intellectual-ly and morally unqualified to make religious edicts.Correcting this situation through proper understand-ing of the traditional Islamic texts in all their diversityand complexity is thus of profound importance to thefuture of Islam and Muslims.

3. What isTheAmman Message?The Amman Message started as a simple but detailedstatement issued in Ramadan 1425 ah / November 2004ce inAmman, Jordan by KingAbdullah II of Jordan andsenior Islamic scholars. It described what Islam is andwhat it is not, and what actions represent it and whatactions do not. Its goal was to clarify to the modernworld the true nature of Islam and the nature of true Islam. Itis a message of devotion to God, love of the neighbor,goodwill, moderation and peace.

4. What areTheThree Points ofTheAmman Message?In order to give more religious authority to the AmmanMessage and in order to tackle the root problem of mis-interpretation in Islam, in 2005 King Abdullah II sentthe following three critical questions to 24 of the mostsenior religious scholars from all around the world rep-resenting all the branches and schools of Islam:

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1. Who is aMuslim?;2. Is it permissible todeclare someoneanapostate(takfir)?; and

3. Whohas the right toundertake issuing fatwas(legal rulings)?

Based on the fatwas provided by these great scholars(who included the Sheikh Al-Azhar; Ayatollah Sistaniand Sheikh Qaradawi), in July 2005 ce, King AbdullahII of Jordan convened an international Islamic confer-ence of 200 of the world’s leading Islamic scholars or‘Ulama) from 50 countries. In Amman, the scholarsunanimously issued a ruling on three fundamentalissues (which became known as the ‘Three Points of theAmman Message’):

1. They specifically recognized the validity of all 8Mathahib (legal schools) of Sunni, Shi‘a and IbadiIslam; of traditional Islamic Theology (Ash‘arism);of Islamic Mysticism (Sufism), and of true Salafithought, and came to a precise definition of who isa Muslim.

2. Based upon this definition they forbade takfir (dec-larations of apostasy) between Muslims.


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3. Based upon the Mathahib they set forth the subjec-tive and objective preconditions for the issuing offatwas, thereby exposing ignorant and illegitimateedicts in the name of Islam.

These Three Points were then unanimously adopted bythe Islamic World’s political and temporal leadershipsat the Organization of the Islamic Conference summitat Mecca in December 2005. And over a period of oneyear from July 2005 to July 2006, the Three Points werealso unanimously adopted by six other internationalIslamic scholarly assemblies, culminating with theInternational Islamic FiqhAcademy of Jeddah (the IslamicWorld’s leading juridical body), in July 2006. In total,over 500 leading Muslim scholars worldwide—as can beseen online (at www.ammanmessage.com)—unani-mously endorsed the Amman Message and its ThreePoints.

5. Why is it so Important?The signed, universal Islamic consensus on the AmmanMessage and its Three Points is of the greatest impor-tance because it amounts to a historical, universal andunanimous religious and political consensus (ijma’) ofthe Ummah (nation) of Islam in our day, and a consolida-

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tion of traditional, orthodox Islam. The significance ofthis is: (1) that it is the first time in over a thousand yearsthat the Ummah has formally and specifically come tosuch a pluralistic mutual inter-recognition; (2) that sucha recognition is religiously legally binding on Muslimssince the Prophet (may peace and blessings be uponhim) said: My Ummah will not agree upon an error (IbnMajah, Sunan, Kitab al-Fitan, Hadith no.4085), and (3)that it addresses one of the most critical problems fac-ing Muslims today: lack of agreement about whatconstitutes Islam, and thus lack of agreement aboutwho is a Muslim and what is truly ‘Islamic’.

6. Is the content of theAmman Messagesomething new in Islam?No. There is nothing essentially new in the AmmanMessage, nor could there be for it to be truly authentic,for Islam is a religion revealed by God, and thereforenot changeable by man. The Amman Message is merely aconcrete restatement and crystallization of the com-mon principles of traditional, orthodox, ‘moderate’Islam—in all its traditional schools of thought andlaw—the Islam to which over the vast, overwhelmingmajority of the world’s approximately 1.4 billion Mus-lims belong.


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7. What does ‘Amman’ have to do with the ‘Message’?Nothing. The name ‘Amman’ merely comes from thefact that the Message was first launched in Jordan bythe country’s king and scholars. The Message is a uni-versal pan-Islamic one, as is seen in its acceptance byMuslim authorities from every school of thought andof law in Islam, and in its ratification by Muslims fromevery country and major Muslim community in theworld.

8. Will it resolve all of Islam’s problems? Will it help?No, the Amman Message will not resolve all of Islam’sproblems: no religion can be without problems on theworldly plane, especially in the modern age. The Econo-mist (June 28th, 2007) argues that:This much is true: anyof the Muslims who are drawn to jihadist violence, or tostrident forms of political Islam, are indiUerent to, orignorant of, the nuances of theology; that makes themsusceptible to “amateur” fatwas. But as a French schol-ar, Olivier Roy, points out, it doesn’t follow that suchpeople—when presented with sophisticated religiousarguments—would change their mind. In many cases,they have a general aversion to the idea of elaboratetheology.

However, what proper awareness, education and

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understanding of the Amman Message and its ThreePoints, might well do, GodWilling, is prevent 99.99% ofMuslims from being influenced by illegitimate fatwasand sliding into takfir and terrorism, as a visceral over-reaction to poverty, injustice and mistakes in Westernforeign policy.After all, God says in the Holy Qur’an:

O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for God inequity, and let not hatred of any people make you swervefrom justice. Deal justly, that is nearer to piety. Observeyour duty to God. Lo! God is Informed of what ye do.(Al-Ma’idah, 5:8)

Finally, proper awareness of The Amman Message, mayalso, by exposing the illegitimate opinions of radicalfundamentalists and terrorists from the point of viewof true Islam, help in preventing calls in the West forhostility against Muslims as such. As George Yeo, theForeign Minister of Singapore, declared in the 60thSession of the U.N. General Assembly (about theAmman Message): “Without this clarification, the waragainst terrorism would be much harder to fight”. Itthus may help to prevent a wider conflict between theover 55% of the world’s population: approximately 2.1billion Christians and 1.4 billion Muslims …


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9. What could it mean for Islam’s relations withnon-Muslims?The Amman Message initiative is good news not only forMuslims, for whom it provides a basis for unity and asolution to infighting, but also for all non-Muslims. For,in the safeguarding of the basic principles, texts andlegal methodologies of Islam, the Amman Message nec-essarily means inherently preserving traditional Islam’sinternal ‘checks and balances’. It thus assures balancedIslamic solutions for essential issues like human rights;women’s rights; freedom of religion; legitimate jihad;good citizenship of Muslims in non-Muslim countries,and just and democratic government, all key issues thatare essential to world peace and harmony.

10. What is the next step?In order that the Amman Message not remain merely ahistorical agreement on basic principles, various stepsare being taken to introduce it through pragmatic andinstitutional means, such as: (1) inter-Islamic treaties;(2) national and international legislation using theThree Points of the Amman Message to define Islamand forbid takfir; (3) the use of publishing and the multi-media in all their aspects to spread the AmmanMessage; (4) instituting the teaching of the Amman

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Message in school curricula and university coursesworldwide; and (5) making it part of the training ofmosque Imams and requiring its inclusion in their ser-mons.

11. What can you do?Whoever you are, and wherever you live, you canhelp by adding your voice to this unique and historicinternational Islamic consensus. Please visit www.ammanmessage.com, where you can read more aboutthe Amman Message and find many useful documentsand links. Under the button saying: Click here to endorsethe Amman Message (or on the automatic pop-up) youcan add your name to the list of people worldwide whohave endorsed and supported the three points. Yourunderstanding of the Amman Message is in itself animportant goal. Your endorsement of the Amman Mes-sage is one way to contribute towards peace in theworld.

hrh prince ghazi bin muhammadChairman of theAmman Message Committee

July 22nd, 2007.

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And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds

isbn 978-9957-428-30-3english series - book 1

amman message

Documents