THEAMMAN

MESSAGE

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

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 v

TheAmman Message 1

TheThree Points of theAmman Message 16

Grand List of Signatories 23

FrequentlyAsked Questions 83

INTRODUCTION

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

9th November 2004 ce by H.M. King Abdullah II binAl-Hussein inAmman, Jordan. It sought to declare whatIslam is and what it is not, and what actions represent itand what actions do not. Its goal was to clarify to themodern world the true nature of Islam and the nature oftrue Islam.

In order to give this statement more religious author-ity, H.M. KingAbdullah II then sent the following threequestions to 24 of the most senior religious scholarsfrom all around the world representing all the branchesand schools of Islam: (1)Who is aMuslim? (2) Is it permissi-ble to declare someone an apostate (takfir)? (3) Who has theright toundertake issuing fatwas (legal rulings)?

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Based on the fatwas provided by these great scholars(who included the Shaykh 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 8Mathhabs (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 is aMuslim.

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

3. Based upon theMathahib 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

introduction

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introduction

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by 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 July2005 to July2006, theThree Pointswere also unanimously adopted by six other internation-al Islamic scholarly assemblies, culminating with theInternational Islamic Fiqh Academy of Jeddah, in July2006. In total, over 500 leading Muslim scholars world-wide—as can be seen from the Grand List on the pagesthat follow—unanimously endorsed the AmmanMessage and itsThree 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 thattheUmmah 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,Kitabal-Fitan,Hadithno.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. For the safeguarding of the

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legal methodologies 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’srights; freedom of religion; legitimate jihad; good citi-zenship of Muslims in non-Muslim countries, and justand democratic government. It also exposes the illegiti-mate opinions of radical fundamentalists and terroristsfrom the point of view of true Islam. As George Yeo,the Foreign 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.”

Finally, whilst this by the Grace of God is a historicalachievement, it will clearly remain only principial unlessit is put into practice everywhere. For this reason, H.M.King Abdullah II is now seeking to implement it, Godwilling, through various pragmatic measures, including(1) inter-Islamic treaties; (2) national and internationallegislation using the Three Points of the AmmanMessage to define Islam and forbid takfir; (3) the use ofpublishing and the multi-media in all their aspects tospread theAmman Message; (4) instituting the teachingof theAmman Message in school curricula and universi-ty courses worldwide; and (5) making it part of the

training of mosque Imams and making it included intheir sermons.

God says in the Holy Qur’an says:There is no good inmuch of their secret conferences save(in) whosoever enjoineth charity and fairness andpeace-making among the people and whoso doeth that,seeking thegoodpleasure ofGod,Weshall bestowonhimavast reward. (Al-Nisa,4:114).

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THEAMMAN

MESSAGE

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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 and prophets:God Almighty has said: O humankind! We created you

from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribesthat you may know each other. Truly the most honored of youbeforeGod is themost 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 inwhich theQur’an descended as guidance to humankind and as clarifica-tions for guidanceanddiscernment. (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 religionand harm what is sacred to it. Today the magnanimous

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message 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, andthat was carried by his successors and the members ofhis household after him, is an address of brotherhood,humanity and a religion that encompasses all humanactivity. It states the truth directly, commands what isright, forbids what is wrong, honors the human being,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-orous effort that he exerted. Since the day he took the

flag, His Majesty King Abdullah II has continued thiseffort, 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, realizingcomprehensive secur ity, mutual social responsibility,

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being good to one’s neighbor, protecting belongings andproperty, honoring pledges, and more.

Together, these are principles that provide commonground for the followers of religions and [different]groups of people. That is because the origin of divinereligions is one, and Muslims believe in all Messengersof God and do not differentiate between any of them.Denying the message of any one of them is a deviationfrom Islam. This establishes a wide platform for thebelievers of [different] 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. UntoYou is thejourneying.” (2:285)

Islam honors every human being, regardless of hiscolor, race or religion: We have honored the sons ofAdam,provided them transport on land and sea, sustained themwith

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good things, and conferred on themspecial favors aboveagreatpart of our creation. (17:70)

Islam also affirms that the way of calling [others] toGod is founded upon kindness and gentleness:Call to thepath of your Lord with wisdom and a beautiful exhortation,and debatewith them in thatwhich is most beautiful (ahsan).(16:125) Furthermore, it shuns cruelty and violence inhow one faces and addresses [others]:

It is by someMercy ofGod that youwere gentle to them.Were you severe—cruel hearted—theywouldhavebro-ken away fromyou. So pardon themandask forgivenessfor themand consultwith them in the conduct of affairs.Andwhenyouare resolved, put your trust inGod; trulyGod loves thosewho trust [inHim]. (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.”

Islam calls for treating others as one desires to betreated. It urges the tolerance and forgiveness that

express the nobility of the human being:The recompensefor an evil is an evil equal thereto, butwho forgives and recon-ciles, his recompense is from God. (42:40) Good and evil arenot equal. Repel withwhat is most virtuous.Then he betweenwhomand you there is enmitywill be as if hewere 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 departfromjustice.Be just: that is closer topiety; (5:8)Godcommandsyou to return trusts to their owners, and if you judge betweenpeople, you shall judgewith justice; (4:58) So give [full]meas-ure and [full] weight and do not deny the people their goods,andwork no 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 covenantofGodwhenyouhave entered into it, and break not oaths after they have beenconfirmed and you have made God your surety; truly Godknowswhatyoudo. (16:91)

Islam recognizes the noble station of [human] life, sothere is to be no fighting against non-combatants, andno assault upon civilians and their properties, children

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at 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, andwhoever saves a life, it is asif has revived thewhole ofhumanity. (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 atwar against extremism, radicalism and fanaticism, for

they 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 reject them—considering them as recalcitrant ways and forms ofinjustice. Furthermore, it is not a trait that character-izes a particular nation; it is an aberration that has beenexperienced by all nations, races, and religions.They arenot particular to one people; truly they are a phenome-non that every people, every race and every religion hasknown.

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 that canonly be defended in ways that are ethical; and the endsdo not justify the means in this religion.

The source of relations between Muslims and others

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is 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: trulyGod loves the just; (60:8)Then if they cease,let there benoaggression, saveagainst 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 off thewounded, and killing prisoners; and they employ uneth-ical means, such as destroying buildings and ransackingcities:Donot kill the soul thatGod hasmade 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.

We realize that over history extremism has been

instrumental in destroying noble achievements in greatcivilizations, and that the tree of civilization witherswhen malice takes hold and breasts are shut. In all itsshapes, extremism is a stranger to Islam, which is found-ed upon equanimity and tolerance. No human whoseheart has been illumined by God could be a radicalextremist.

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, fanati-cism 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

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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 ismyway. I, and thosewho followme, call forGodwithinsight.” (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

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 affairs 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

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enlightened speech, presenting to the nation theirnoble religion that brings ease [in all matters] and itspractical laws in which lie the awakening and joy of thenation. Among the individuals of the nation andthroughout the regions of the world, they disseminategood, peace and benevolence, through subtle knowl-edge, insightful wisdom and political guidance in allmatters, uniting and not dividing, appeasing hearts andnot deterring them, looking to the horizons of fulfill-ment to meet the requirements and challenges of the21st 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 isMy straight path, so follow it.And follow not the [other] ways, lest you be parted from Hisway.This hasHe ordained for you, that youmay beGod-fear-ing. (6:152 153)

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

Amman Ramadan 1425hijriThe Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan November2004ce

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 ShaykhAl-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.

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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 and theUnique; that the Noble Qur’an is the Revealed Word ofGod; and that our master Muhammad, may blessingsand peace be upon him, is a Prophet and Messengerunto all mankind. All are in agreement about the fivepillars of Islam: the two testaments of faith(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

Providence in good and in evil. Disagreements betweenthe ‘ulama (scholars) of the eight schools of Islamicjurisprudence are only with respect to the ancillarybranches of religion (furu‘) and not as regards theprinciples and fundamentals (usul) [of the religion ofIslam]. 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.

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the three points

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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 FiqhAcademy’s17th session held inAmman, Jordan, on 24th-28th June 2006.The text had slight variations to the official text yet itfollowed an essentially identitical form. This is duly noted asversion 2 in theGrandList.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 ShaykhAl-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 other group of Muslims whobelieves 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);fasting the month of Ramadan (sawm), and the Hajj to

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the three points

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the 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 (schol-ars) of the eight schools of Islamic jurisprudence areonly with respect to the ancillary branches of religion(furu‘) and some fundamentals (usul) [of the religion ofIslam]. 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 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.

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(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

total

201

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33

7

54

55

68

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

message and its three points

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

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157

signatories

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7 Prof.Dr.AbdAllahbin al-HajjMuhammadAlGhulamAllah §Minister of ReligiousAffairs

8 Dr.MustafaSharif §Minister of Higher Education andFormerAlgerianAmbassador in Cairo

9 ShaykhYusufbinMahdi ¶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.AbuJaraAl-Sultani § ≈Head of theAlgerian Peace Society Movement

13 Dr.AmmarJaydal *Batina University

14 Dr.MuhammadZurman *Batina University

australia

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

16 Ms.MahaKarimAbdo ≈

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 ShaykhAl-IslamAllah-ShakurbinHemmatBashazada §Grand Mufti, MuslimAdministration of the Caucasus

kingdom of bahrain

22 H.M.KingHamadbin IsaAlKhalifa ∫

23 ShaykhDr.MuhammadAliAl-Sutri §Minister of Justice

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

25 Mr.MansourAl-Jamri ≈

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signatories

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26 Dr. IbrahimFadilAl-Dibbo ◊Professor, Faculty of Humanities, University of Bahrain

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

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 ShaykhFathi Shitu ◊

bosnia and herzegovina

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

42 Prof.HasanMakic §Mufti of Bihac

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

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

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

46 Mr.AmerBukvic πIslamic Development Bank

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

republic of cameroon

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

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

canada

57 ShaykhFarazRabbani §Hanafi Scholar, Sunnipath.com

58 Mr.FouzanKhan πReviving the Islamic Spirit Organization

republic of chad

59 H.E.Mr. IdrisDerby ∫President

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

61 Mr.Tijani SabunMuhammad ◊

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31

union of comoros

62 H.E.Mr.KubMohamedLisharti ∫Deputy President

republic of cote d’ivoire

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

denmark

64 Imam FatihAlev πDanishAssociation of Cybermuslims

republic of djibuti

65 H.E.Mr. IsmailOmarGulleh ∫President

66 ShaykhAbdAl-RahmanSulaymanBashir ¶Member of the Higher Judiciary Council

arab republic of egypt

67 H.E.Mr.MohamedHosniMubarak ∫President

68 H.E.GrandImamProf.Dr.MuhammadSayyidTantawi fatwaShaykh al-Azhar

69 Prof.Dr.MahmudHamdiZaqzuq § ∞Minister of ReligiousAffairs

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

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 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

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

78 ShaykhDr.ZaghlulNajjar §Head of the Committee onThe Miraculous Nature of theQur’an in the Higher Council for IslamicAffairs, Egypt

79 ShaykhMoezMasood §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.HebaRaoufEzzat πDepartment of Political Science, Cairo University

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

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

86 Dr. ‘Umar ‘AbdAl-Kafi ≈

87 Dr.Huda ‘AbdAl-Sami‘ ≈

88 Eng. ‘AmrFarukFarid ≈

89 Mr.MuhammadAl-SammanLutfi ≈

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 ShaykhProf.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

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

102 Dr.FouadAlaoui πPresident, Union of Islamic Organizations in France(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 ShaykhKhalidAdlenBentounes 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 ShaykhOunisGuergah πHead of the Fatwa House, Paris

113 Prof.Dr.ÖmerFarukHarman πDITIP, Germany

114 Mr.FouadImarraine πCollecive of Muslims of France

115 Dr.AhmedJaballah πMember of the European Council for Fatwa and Reseach,France

116 Mrs.NouraBenHamoudaJaballah πPresident of European women 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 ShaykhZakariaSeddiki π

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122 Dr.MuhamadBashari ◊President, Federal Society for Muslims in France

republic of gabon

123 H.E.ElhadjAliBongoAwadamba ∫Minister of National Defence and Chairman of SupremeCouncil for IslamicAffairs and Special Envoy of thePresident

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; Intellectual andResearcher

128 ShaykhSalahAl-DinAl-Ja‘farawi §Assistant Secretary-General ofWorld Council for IslamicPropagation

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

130 ShaykhBashirAhmadDultz πGerman Muslim League

131 Mr.BelalEl-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

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39

139 Mr.RecepYildirim πEuropeAssociation ofTurkish Cultural Centers, Germany

140 Mr.OsmanYoba π

141 Mr.NabilChabib ≈

republic of guinea

142 H.E.Mr.CellouDaleinDiallo ∫Prime Minister

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

144 Prof.Dr.QutbMustafaSanu ◊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 the Collegeof Humanities and Languages; Director of the DhakirHusayn Centre for Islamic Studies

republic of indonesia

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

151 DrMuhammadMaftuhBasyuni ∞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 ShaykhAl-HajjAhmadHashimMuzadi §Chairman, Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia

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

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

157 Dr.MuhammadMasyuriNaim ¶Professor, Islamic University

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158 Prof.Dr.M.DinSyamsuddin πChairman of Muhammadiyah

islamic republic of iran

159 SupremeSpiritualLeaderGrandAyatollahAl-SayyidAliKhamenei fatwa

160 H.E.Dr.MahmoodAhmedinejad ∫President

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

162 GrandAyatollahAl-SayyidFadilLankarani fatwa

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

164 GrandAyatollahProf.Dr.Al-Sayyid MustafaMohagheghDamad §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 §Secretary-General,Arab-Iranian Friendship Society

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

169 ShaykhAbbasAli 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 ShaykhMuhammadShari‘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

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43

176 Dr.MojganSakhaei *Imam Sadiq University

177 ShaykhAhmadMablaghi ◊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 ShaykhHassan JawahiriZadeh ◊Professor, Religious Seminary, Qom

republic of iraq

180 H.E.Mr. JalalTalabani ∫President

181 GrandAyatollahAl-SayyidAli Sistani fatwa

182 GrandAyatollahShaykhIshaqAl-Fayad fatwa

183 GrandAyatollahAl-SayyidMuhammadSa‘idAl-Hakim fatwa

184 GrandAyatollahShaykhBashirAl-Najafi fatwa

185 GrandAyatollahAl-SayyidShaykhHussein Isma‘ilAl-Sadr fatwa

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

187 GrandAyatollahAhmadal-Bahadili §Islamic Missionary

188 ShaykhDr.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 ShaykhDr.MahmoudMhd.DawudAl-Sumayda‘i ≈

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

195 Prof.Dr.BashsharAwwadMarouf § *Researcher and Editor; Fellow ofAal al-Bayt Institute forIslamicThought

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

197 Dr.AbdAl-HamidAl-Najdi §Islamic Intellectual

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198 ShaykhWalidFarajAllahAl-Asadi §College of Islamic Studies, University of al-Kufa

199 ShaykhProf.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

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

213 ShaykhIzzedineAl-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. ShaykhAhmadHlayyel § ≈Advisor to HM the King and Imam of the Royal Court

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47

216 ShaykhSaidAl-Hijjawi § ≈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.ShaykhSalimFalahat §Director General of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan

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

221 ShaykhNuhAl-Quda §Former Mufti of the JordanianArmed Forces

222 Prof.Dr.KhalidAl-Karaki §Deputy-Chairman of the Board ofTrustees,Aal al-BaytInst. 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-LatifArabiyyat §Former Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament;Chairman of the Consultative Committee of the IslamicAction Front

226 ShaykhAbdAl-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 University Faculty of Religion, Balqa’AppliedUniversity

229 ShaykhHasanAl-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

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49

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

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. SharifAl-ShaykhSalihAl-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 Shaykh ‘AbdAl-KarimAl-‘Akor ≈

243 Mr.HaythamAl-‘Amayreh ≈

244 Dr.MuhammadAl-Khatib ≈

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 in Riyadh and Special Envoy of the President

kenya

250 ShaykhAbdullahiAbdi πChief Executive Officer, NorthernAid

state of kuwait

251 H.H.ShaykhSabahAlAhmadAl JaberAlSabah ∫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 §

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51

Undersecretary of the Ministry of ReligiousAffairs

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 ShaykhDr. ‘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

264 Al-SayyidMuhammadHusaynFadlallah fatwa

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

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

267 ShaykhAbdullahal-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 for the IslamicSpiritual Summit

270 Ja‘fariQadiShaykhAsadAllahAl-Harashi §Higher Islamic Shi‘i Council

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

272 ShaykhAbdAl-EmirQublan §Deputy Head of the Higher Shi‘i Counci

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

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53

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

275 Dr.Muhammad ‘Assaf ≈

276 Dr.As‘adAl-Sahmarani ≈

277 ShaykhAbdAl-Naser Jabri ≈

278 ShaykhJamilMuhammadHusseini 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-UjailiFarhatAl-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

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

macedonia

286 Mr.RufatSherifi 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

294 Dr.SalihQadirKarimAl-Zanki *International Islamic University

maldives

295 H.E.Mr.MaumoonAbdulGayoom ∫President

296 Dr.MahmudAl-Shawqi §Minister of Education

297 ShaykhMohamedRasheedIbrahim ◊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.ShaykhAbdallahBinBayyah fatwa πFormerVice President of Mauritania;Vice President of theInternational Union of Muslim Scholars

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

303 Mr.CheikhnaBinBayyah π

mauritius

304 ShaykhGhulamMuhammad §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

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 ofWaqf and IslamicAffairs

317 Dr.MaryamAyatAhmad ≈

318 Mr.MuhammadAl-Amin ≈

319 Mr.MuhammadTullabi ≈

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.MrIbrahimMousaKazawari ∫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 *Researcher andWriter

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59

norway

329 Mr.BrahimBelkilani πJournalist, ITRI

330 Dr.LenaLarsen πCoordinator,The Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religionor Belief, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, Uni. ofOslo

sultanate of oman

331 H.H.AlSyedAsaadbinTareqAlSaid ∫Special Envoy of the Sultan

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

333 ShaykhAhmadbinSa‘udAl-Siyabi § ◊General Secretary in the Office of the Grand Mufti

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

335 ShaykhDr.KahlanbinNahbanAl-Kharusi * ≈JurisprudentialAdvisor in the Office for the Issuance ofFatwas

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

337 AbdAl-LatifAl-Humaym ≈

republic of pakistan

338 H.E.GeneralPervezMusharraf ∫President

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

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

341 ShaykhDr.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.AmbassadorArifKamal §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

61

state of palestine

346 H.E.Mr.AhmedQorei ¶Prime Minister

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

348 ShaykhTaysirRajabAl-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§ πEditor-in-Chief, Islamica Magazine

qatar

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

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

357 ShaykhThaqil 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 ShaykhAbdAl-RahmanbinAbdAllahbinZaydAlMahmud ¶Member of 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 ShaykhMohammadHajYusufAhmad ◊Imam, Doha Mosque

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signatories

63

russian federation

363 ShaykhRawiAynAl-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, Dept. of Council of Muftis,Russia

367 Mr.YakupovValiulla πAssistant to the Chief Mufti ofTatarstan

kingdom of saudi arabia

368 H.M.KingAbdullahbinAbdelAzizAlSaud ∫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.ShaykhAbdAllahSulaymanbinMani‘ ◊Member, Council of Senior ‘Ulama’ of SaudiArabia

371 Dr.HassanbinMohamedSafar ◊Professor, Islamic Studies Department, Faculty ofHumanities KingAbdulaziz University, Jeddah

372 Mr.AbobakrAbdelfatah π

373 ShaykhAliBaddahdah π

374 Dr.SalihAl-Wuhaibi ≈

375 Shaykh ‘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 Shaykhal-HabibMuhammadbinAbdurrahmanal-Saqqaf §

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

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signatories

65

republic of senegal

383 H.E.Mr.AbdoulayeWade ∫President

384 Mr.Al-HajjMustafaSisi § ≈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

republic of singapore

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

republic of somalia

391 H.E.Mr.AbdullahYoussefAhmed ∫President

republic of south africa

392 ShaykhIbrahimGabriels §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 ≈Former Prime Minister of Sudan, Head ofAnsar Movement

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

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signatories

67

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

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

401 Dr.MuhammadMahjubHarun ¶Journalist and University Professor, University of Khartoum

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 theArab League

404 Dr. IbrahimAhmadUthman ◊Secretary General, Supreme Judiciary Council

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

sweden

406 Mr.MahmoudKhalfiDriri π

switzerland

407 Prof.TariqRamadan § πIslamic intellectual

syrian arab republic

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

409 ShaykhDr.AhmadBadrHasoun §Grand Mufti of the SyrianArab Republic

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

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

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

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

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

415 ShaykhAbdallahAdhami § πIslamic missionary and scholar

416 Dr.MuhammadHabash ≈

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69

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 in Baghdad

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 ShaykhDr.MohammadAlHabib ibnAlKhojah ◊Secretary-General, Int. Islamic Fiqh Council, Jeddah

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

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

431 ShaykhDr.RachidGhannouchi πLeader of Ennada

432 Prof.HabibShaybub §Writer and Historian

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

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signatories

71

434 Dr.ShaykhMohieddineGadi ◊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 πMinister of State, Government ofTurkey

439 Prof.Dr.AliBardakoglu ¶Head of 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)

448 Prof.Dr.AkifAydin πMarmara University

449 Mr.KurtuluAykan π450 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

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signatories

73

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

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.BülentSenay πProfessor of Comparative Religion, Uludag University,Bursa

468 Dr.NazifeSisman π

469 Dr. IsmailTaspinar πFaculty ofTheology, Marmara University

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 ShaykhAhmadTamim §Mufti of Ukraine

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signatories

75

uganda

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

united arab emirates

477 H.H.ShaykhKhalifabinZayedAlNahyan ∫President

478 H.H.AmbassadorNasirbinAbdAllahbinHamdan ¶

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

480 ShaykhMuhammadAl-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 ShaykhMansur ‘Etahal-Minhali ◊Director, IslamicAffairs andAwqaf

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

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

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

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 ShaykhYusuf Islam §Islamic Missionary

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signatories

77

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

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

498 Mr.SharifBanna πCo-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

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

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signatories

79

518 Ms.UnaizaMalik πMuslim Council of Britain

519 Mr.AhmedSheikhMohamed π

520 Dr.MohamedMukadam πAssociation of Muslim Schools

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 ShaykhHaythamTamim πUtrujj Institute

526 Mr.AhmedVersi πEditor,The Muslim News

527 Mr.ShaukatWarraich πCommunity leader

528 ShaykhAbdalHakimMurad /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 ShaykhHamzaYusufHanson § πPresident of the Zaytuna Institute

532 ShaykhFaisalAbdurRauf §Imam of 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 ShaykhNuhHaMimKeller § πIslamic Missionary and Intellectual;Fellow of theAal al-Bayt Institute for IslamicThought

537 SheikhSuhaibD.Webb πIslamic Missionary

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signatories

81

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

539 Prof. JamesMorris § πUnivesity of Exeter

540 Mr.RadwanAl-Masmudi ≈

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

republic of uzbekistan

542 H.E.Mr.ShawkatSirdayev ∫Prime Minister

543 ShaykhMuhammadAl-SadiqMuhammadYusuf §Grand Mufti of the Republic

544 Prof.YusufovOrtoqbek §Islamic Intellectual

republic of yemen

545 H.E.GeneralAliAbdullahSaleh ∫President

546 ShaykhMuhammadbinMuhammadIsma‘ilAl-Mansur fatwa

547 ShaykhHumudbin ‘Abbas al-Mu‘ayyad fatwa

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

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

550 ShaykhAl-HabibAl-Jifri §Islamic Missionary and Intellectual

551 ShaykhMuhammadAbduhUmar ◊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’

83

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.Howdoes Islam function?Islam has no central authority or church. It has beenheld together over the centuries and generations, acrossgeographic, juridical and intellectual diversity, by textsand by established, authoritative interpretations ofthese texts—starting with the Holy Qur’an itself. Mis-interpretation of these texts, and misunderstanding ofthe methodologies of their interpretation can have verydangerous consequences and can lead to an entirely dif-ferent civilization from that of traditional orthodoxIslam.

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 misun-derstanding and confusion about the true nature of thereligion of Islam amongst Muslims and non-Muslimsalike.This misunderstanding has led to erroneous inter-pretations of Islamic texts and thus illegitimate

religious edicts (fatwas) by people who are intellectuallyand morally unqualified to make religious edicts. Cor-recting this situation through proper understanding ofthe traditional Islamic texts in all their diversity andcomplexity is thus of profound importance to thefuture of Islam and Muslims.

3.What isTheAmmanMessage?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 Islamand the nature of true Islam. Itis a message of devotion to God, love of the neighbor,goodwill, moderation and peace.

4.What areTheThreePoints ofTheAmmanMessage?In order to give more religious authority to theAmmanMessage 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 issuingfatwas (legal rulings)?

Based on the fatwas provided by these great scholars(who included the Shaykh 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 theAmmanMessage’):

1. They specifically recognized the validity of all 8Mathhabs (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 is aMuslim.

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.

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 FiqhAcademyof 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 theAmmanMessage and itsThreePoints is of the greatest importancebecause it amounts to a historical, universal and unani-mous religious and political consensus (ijma’) of theUmmah (nation) of Islam in our day, and a consolidation

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of traditional, orthodox Islam. The significance of thisis: (1) that it is the first time in over a thousand years thattheUmmah has formally and specifically come to such apluralistic mutual inter-recognition; (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), 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 theAmmanMessagesomething new in Islam?No. There is nothing essentially new in theAmmanMes-sage, nor could there be for it to be truly authentic, forIslam is a religion revealed by God, and therefore notchangeable by man.TheAmmanMessage is merely a con-crete restatement and crystallization of the commonprinciples of traditional, orthodox, ‘moderate’ Islam—in all its traditional schools of thought and law—theIslam to which over the vast, overwhelming majority ofthe world’s approximately 1.4billion Muslims belong.

7.What does ‘Amman’ have to dowith the ‘Message’?Nothing. The name ‘Amman’ merely comes from thefact that the Message was first launched in Jordan by thecountry’s king and scholars. The Message is a universalpan-Islamic one, as is seen in its acceptance by Muslimsauthorities from every school of thought and of law inIslam, and in its ratification by Muslims from everycountry 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 indifferent to, orignorant of, the nuances of theology; that makes themsusceptible to “amateur” fatwas. But as a French scholar,Olivier Roy, points out, it doesn’t follow that such peo-ple—when presented with sophisticated religiousarguments—would change their mind. In many cases,they have a general aversion to the idea of elaborate the-ology.

However, what proper awareness, education andunderstanding of the Amman Message and its Three

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Points, might well do, GodWilling, is prevent99.99% 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 anypeoplemake 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 view oftrue Islam, help in preventing calls in the West for hos-tility 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 1.4billion Muslims …

9.What could itmean for Islam’s relationswithnon-Muslims?TheAmmanMessage 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 safeguarding of the basic principles, texts and legalmethodologies of Islam, theAmmanMessage necessarilymeans inherently preserving traditional Islam’s internal‘checks and balances’. It thus assures balanced Islamicsolutions for essential issues like human rights; women’srights; freedom of religion; legitimate jihad; good citi-zenship of Muslims in non-Muslim countries, and justand democratic government, all key issues that areessential to world peace and harmony.

10.What is the next step?In order that Amman Message not remain merely a his-torical 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 making it included in their sermons.

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 endorsetheAmmanMessage (or on the automatic pop-up) you canadd your name to the list of people worldwide who haveendorsed and supported the three points. Your under-standing of the Amman Message is in itself importantgoal. Your endorsement of the Amman Message is oneway to contribute towards peace in the world.

hrh prince ghazi bin muhammadChairman of theAmmanMessageCommittee

July 22nd, 2007.

Andpraise be toGod, theLord of theworlds

isbn 978-9957-428-30-3

english series - book 1