Muslim groups condemn Madinah attack, term IS tool of Islam's enemies

Terming IS as a tool in the hands of anti-Islam forces, Muslim organisations representing all schools of Islamic thought on Friday condemned the terror attack in holy city of Madinah, terming it as an attack on Islam and all Muslims of the world.

Addressing a massive public meeting organized by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), leaders and religious scholars said the attack by so-called Islamic State (IS) near Prophet's mosque was the handiwork of enemies of Islam.

A resolution passed unanimously at the meet strongly condemned attacks in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world, during the holy month of Ramadan.

"The ISIS has nothing to do with Islam and its principles and tenets, and, in fact, all its activities and terror attacks are meant to strike at the very roots of Islam. The ISIS is not only unIslamic but acts as a tool in the hands of Western forces who are enemies of Islam. In the garb of Muslims, they are defaming Islam," said the resolution.

"This band of 'neo-Kharijis' had the audacity to proclaim itself to be a so-called world-wide caliphate and appointing a self-styled caliph in 2014. These armed thugs have been letting loose a reign of terror in some parts of Iraq and Syria and spreading their subversive activities to other countries in the Gulf and North Africa, as well as to other Muslim nations and European, Asian and African countries," it added.

It said during Ramadan, the ISIS killed innocent Muslims and non-Muslims in terror attacks in Baghdad, Istanbul and Dhaka, killing 300 persons and injuring scores of others. "They sought to disturb the peace and tranquillity of one of Islam's holiest sites - the Prophet's mosque at Madinah. The suicide bomber was stopped in his tracks outside the mosque complex and four Saudi security men were martyred and five were injured."

"The perpetrators of this violence at the holy city have incurred the wrath of Almighty Allah and the world will soon witness the destruction of these unholy men who are making attempts to harm Islam and demonise the Muslims," the resolution said.

It noted that through its sustained but distorted propaganda on the social media, the IS has been making attempts to spread its nefarious designs and tentacles to various Muslim and non-Muslim countries, by seeking to recruit youth and enlist the support of fringe terror groups operating in those countries.

"This massive gathering of Indian Muslims appeals to their co-religionists, especially the youth, to be wary of the propaganda and activities of the ISIS, and do their utmost to foil the nefarious attempts of this anti-Islamic group to disturb peace and tranquility and create ill-will and hatred against the Muslims among their compatriots in this great country," it added.

Prominent among those who addressed the meeting are MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Mufti Khaleel Ahmed of Jamia-e-Nizamia, Syed Mohammed Qubool Pasha of Majlis-e-Ulema-e-Deccan, Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed of Jamiat-ul-Ulema, Maulana Khaled Saifullah Rahmani, secretary, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Hamed Mohammed Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami, Raheemuddin Ansari of AUnited Muslim Forum, Safi Ahmed Madani of Jamiat-ul-Ahle-Hadees, Shia cleric Moulana Syed Nisar Hussain Hyder Aga and Shaikh Mansoor Bhai of Dawoodi Bohra community.

--IANS

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