Hafiz Saeed Not Muslim, Defamed Islam, Says Fatwa

Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief and mastermind of Mumbai terror attack, cannot be considered a Muslim as he has "terrorist ideology" and has "brought infamy to Islam", declared an Islamic seminary here while giving a 'fatwa' (edict) against him.

The seminary of the Barelvi sect dubbed Saeed, founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, as "outcast" from Islam and declared that following him or considering him as Muslim is "illegal".

A 'fatwa' is a legal pronouncement in Islam which is given by a mufti, a Muslim scholar of a recognised authority, who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law.

The fatwa issued by Mufti Mohammed Saleem of Manzar-e- Islam Saudagaran, an institution associated with Dargah Ala Hazrat, said that considering Saeed as a Muslim and listening to his words was "illegal" and "prohibited".

As per the fatwa, Saeed is a man with "terrorist ideology", who with his acts has brought "infamy to Islam and Muslims across the world".

"Therefore, it is compulsory for every Muslim not to follow him and keep away from his ideology," it said.

The 'fatwa' was issued in a reply to a question asked by one Mohd Moinuddin of Jaipur who had mentioned in his query that Saeed considered those writing against Allah and Prophet Mohammad as Muslims.

Besides, Saeed publicised anti-religious ideology and points of view and provoked people to create terror, Moinuddin said and asked whether such a person should be considered as Muslim.

In his 'fatwa', Mufti Saleem said that having any type of connection with persons working against the dignity of Allah and the Prophet was illegal and 'haraam', an act that is forbidden by Allah.

It said since Saeed was having contacts with such persons, he has been outcast from Islam.

The ruling came close on the heels of Saeed asking Pakistan Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif to send troops to Kashmir to "obey" the pending order of Pakistan founder M A Jinnah.

Addressing a rally held under the banner of 'Defence Council of Pakistan' in Karachi on Sunday, Saeed had claimed, "Kashmiris had announced before the partition that they wanted to remain with Pakistan. But after the partition, India forcibly sent Army to Jammu and Kashmir.

"On this Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah ordered his commander-in-chief to respond by sending troops but he refused (to obey his orders). Now, I ask Gen Raheel Sharif to sendtroops in (Jammu and) Kashmir as Quaid-e-Azam's order is pending," Saeed said.

He said he was not asking for a war with India but they (Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Raheel) must form a strategy regarding the Kashmir issue.