The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden

Subject: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Troll
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:16 PM

Since 9/11/01 when all this started, I have urged everyone to read the fatwa issued by Osama bin Laden concerning the US. From some of the posts it is evident that not everyone wants to keep themselves informed or, if there isn't a "blue clicky", they can't be bothered.
Which ever camp you fall in, here it is. You have only to scroll down. I used Alta Vista and searched "bin Laden fatwa". I only copied the fatwa and not the history or the commentary. If you want to read them, look them up for yourself.

troll

Saudi Arabia Text of Fatwa Urging Jihad Against Americans London Al-Quds al-'Arabi in Arabic -- 23 Feb 98,

"Text of World Islamic Front's Statement Urging Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders" -- Al-Quds al-'Arabi headline; in a front-page report, Al- Quds al-'Arabi says that the statement was "faxed to Al- Quds al-'Arabi and signed by Shaykh Usamah Bin-Muhammad Bin-Ladin (the prominent Saudi oppositionist); Ayman al-Zawahiri, amir of the Jihad Group in Egypt; Abu- Yasir Rifa'i Ahmad Taha, a leader of the [Egyptian] Islamic Group; Shaykh Mir Hamzah, secretary of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Pakistan; and Fazlul Rahman, amir of the Jihad Movement in Bangladesh"

Praise be to God, who revealed the Book, controls the clouds, defeats factionalism, and says in His Book"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)"; and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad Bin-'Abdallah, who said I have been sent with the sword between my hands to ensure that no one but God is worshipped, God who put my livelihood under the shadow of my spear and who inflicts humiliation and scorn on those who disobey my orders. The Arabian Peninsula has never -- since God made it flat, created its desert, and encircled it with seas -- been stormed by any forces like the crusader armies spreading in it like locusts, eating its riches and wiping out its plantations. All this is happening at a time in which nations are attacking Muslims like people fighting over a plate of food. In the light of the grave situation and the lack of support, we and you are obliged to discuss current events, and we should all agree on how to settle the matter.

No one argues today about three facts that are known to everyone; we will list them, in order to remind everyone

First, for over seven years the United States has been occupying the lands of Islam in the holiest of places, the Arabian Peninsula, plundering its riches, dictating to its rulers, humiliating its people, terrorizing its neighbors, and turning its bases in the Peninsula into a spearhead through which to fight the neighboring Muslim peoples.

If some people have in the past argued about the fact of the occupation, all the people of the Peninsula have now acknowledged it.

The best proof of this is the Americans' continuing aggression against the Iraqi people using the Peninsula as a staging post, even though all its rulers are against their territories being used to that end, but they are helpless. Second, despite the great devastation inflicted on the Iraqi people by the crusader-Zionist alliance, and despite the huge number of those killed, which has exceeded 1 million... despite all this, the Americans are once against trying to repeat the horrific massacres, as though they are not content with the protracted blockade imposed after the ferocious war or the fragmentation and devastation.

So here they come to annihilate what is left of this people and to humiliate their Muslim neighbors.

Third, if the Americans' aims behind these wars are religious and economic, the aim is also to serve the Jews' petty state and divert attention from its occupation of Jerusalem and murder of Muslims there.

The best proof of this is their eagerness to destroy Iraq, the strongest neighboring Arab state, and their endeavor to fragment all the states of the region such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sudan into paper statelets and through their disunion and weakness to guarantee Israel's survival and the continuation of the brutal crusade occupation of the Peninsula.

All these crimes and sins committed by the Americans are a clear declaration of war on God, his messenger, and Muslims. And ulema have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries. This was revealed by Imam Bin-Qadamah in "Al- Mughni," Imam al-Kisa'i in "Al- Bada'i," al-Qurtubi in his interpretation, and the shaykh of al-Islam [not further identified] in his books, where he said "As for the fighting to repulse [an enemy], it is aimed at defending sanctity and religion, and it is a duty as agreed [by the ulema]. Nothing is more sacred than belief except repulsing an enemy who is attacking religion and life."

On that basis, and in compliance with God's order, we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims

The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words of Almighty God, "and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together," and "fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God."

This is in addition to the words of Almighty God "And why should ye not fight in the cause of God and of those who, being weak, are ill- treated (and oppressed) -- women and children, whose cry is 'Our Lord, rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will help!'"

We -- with God's help -- call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it. We also call on Muslim ulema, leaders, youths, and soldiers to launch the raid on Satan's U.S. troops and the devil's supporters allying with them, and to displace those who are behind them so that they may learn a lesson.

Almighty God said "O ye who believe, give your response to God and His Apostle, when He calleth you to that which will give you life. And know that God cometh between a man and his heart, and that it is He to whom ye shall all be gathered."

Almighty God also says "O ye who believe, what is the matter with you, that when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of God, ye cling so heavily to the earth! Do ye prefer the life of this world to the hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least. For God hath power over all things."

Almighty God also says "So lose no heart, nor fall into despair. For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in faith."

Editor's Note on the word "fatwa": it means judgement

Mr. Bin Laden has been involved in the declaration several "fatwas." He allegedly uses this these fatwas to justify his "holy war" or "Jihad" against America and her allies.

According to the Islamic science called "Usul al-fiqh" (Principles of Jurisprudence), a fatwa is binding when these four conditions are satisfied:

1) It is in line with relevant legal proofs, deducted from Koranic verses and hadiths; 2) It is issued by a person (or a board) having due knowledge and sincerity of heart; 3) It is free from individual opportunism, and not depending on political servitude; 4) It is adequate with the needs of the contemporary world.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: DougR
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:31 PM

Thanks for posting this Troll.

DougR

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Kim C
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:35 PM

Hmm. He sounds like a cult leader to me. Thanks troll.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:44 PM

I don't think under Islamic law that Bin Laden has the authority to issue a Fatwa (ie a formal judgement/decree).

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: harpgirl
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:45 PM

...and by the way, if he really speaks for Muslims, he only speaks for Muslim men, it seems!!!! Women can not speak out in Afghanistan without fear of death!!!!

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:46 PM

Troll, I dont think it really matters what he CLAIMS to believe or what paper-thin justifications he spouts to those who are looking for an excuse to 'make their mark' on society's consciousness....

I firmly believe that Terrorists, like all bullies, are those for whom bad parenting has caused them (once they grow to Adulthood (& note I DON'T say 'mature' to Adulthood)) to percieve SOCIETY & other forms of 'authority' that are often the curbs on wilful desires of some, as something akin to a Parent.... just as a child will misbehave to gain a Parents attention (even if thats unpleasant attention) these are seeking to be 'noticed' by that surrogate 'parent'.

Maybe I'm putting my own Western perceptions on cultural groups whose ACTUAL Parenting & family life, is very different to what WE are accustomed to, but I'm sure that ALL kids crave the attention of Adults (when it SUITS them, anyway) & dont always get it (or demand more than their Parents feel is reasonable....rightly or wrongly).

I dont mean to offend anyone by seeming to draw comparisons with either what kids do, or dysfunctional adults might do, with the horrific events of last week, because there are no comparisons that can be drawn in the SCALE...but I do think that that, as an utterly mind-bogglingly EXTREME extension of that kind of behaviour, is a notion that bears looking at...

HOW we act against it, however, is something I have no suggestions on.....

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Troll
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:12 PM

I don't know either Kevin. All I know is, he DID issue it and it states his goals and the reasons HE thinks they are just under Islamic law.

troll

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: GUEST,PeteBoom (at work)
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:17 PM

I heard an interesting discussion. It seems a group of clerics (it takes a specific number to formally issue fatwa) considered taking such a step against Bin Laden and chose not to.

The charge against included: Causing children to be orphaned, the indiscrimanent killing of women and children, the killing of old people, the killing of men without judgement against them for specific acts made by them and outside of battle, the destruction of buildings outside of battle, the destruction of trees with green leafs outside the expectations of battle. All these are expressly forbidden.

The chose to not issue a fatwa to avoid yet another schism in the faith - to avoid the appearance that they were siding with the West and to avoid the label of heretic applied by Bin Laden and his cadres - which would leave them open to assault by "the faithfull".

Thanks for posting this, Troll -

Pete

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: heric
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:42 PM

PeteBoom: That is very interesting and it seems the subject could be key in the prevention of extreme conflict. Do you (or anyone) have any references to this or similar. I'm not having much luck. (By similar I mean formal denunciations by religious leaders with clear persuasive powers over the Muslim faithful *and* in the geographic hot spots?)

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: heric
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:55 PM

I don't want that question to be perceived as incendiary, and it is not meant in any way to cast aspersions on the varied and rich cultures of the Middle East. But Bin Laden purpots to send messages to behalf of Islam, and most of us desperately want to believe it is not true. It seems that now is the time for clear words, not even actions, just words, from the representatives of organzational Islam. Arafat spoke clearly enough as a political representative of Palestinians. What of these "clerics?"

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 03:00 PM

I will probably be severely chastized for saying this, but I have to say that some (not all, some) of the language in the fatwah reminds me of some of the rhetoric coming out of the US at this time. I think we need to be very careful to not become what we hate and/or fear.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: GUEST,Dean Wormer
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 03:36 PM

Has it ever occurred to anyone that Osama may have written this stuff in a pathetic attempt to get chicks.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 03:39 PM

Troll

I have read this as you have requested,

All the more reason to be prudent in our choice of targets. All the more reason to seek Justice instead of revenge. So that we may rise above his rhetoric.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: PeteBoom
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 03:43 PM

I,hurricane - the Muslim sitting in the cube next to mine at work thinks Bin Laden is a nutcase...

Actually - I did hear an interview (CNN? old, senile) with a prof. at Georgetown who is an expert on Islamic law, among other things. What he said was that there have been proposals at a fatwa, but they all died early to prevent the schism and violence that would follow it. The thing is, Bin Laden seems to want to reform Islam into HIS view, and pick and choose the teachings of the Prophet to do so - rather like rewriting the Bible if there are things you don't agree with in it.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: heric
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 03:49 PM

Doggone it, I just accidently deleted a summary of what I had found. However, given the enormous diversity of the directly affected region, the complications are too great for a fair summary. Encapsulated: It seems that Bin Laden can get firebrand clerics to speak in his support from many areas, but he is shunned by the mainstream peoples in every state. In his mind, the governments of Egypt and Jordan represent infidels. We know what he thinks of Saudi Arabia. Iran supports the Taliban, but many Iranians believe that he recently assassinated their opposition leader.

I had a huge list of many other states, with comments from mostly political, and some religious leaders, but that's what I deleted.

But the bottom line is : MY REQUEST COULD EASILY LEAD TO THE COLLECTION OF INFLAMMATORY DRIVEL from widespread fanatical clerics who do not represent any significant population, even if we can get footage of some people "dancing in the streets."

There is no evidence I found of mainstream religious leaders supporting Bin Laden or his acts anywhere. However, the "mainstream" of most countries in the region, while not showing approval of anything Bin Laden has done, is also apparently heavily weighted in favor of Muslim unity in the face of an attack by non-Muslims. Most apparently do not see the Taliban, and certainly not Afghanistan, as being appropriately equated with Bin Laden.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:05 PM

I,hurricane, Iran does NOT support the Taleban. Iran despises the Taleban, in fact, and the Taleban murdered several of Irans diplomats a couple of years ago.

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: heric
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:25 PM

Lepus: You're right. I read a sentence wrong. Iran provides support to the Taliban opposition.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: GUEST,karen
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:42 PM

[I am piggybacking response to another thread here. The problem I encounter with my system is that I can't respond (in any way I have yet learned, at least) to long threads. I can usually read them completely by utilizing 'sort descending' but I can't get to the response section in that way. I have chosen this thread as the subject is compatible, at least with the one I am responding to]. If there's a better way....please advise, I have no desire to offend or disrupt.

Jack the Sailor...I don't disagree with you except on the one point (and that not vehemently so). I am sorry if I gave the impression that I did. I do think that four planes, two towers, and the Pentagon are a definite line in the sand that can't be ignored, though.

When I see two hands holding weapons, I think one must be offensive and the other defensive in each given instance. I do not mean to imply that the roles are not transposable and I try to learn all about preceding skirmishes that I can comprehend.

I have found all the posts I'm reading here very well articulated and mind expanding, even portions I might disagree (if only for today) with.

Nancy....I found your post interesting and thought provoking and agreed with much you said. At the risk of being crass by making a little light of a grave situation---I don't think DJH's suggestion would be well received. I think it would be thought of as Indian Biscuits and at least allowed to grow stale while awaiting the results of the first fruits being fed to a pack of starving animals. Not that the thought and the sentiment behind it wasn't good.

Guest...grrrrrr...and I ain't even a Texan.:-)

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: kendall
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:57 PM

It is clear that the mainstream Muslims dont support Bin Ladan, but, if we visit death and distruction on any Muslim country, they will back him, and, that's exactly what he is up to.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: HelenJ
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 05:35 PM

At the moment I just give up. I am terrified for my family my friends and acquaintancies. Where will it all end? Christian - Jew - Muslim - Hindu - Sikh - What God thinks of all this is beyond comprehension.

HelenJ.

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:35 PM

Has it ever occurred to anyone that Osama may have written this stuff in a pathetic attempt to get chicks.

Good one. Made me laugh, in a hollow sort of way. You might be on to something, bin Laden doesn't strike me as a chick-magnet exactly.

How about they get Robin Williams to dress up like the dear departed Ayatollah Khomeini, go on TV and issue a fatwa on bin Laden?

Murray

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Troll
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 11:59 PM

What Murray said.
bin Laden already has three wives. Islam only allows four so unless he has someone REAL,/i> specific in mind, I don't think that the "chick" idea has any legs.
Keep on trying though. You may come up with something yet.

troll

Subject: RE: The Fatwa of Osama bin Laden
From: Amos
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 11:59 PM

That would be spectacularly appropriate!! And he would do such a good job!!