ISLAMABAD -- Dr. Shawki Ibrahim, the grand mufti of Egypt, endorsed a fatwa issued by Pakistani religious scholars condemning suicide attacks, armed uprisings and acts of terrorism in the name of Sharia, Dawn reported Thursday (March 22).
Ibrahim said on Wednesday (March 21) that he agreed with the fatwa titled "Paigham-e-Pakistan" (Message of Pakistan), which was released in January and signed by 1,829 Pakistani religious scholars.
He made his remarks during a roundtable in Islamabad on the fatwa organised by Pakistan's Council of Islamic Ideology. Ibrahim arrived in Pakistan Tuesday (March 20) for a five-day visit.
Only courts may declare someone an infidel, and only the state may authorise jihad, Ibrahim said, adding that Islam prohibits blasphemy, extremism that leads to terrorism, and efforts to call a Muslim a non-believer.
"Groups like [the 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' (ISIS)] have strayed from the message of Islam," he said.
He urged nationwide dissemination of the Paigham-e-Pakistan fatwa to help eradicate extremist views.
