Islamic scholars reject Baghdadi’s US-sponsored Khilafah

Crescent International

Ramadan 09, 1435 2014-07-07

Daily News Analysis

by Crescent International

There is universal condemnation by Islamic scholars of the hijacking of an important Islamic concept as the Khilafah by a bunch of hoodlums. Al-Baghdadi's project is not likely to last long but in the process it will cause immense damage to the Ummah.

Cairo, Crescent-online
Monday July 7, 2014, 17:39 DST

No issue has perhaps united so many Islamic scholars from a wide spectrum of opinion in the Muslim world as has the declaration by the self-styled leader of the takfiri group, announcing establishment of the Khilafah with himself as the Khalifah.

Muslim scholars have condemned al-Baghdadi’s declaration of the Khilafah in parts of Iraq and Syria. The brutal methods of the takfiri group that has misappropriated the name, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), have sent shockwaves throughout the Muslim world.

Informed Muslims are aware that al-Baghdadi, whose real name is Ali Ibrahim al-Badri al-Samarrai, is an American agent working to advance the imperialist-zionist agenda in the region. His adoption of the name, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a sinister attempt to gain sympathy and support. The American agent wants to establish a link with the first Khalifah of Muslims, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ra).

His well-equipped army of murderous thugs has been trained by the CIA in Jordan and their initial assignment was to topple the government of Bashar al-Asad in Syria but when that failed, they were unleashed on Iraq.

Playing the sectarian card that found willing adherents among the disgruntled Sunni population of Ninaveh and Adyala provinces, thanks to the short-sighted and equally sectarian politiies of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, al-Baghdadi made quick gains.

Even Hizb ut-Tahrir, the group that is most vociferous in advocating for the Khilafah, denounced al-Baghdadi.

Puffed by his “success”, al-Samarrai/al-Baghdadi declared himself Khalifah and demanded that all Muslims pledge allegiance to him. Such brazen opportunism has horrified Muslims everywhere.

Even his al-Qaeda associates are appalled by al-baghdadi’s pronouncement. Unfortunately, he has made a mockery of the noble Islamic concept of Khilafah by wearing a black turban and donning a black gown while flashing an expensive watch!

Such clownish behaviour may appeal to some misguided Muslim youth but the majority of Muslims—scholars as well as laymen—have been appalled.

Sheikh Yusuf al-Qardawi, scholars from Al-Azhar as well as leaders of Islamic movements such as Dr Rachid Ghannouchi have all denounced al-Baghdadi and his band of murderous thugs.

In an open letter published on the website of International Union of Muslim Scholars that Sheikh al-Qardawi heads, he says the declaration was “void” according to Islamic law.

Even Hizb ut-Tahrir, the group that is most vociferous in advocating for the Khilafah, denounced al-Baghdadi.

“The issue of the Khilafah is too great for its image to be distorted or for its reality to be changed merely by an announcement here or an announcement there,” the group said in a statement on its website.

Dr Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of Ennahda Party in Tunisia, called the declaration of Khilafah a “reckless” act, which gave a “deceptive message”.

“Nations do not arise in this ridiculous way,” he told congregants during his Juma khutbah on July 4.

From Salafis to Sufis, all have condemned al-Baghdadi’s pompous claims. It is unlikely that this project would last too long.

END