News – In response to a letter sent by a number of followers from the Republic of Azerbaijan, Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani called for the death of the individuals who insulted the Holy Prophet of Islam in Senat newspaper. Text of the letter and the fatwa issued by Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani is as under:
To,
Esteemed religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Fazel
Lankarani (may Allah grant him long life)
Recently one of the Azeri newspapers named Senat has published an article
from Rafiq Tagi, an apostate journalist causing fury and wrath among Muslims of
the region. (A translation of his article is enclosed.) The writer of the
article is trying to conclude with his analysis that Europe and its religion,
Christianity are superior in all aspects to the Middle East and its religion,
Islam. He describes Islam as inferior to Christianity in all aspects. In a
section of his article he has insulted the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and ridiculed all
sanctities of Islam. And at the end of the article, the writer has declared that
he has written the article intentionally, knowingly and with full knowledge of
its consequence. He has vowed to write more.
Moreover, this same newspaper has many a number of times attacked,
disrespected and desecrated Islamic sanctities and it has even published pages
from “Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie.
Question:
What is the duty of Muslims with regard to this unbearable issue?
Your Followers from
Azerbaijan
In the name of Allah, the Most Exalted
Such a person is an apostate in view of his
confessions, if he is a Muslim. If he had been an unbeliever (Kafir), he is
considered as someone who has insulted the Prophet and in any case, given his
confessions, it is necessary for every individual who has an access to him to
kill him. The person in charge of the said newspaper, who published such
thoughts and beliefs consciously and knowingly, should be dealt with in the same
manner. We pray to Almighty Allah to grant Muslims and Islam protection from
the evils of their enemies.
íõÑöíÏõæäó áöíõØúÝöÄõæÇ äõæÑó Çááøóåö ÈöÃóÝúæóÇåöåöãú æóÇááøóåõ ãõÊöãøõ äõæÑöåö æóáóæú ßóÑöåó ÇáúßóÇÝöÑõæäó
They want to put out the light of God with their mouths, but God will certainly make His light shine forever - even though the disbelievers may dislike this (61:8).
Muhammad Fazel Lankarani
24/11/2006