Egyptian Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, speaking on his al-Jazeera show “Shari’a and Life” on Sunday urged the young Egyptian protesters to “consider their revolution on-going until they achieve what they seek.” He also included a list of demands for the interim military government, among which was freeing political prisoners, as well as cancelling the current constitution and “counterfeit” People’s and Shura Councils. Shaykh al-Qaradawi stands to wield enormous influence in Egypt if a Muslim Brotherhood-led government emerges, which, based on some of his public positions, could be very bad for both the United States and Israel.
Translation of a 14 February report from almoslim.net:
Shaykh Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, on Sunday saluted the Egyptian revolution which toppled the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, commending the Egyptian youth and extending greetings to the Egyptian army. He called for the youth to consider their revolution on-going, until they achieve what they were seeking for. He also called for the army to take quick steps to free all of the political prisoners.
[…]
He added: “I salute these youth, I salute the Egyptian people who were rightfully outraged, who outraged against oppression… those who set the example in altruism, exertion, and sacrifice. They are as the Ansar whom were described by the saying of the Qur’an: “…but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot)” [Qur’an 59:9]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) described them as, “They increase when there’s fear, and decrease when there’s greed.”
[…]
Al-Qaradawi stated, directing himself to the youth: “We ask them to consider their revolution on-going until they achieve what they seek, and to not permit disunity to enter among them. (We also ask them) to form a council to represent them before the Army.”
He spoke to the Army, saying: “I offer a word of thanks to the Army. From the beginning they have expressed the rights of these youth, and remained behind them until President Mubarak was removed (from office).” He continued: “I believe that he was removed, (because of) his manner of operating, his stubbornness, and his refusal to step down.”
He said: “I demand that the armed forces, after taking the positive steps of cancelling the constitution and forming a committee to frame a new constitution, and revoking the counterfeit People’s and Shura Councils…and for this they will be praised.”
He continued: “But we desire more than that…We want them to free the youth, some of whose location is not known at this time… among them is one of my relatives.”
He went on: “I even demand that all the political prisoners be freed, on whom harsh judgments were passed by the military tribunals,” adding that there are a number of “Egyptians outside (of the country) who cannot enter the country because of military rulings imposed on them.”
He demanded that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has taken charge of the administration of the country, “Recognize the wishes of the Egyptians to cancel the emergency law, this law which was a sword hanging over many Egyptians.”
His Eminence responded to a fatwa on the ruling of contributing Zakat [Islamic charity money] for this revolution, saying that it was permissible on the basis that the Zakat was paid “in the path of Allah,” meaning jihad. “This is a type of jihad… The best jihad is (speaking) truth to an unjust ruler.”
He said, “If other resources have become scarce, and all we have is zakat, then we will pay from the zakat. This is in the path of Allah.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.