Sheikh Nasr Farid Wassel

Participants in the International Conference for Ifta on Wednesday asserted that fatwas (religious edicts) should be issued by specialists and relevant religious institutions.

Delivering a speech at the event, former grand mufti of Egypt Sheikh Nasr Farid Wassel said that Islam authorized war for self-defense to protect people’s lives, property and honor and not for assaulting others unduly. 

For his part, Osama Al Abd, the head of Parliament’s religious affairs and endowments committee, affirmed that Islam rejects all forms of violence, terrorism and extremism and calls for tolerance and dialogue under religious rules. 

Also, he underlined that fatwas should be limited to specialists and accredited religious institutions, notably Al Azhar, Dar El-Ifta (the House of Fatwas), and the Awqaf Ministry.

Meanwhile, Jordan's Mufti Mohammad Al Khalalyeh blasted fatwas that spread the culture of extremism among Muslims in violation of the Sharia law.

Furthermore, he commended the role of religious institutions to prevent such fatwas inside Islamic communities.

Source: MENA