Over 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued a fatwa aimed at prohibiting the use of probably one of the most gruesome and indiscriminate methods employed by terrorists across the world – suicide bombing.

According to a book soon to be revealed by the country’s government and cited by media, the fatwa declares suicide bombings "haram" ("forbidden") to Muslim faithful.

The Pakistani scholars insisted that suicide bombings violate key teachings of Islam and that "no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad."

Earlier the US government announced that it had suspended security assistance to Pakistan, with US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley claiming that Islamabad works with Washington "at times" but also harbors the terrorists who attack US troops in Afghanistan, stating that "Pakistan has played a double game for years." </s> More than 1,800 Pakistani clerics from different schools of Islamic thought have issued a fatwa declaring that suicide bombings are un-Islamic.

The clerics declared that suicide bombings are forbidden, or "haram," under the principles of Islam.

The Islamic directive was revealed on January 16 in a book unveiled by Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and the state-run International Islamic University.

Hussain wrote in the book that the fatwa "provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society."

He said Pakistanis can "seek guidance" from the fatwa "for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam."

Pakistan has been plagued for decades by Islamic militants who teach followers that suicide bombers are "martyrs" in a "holy war" to impose Islamic rule.

Foreign and domestic critics accuse the government and Pakistan's security forces of collaborating with Islamic militants in order to use them as proxies in Afghanistan and India to achieve Islamabad's political and military goals.

They say the government has turned a blind eye to radical clerics in Pakistan's mosques for too long.

Although Pakistani authorities frequently condemn suicide attacks as fanatical and immoral, especially when civilians are killed, insurgents see the tactic as one of their most effective weapons.

Based on reporting by Reuters and GEO-TV </s> KARACHI: Over 1,800 Ulema from different schools of thoughts have issued a Fatwa (Islamic ruling) declaring suicide attacks in Pakistan to be Haram (forbidden).



Details of the Fatwa signed by 1829 clerics in Pakistan emerged on Monday. The ruling states that those who commit suicide attacks, those who order such attacks, those who train such people are all considered rebels against the true spirit of Islam.

The ruling further states that the State of Pakistan is in the right to act against such people.

It outlined clearly that the act of waging war and bloodshed in the name of Jihad can only be initiated by the State. Those who impose their viewpoints on by force are responsible for spreading mischief on earth (Fasad fil Arz).

The ruling also states that in Pakistan, armed conflict in the name of Islamic Law (Shariyat) is forbidden (Haram).

Speaking to Geo News, senior analyst Saleem Safi said that after the Constitution of Pakistan the Fatwa a sacrosanct document that provides answers to the questions faced by Pakistan and the Islamic world in light of the Holdy Quran and the Sunaat.

The document, signed by the clerics from all schools of thought, will be presented under the title Peghaam-e-Pakistan at a ceremony which will be held at the Presidency on Tuesday. </s> Hundreds of Muslim clergymen in Pakistan have issued a joint religious directive that forbids Muslims from carrying out suicide bombing attacks.

Over 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued a fatwa aimed at prohibiting the use of probably one of the most gruesome and indiscriminate methods employed by terrorists across the world – suicide bombing.

According to a book soon to be revealed by the country’s government and cited by media, the fatwa declares suicide bombings "haram" ("forbidden") to Muslim faithful.

"We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam," Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain reportedly wrote in the book, adding that “this Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society."

The Pakistani scholars insisted that suicide bombings violate key teachings of Islam and that "no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad."

READ MORE: Indian Forces Kill 6 Militants, Foil Suicide Attack Bid Ahead of Republic Day

Earlier the US government announced that it had suspended security assistance to Pakistan, with US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley claiming that Islamabad works with Washington "at times" but also harbors the terrorists who attack US troops in Afghanistan, stating that "Pakistan has played a double game for years." </s> ISLAMABAD (REUTERS) - More than 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued an Islamic directive, or fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings, a book due to be unveiled by the government on Tuesday (Jan 16) says.

The South Asian nation has for years been plagued by violence by Islamist militants who often use suicide bombers and preach that their struggle is a holy war to impose Islamic rule.

Suicide attacks are frequently condemned as fanatical and immoral, especially when civilians are killed, but insurgents view the tactic as their most effective weapon.

Seeking to curb "terrorism" that has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties since the early 2000s, the clerics declared suicide bombings to be forbidden, or "haram".

"This Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society," Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote in the book.

"We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam."

Foreign and domestic critics of Pakistan's government and military accuse them of cosying up to radical groups for political and military purposes and say the state has for too long turned a blind eye to hate preachers in mosques.

Pakistani officials deny frequent US allegations about collaborating with militant Islamist proxies in Afghanistan and India, and say vast gains have been made over the past decade against militant outfits such as the Pakistani Taleban.

But privately they also warn any moves against some popular hardline groups based in Pakistan would take a long time and need to be undertaken carefully.

Similar fatwas appear to have yielded scant results in the Middle East where the practice is used by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other militant groups.

The Pakistani scholars, who declared that "no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad (holy war)", said suicide bombings violate key Islamic teachings and were as such forbidden.

The book was prepared by the state-run International Islamic University and Hussain was due at a ceremony to mark the book's release in Islamabad on Tuesday. </s> Afghan parliament members say the U.S. pressure on Pakistan has forced the country’s religious scholars to issue fatwa against suicide bombings.

About two weeks ago, the White House said that it will continue to withhold $255 million in military aid to Pakistan out of frustration over what it has characterized as Islamabad’s reluctance to confronting terrorist networks.

“The statements came as result of the [U.S.] pressures, they [Pakistani officials] attempting to decrease the [ongoing] political pressures; practically they don’t want to stop those who commit suicide attacks but they encourage them to do so,” said MP Khalil Ahmad Shahidzada.

The MPs stressed that Pakistani clerics’ fatwa against suicide bombing is to “deceive” the world.

This comes as more than 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued an Islamic directive, or fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings.

“This Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society,” Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote in a book, cited by Reuters.

“We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam.” </s> More than 1,800 Muslim clerics in Pakistan have jointly issued a fatwa against suicide bombings in the country and labelled such attacks "un-Islamic". All the clerics or ulemas belong to various Islamic schools of thought.

Suicide bombings are one of the deadliest methods employed by extremist groups not just in Pakistan but also elsewhere in the world in order to cause heavy damage. Militant leaders often brainwash would-be suicide bombers into believing that it is a holy war.

Releasing a book which contains the latest fatwa, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain said: "This fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society. We can seek guidance from this fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism, in keeping with the golden principles of Islam."

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who was also present at the ceremony, said: "With this narrative, we make it clear to the entire world that all national institutions are united against terrorism. We have rejected all forms of terrorism and extremism."

According to the fatwa, individuals who launch suicide attacks, those who motivate them to carry out attacks, as well as trainers are all considered anti-Islamic.

The fatwa also wants Pakistan, an Islamic state, to punish the perpetrators.

"Only the Islamic government has the right to declare jihad, which allows armed struggle," reads the fatwa and adds that "imposing your ideology on others on the basis of power is equivalent to spreading violence".

The fatwa is backed by a number of prominent clerics across the South Asian nation, which has been witnessing a sharp increase in armed insurgency in recent years.

The move also has the backing of the civilian and military leaderships which are often criticised for not being tough on radical organisations. </s> A group of 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics has issued a fatwa forbidding suicide bombings, according to a newly published, government-backed book."This Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society," Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote in the book, as cited by Reuters. "We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam."Despite widespread condemnation of suicide bombings by clerics and preachers in the country, extremists still view such attacks as their most effective weapon in their arsenal., with the government's war on terror costing upwards of $118 billion, Pakistan Today reports The group of clerics declared that, "no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad (holy war)." The book in which the fatwa was published was prepared and produced by Pakistan's International Islamic University and was released in Islamabad Tuesday.The Pakistani intelligence service has been accused of fostering terrorism and turning a blind eye to extremist groups. Most recently, US President Donald Trump accused the Pakistani government of giving safe haven to terrorists.Islamabad has vehemently denied such accusations over the years, with Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa saying he felt, "betrayed," by the US government's decision to cut almost $2 billion in military aid in January. </s> More than 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued an Islamic directive, or fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings, in a book unveiled by the government on Tuesday.

For years, the South Asian nation has been plagued by violence by Islamist militants, who often use suicide bombers and preach that their struggle is a holy war to impose Islamic rule. Suicide attacks are frequently condemned as fanatical and immoral, especially when civilians are killed, but insurgents view the tactic as their most effective weapon.

Seeking to curb “terrorism” that has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties since the early 2000s, the clerics declared suicide bombings to be forbidden, or “haraam”. “This fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society,” Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote in the book, prepared by the state-run International Islamic University and released at an official ceremony.

“We can seek guidance from this fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism, in keeping with the golden principles of Islam.”

Foreign and domestic critics of Pakistan’s government and military accuse them of cozying up to radical groups for political and military purposes and say the state has turned a blind eye to hate preachers in mosques for too long. The fatwa was ratified by a number of prominent clerics who are outspoken critics of liberalism and the West, and are seen as controversial for preaching sectarianism or supporting the Afghan Taliban.

One of the clerics who signed, Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, is the face of a banned sectarian organisation, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ), and has been placed on a Pakistani legislative list of individuals with suspected links to “terrorism”. The ASWJ figurehead, Aurangzeb Farooqi, attended the signing ceremony.

Another signatory, Hamid-ul-Haq, is the son of a cleric widely regarded as the “Father of the Afghan Taliban” after many prominent militants, including Taliban founder Mullah Mohammed Omar, were found to have graduated from his seminary in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Pakistani officials deny frequent US allegations about collaborating with militant Islamist proxies in Afghanistan and India, and say vast gains have been made over the past decade against militant outfits such as the Pakistani Taliban. But privately they also warn any moves against some popular hard-line groups based in Pakistan would take a long time and need to be undertaken carefully.

Similar anti-suicide bombing fatwas appear to have yielded scant results in the Middle East, where the practice is used by Islamic State and other militant groups. The Pakistani scholars, who declared that “no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad (holy war)”, said suicide bombings violate key Islamic teachings and, as such, were forbidden.

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Over 1,800 muslim clerics in Pakistan issue a fatwa aimed at prohibiting the use of suicide bombing, declaring it haram.