Endorse the Amman Message of Muslim Unity
Perhaps one of the most destructive forces in the Ummah today is the disease of sectarianism; the mentality that one small group of people are a saved sect and all others are destined to hellfire either temporarily or for eternity. Alhumdulillah, the ‘Ulema have been trying their utmost to combat this fire from spreading any further. Some of us, in one way or another, are guilty of delving into matters that are best left to the experts of our deen. Since some of us have inadvertently contributed to this problem, let us work together to be part of the solution.
If you have a blog or myspace page or an e-mail listserve, please post this up and endorse this beautiful message promoting Muslim unity.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Dear Friend,
As-Salamu alaykum. We hope this message finds you well. In November 2004, King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan launched the Amman Message, a declaration aimed at clarifying the true nature of Islam and the nature of true Islam to the world. It is a message of devotion to God, love of the neighbor, goodwill, moderation and peace. Since then, the Amman Message has come to be epitomized in three major juridical and doctrinal points, each crucial to addressing the problems the Islamic world faces today.
- The great traditional schools of jurisprudence, theology, and spirituality are valid from the point of view of Islam, and the followers of these schools, which include both Sunni and Shi‘i denominations, are all Muslims. Islam has fundamental tenets but is also diverse.
- It is impermissible to declare any Muslim so defined as an unbeliever/apostate (a practice called takfir).
- Only those with the proper moral and intellectual qualifications, and the proper methodology, may issue fatwas (religious edicts).
Since they were first introduced, these three points have been recognized and ratified universally, through fatwas and official statements, in meetings of the highest and most recognized authorities and scholars in Islamic law, from all denominations and schools of thought all over the world. This is a unique historical event. The statements and signatures from these religious leaders can be see on www.ammanmessage.com.
These three points are vital for the future of the Islamic world. We suffer from disunity and discord, and must reaffirm our unity as an Islamic ummah. We suffer from wounds and ignorant prejudice which would take us into conflict with many of those who would live at peace with us. We must denounce the practice of takfir (accusing Muslims of apostasy for interpretations and opinions different from ours), which too often opens the door to terrible crimes against our own brothers and sisters. Moreover, all such atrocities committed in the name of Islam are traceable to the fatwa of men totally unqualified, morally and intellectually, to issue one. It is thus imperative that the ummah speak with one voice in reaffirming true Islam.
We invite you to add your voice to this unique and historic international Islamic consensus. Please visit www.ammanmessage.com, where you can read more about the Amman Message and find many useful documents and links. Under ENDORSE you can add your name to the list of Muslims worldwide who have endorsed and supported the three points. Your endorsement is important for all our futures.
Yours Sincerely,
The Amman Message Committee,
Bloggers Endorsing the Amman Message of Muslim Unity:
- Congregation of Muslim Bloggers
- Contemplating Chisti
- Deenport
- Ekhlas
- hahmed.com
- Just Another Blog
- Mujahideen Ryder
- Sufistication
- Yahya Birt
To see a full list of scholars, academics, and leaders who have endorsed the letter, click here.
Sphere: Related ContentPublished March 27, 2007 . Filed under: Muslim Unity
Posts
Theoretically, I think few would eschew the idea of Islamic unity. However, is it not contradictory for a tyrant, to be spearheading such an effort? And what is the significance of Muslims aligning themselves with him, in light of:
, nor shall ye be helped.”
“And incline not to those who do wrong, or the Fire will seize you; and ye have no protectors other than Allah
–Qur’an 11:113
March 29, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
I’m not sure King Abdullah II is a tyrant. He’s definitely a monarch and a stooge of the West. Also, the Amman message was merely a revitalization of the efforts of the ‘Ulema from al-Azhar. Even if King Abdullah II is a tyrant, his tyranny didn’t effect the substance of the message which was basically to promote unity amongst the Muslims.
March 29, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
Is it possible to be a monarch and a stooge of the West in the Middle East without being a tyrant?! I wonder why exactly he needs $4.5 milion/year in U.S. aid–to promulgate democracy? I believe that the source (particularly of a platform we are to endorse) must be weighed along with the substance of the message. And I don’t believe this source is any friend of Muslims. I sense your thirst for unity, which is alhamdulillah, laudable. I just wish Muslims might derive it independently, minus the taint of another corrupt Arab ruler.
March 29, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
Yes, I think its possible to be a monarch without being a tyrant. Monarchy is a form of government and may or may not be unjust. A tyrant is one who oppresses people takes away their rights. Merely because he receives aid from a foreign country doesn’t make him tyrannical. Compare him to his grand father and father, and I think he’s less a controversial figure. The only thing that he’s done that is blameworthy is affiliated with an unjust power. Yet, in the unipolar world, its impossible to deal without a superpower.
Furthermore, assuming even if he was a tyrant for the sake of argument, the proclamation itself isn’t a tyrannical speech. He isn’t taking the rights of people away, but trying to preserve them. Furthermore, he isn’t the originator of this effort, it was the ‘Ulema at Al-Azhar that actually preceded this proclamation. King Abdullah merely used his authority as a public figure to attract attention to the proclamation which is designed to promote Muslim unity.
March 30, 2007 @ 1:37 am
Interestingly enough, I wrote about this too, and I also wondered about this confusion between the message and the sponsor.
April 8, 2007 @ 2:54 am
[…] time has passed since the Amman Message was issued and many people signed off on it, praising it as a means to eradicate extremism and […]
January 16, 2008 @ 2:35 am