RIYADH (Agencies)
Saudi Arabia's grand mufti – who issues official religious rulings or fatwas – said on Monday that Saudis should not join jihad outside the kingdom.
"Our youth have become a commodity bought and sold by (Middle) Eastern and Western agencies ... they became tools carrying out heinous acts," he said.
"I decided to say this after it was clear that over several years Saudis have been leaving for jihad. They did this because they are passionate about their religion but they are not wise enough to know right from wrong," Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Aziz al-Sheikh said in a fatwa, published on the official SPA news agency.
Recent media reports have said that a number of Saudis have fought with Sunni insurgents in Iraq.
"By doing such things, the youths commit a number of violations of Islamic orders and teachings including disobedience of our rulers and subject themselves to be attracted by deviated elements and misuse their enthusiasm to achieve political and military gains for suspicious quarters," said Sheikh Abdulaziz, who is also Chairman of the Council of Senior Ulema (Islamic scholars) and the Department of Scientific Research and Religious Edicts (IFTA).
The mufti also cautioned against charitable giving, days after the Saudi government cracked down on charity funding regulations, for fear that money could be making its way to al-Qaeda militants abroad.
"I advise those with money to be careful about where it's spent so it does not damage Muslims and I urge religious scholars and preachers to explain the truth and take young people by the hand so that they see the reality," he said.
Since 2003, Saudi Arabia has been fighting a wave of deadly violence by al-Qaeda linked militants. Earlier this year, authorities arrested 172 men accused of forming militant cells around the country.
Interior Minister Prince Naif told Saudi clerics earlier this year they should do more to stop youth going to Iraq. |
