There is no justification for such an act of utter violence or the attacking of mosques. ‘The murder of Shaykh Dr Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti is a colossal loss’, the statement reads.
Al-Azhar has released a statement strongly condemning the killing of scholars and the innocent as well as the assault on the sanctity of mosques and the houses of Allah. Al-Azhar grieves over the merciless killing and murder of the esteemed Scholar of Syria, Shaykh Dr Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti and his followers who died with him in the bombing of a mosque in Damascus.
Although Al-Azhar did not agree with the late scholar in the position that he took relating to the Syrian revolution, nonetheless it criminalises and condemns the spilling of innocent blood and the destruction of innocent souls. Al-Azhar further emphasises that it is certain in the belief that such crimes cannot be perpetrated by those who seek freedom and maintain the dignity and honour of a human being just as is clear in the Qur’an and the doctrine of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama’ah.
Member of the Supreme Council of Senior Scholars of Al-Azhar and the Head of the Arabic Language Academy, Shaykh Dr Hasan al-Shafi’i, for his part stated, “Support of the late scholar for the regime does not justify prejudice against him. We are shocked and distressed with the loss of the great Syrian scholar, Dr Muhammad Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti. Allah have mercy upon him. The deceased scholar held a position which he chose, a position championed by the rebellious Syrian regime. Nonetheless, whatever the opinion, his stance does not at all justify for anyone to assault him or the sanctity of the mosques or to spill the blood of the worshippers who come to the houses of Allah to fulfil their obligations and remember the name of Allah. The murder of Shaykh Dr Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti is a colossal loss and the image sent forth from this assault is further shocking. Allah forgive him and have mercy upon him, through Your mercy that overwhelms everything. Indeed we are for Allah and to Him we are to return.”
Photo: A photo of Shaykh Dr Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti and Shaykh al-Habib ‘Ali al-Jifri during their visit and meeting with the Grand Imam, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb, Shaykh al-Azhar.
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