Azharite scholars call for implementation of “Hirabah” penalty on Qatari Emir

Cairo – Azharite scholars welcomed Al-Azhar’s support of Arab countries severing ties with Qatar, calling for the implementation of the “Hirabah” penalty on Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Hirabah penalty is an Islamic punishment to deter those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land. In such cases, the perpetrators should be killed, crucified, or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite ends,[left hand, right foot], or be exiled from the land.

Azharite scholars consider that the regime of Al Thani is involved in the killing of innocent people and doing mischief in the land.

Dr. Abdullah el-Naggar, chairperson of Egyptian Religious Endowment Ministry’s center for countering terrorism and extremism, stressed that he backs the stance of Al-Azhar, senior scholars, and Arab countries to cut ties with Qatar, which is a partner in terrorism and the killing of innocent people.

“I support Al-Azhar’s stance. If the issue is related to political affairs, then we side with the state against any pro-terrorism party,” El-Naggar told AlBawaba News.

He added that Qatar helps to spread the killing of innocent people, and does mischief in the land.

Dr. Sami Al-Assalah, former head of Religious Endowment Ministry’s religious inspection, said Al-Azhar’s support aims to urge Qatar to stop backing terrorism and rejoin the Arab rank.

He pointed out that the punishment for terrorism is stipulated by the holy Quran as Allah says: “The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land.” Al-Assalah stressed that such punishments are executed against those who take part, support or fund terrorist acts.

He added that any religious institution cannot back terrorist crimes or back people involved in terrorist acts, whether they are individuals or political regimes.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have cut their ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017, while Yemen and the provisional government of Libya took the same decision as well.