A prominent Qatari scholar has written a letter criticising the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia for his religious edict justifying the boycott of the small Gulf country.

The following letter was issued by Qatari Islamic judge, Shaykh Anwar El-Badawi, to Shaykh Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al ash-Sheikh of Saudi Arabia:

“You have issued a fatwa that what Saudi Arabia did regarding the siege and boycott of the State of Qatar is good for its people, and you recommended at the end of the fatwa on adherence to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger- peace be upon him.

Where do we find in the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him) that the Muslim should boycott his Muslim brother and besiege him from land, air and sea and that would be in his interest?

Here is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger which you have recommended to be followed. And would you help us with a verse from it as evidence on what you said? And here are the books of hadith … would you come up with a hadith – even the weak or fabricated one- referring to your fatwa stance?

As for that, your Eminence have not based on any verse of the Book of Allah or the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah- peace be upon him. From where then did you come up with this fatwa? Or that you wish a crisis in such a dangerous matter like this?

Did revelation come to your Eminence from the heavens? Or did you see a vision in a dream. then passed the fatwa? Or it is obedience to the leadership without discussion or dialogue? O Grand Mufti. Is the act of boycott against the people of Qatar not an act of breaking family ties, which Allah and His Messenger has ordered to be joined and forbade breaking it?

Because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) narrated from his Lord in the hadith of al-Qudsi. Allah: “Rahim (family ties) is a word derived from Allah’s special quality, Ar Rahman (The Compassionate One).”

And Allah says: “I shall keep connection with him who maintains you and sever connection with him who severs you.’” (Bukhari). Has Allah not strongly warned against breaking of family ties? Allah says: “So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] relationship?” (47:22).

Your Eminence, do you know, that the boycott against the people of Qatar have caused separation between husband and wife, father and son, mother and children? By Allah, what is good about this?

Your Eminence, do you know, that the people of Qatar have been banned from the Grand Mosque because of the boycott? What good is in this?

Your Eminence, do you know, that a young Saudi was prevented from the funeral of his father and making salat on him because of your fatwa?

Your Eminence, do you know, that Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini mothers were forced to leave their husbands and Qatari children because of your fatwa?

Your Eminence, do you know, that the worry, the grief, the sadness, and the distress have engulfed more than eleven thousand husbands and wives in addition to their children, their relatives and friends because of your fatwa?

Your Eminence, do you know, that the cries of children, the cries of infants, and the crying of relatives when separated from the fruits of their hearts, all to your credit? What good is in that?

Your Eminence, do you know, that these people would become hateful to the Sharia and its people, hostile to the society and its system, and the government? You are planting hatred of their country and leaders in their heart, and then you ask where did the terrorism come from?

We wish that you be a reason for reunification, and for removal of dispute, and reconciliation between blood brothers.

We would like you to be honest counsel to the authority, as ordered by Allah and His Messenger peace be upon him.

We wished that you prevent the rulers from injustice when they go wrong, according to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who said: “Support your brother when he is unjust or wronged.”

They said: “We know how to help him when he is wronged, how could we help him when he is the unjust? He said: “To turn him away from his injustice”.

We think you should prevent the authority (rulers) who ignited the fire of the boycott on their brothers in Qatar unjustly and out of hatred from their injustice and aggression. But for you to collude with them and justify their injustice, and philosophise their aggression, this is contrary to what Allah and His Messenger has commanded.

Didn’t you read the words of Allah: “The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy?”

Did you not read in the Book of Allah: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression?” Where do you place the boycott of a Muslims nation, and a close neighbor, in the month of mercy? In righteousness and piety?! Or in sin and transgression?

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he does not oppress him, nor does he fail him, nor does he lie to him, nor does he hold him in contempt?

Has Sharia not made it forbidden that a brother breaks tie with his brother beyond three days, this turning away, and that turning away, and the better of both is he who begins with the greeting of peace? Is it not one of the characteristics of the Muslims to be (merciful among themselves), or is boycott a type of mercy? Is it not of the characteristics of Muslims- “…but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation.”?

Why have you shied away from these clear and bright evidences as you produce your fatwa?

We ask you, O Grand Mufti and all the Muslim Ummah, to turn away from your fatwas that are contrary to the Qur’an, the Sunnah and the consensus, and to work on bringing together and removing the causes of schism between brothers, in compliance with the word of Allah: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.”

I ask Allah to guide us to do good and good work, and to help you for the good of the nation.”

5Pillars sources in Qatar have verified the authentication of this letter which has also been covered in the Huffington Post Arabic, Morocco World News and Egypt Today.

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