Proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding

A Proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding
By Sam Solomon
Foreword by Gerard BattenUK Independence Party Member of the European Parliament for London
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to this proposed Charter. Thank you to those who have read and have helped in editing and to everyone who gave suggestions and advice, with especial thanks to Paul Diamond whose legal expertise was invaluable.I am most indebted to Gerard Batten MEP for his kindness,leadership, sincerity and all his help.Last but not least my esteemed colleague and researcher Al Maqdisi who is simply indispensable.
Sam Solomon
The Western European view of religion, achieved after centuries of bloodshed, conflict and division, is that religion isa matter of private belief and conscience. Islamic fundamentalists do not share this view. They do not believe in the nation state, democracy, the equality of women, or tolerance. They believe in Islamic theocracy, a universal Muslim society, the Umma, based on political rule according to the Quran and Sunnah.Such views are simply incompatible with Western liberal democracy, and we have seen where such extremist beliefs can lead, for example in Afghanistan and Iran. The West has been amazingly lax in recognising the threat posed to its security,freedoms, values and the cohesiveness of society by Islamic fundamentalism. The terrorist atrocities in London of July 2005 showed just how dangerous these beliefs can be. The threat posed by Islamic  terrorism is one common to most, if not all,European countries.Islamic fundamentalists have however made great gains in the propaganda war by convincing many non-Muslims that they are the true representatives of Islam, whereas they are not. The vast majority of Muslims that non-Muslims meet in every-daylife are decent, respectable, law-abiding and hardworking. Western governments and societies have to offer them their support while standing firm against the extremists.A great step forward in this process is Sam Solomon's Proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding. The Charter allows Muslims from all strands of belief to make it plain that they reject those extremist interpretations of their religious texts that promote or excuse violence and bring Islam into conflict with the modern world. It affirms that they want to enjoy the freedoms of the West and live as law-abiding andpeace-loving people. I very much hope that those groups claiming to represent Muslims will decide to sign and embrace it.
Gerard Batten MEP

If Islam is a religion of peace, as portrayed by the Muslim community and its clergy, and those acts of terrorism committed in its name are the acts of few misguided individuals who have misunderstood and misinterpreted its teaching, then Islam iscompletely innocent of the violence and the terrorism that is sometimes attributed to it.Consequently, in extrapolating from this premise, one should expect that in the light of the current terrorist threat perpetrated by some in the name of Islam that the faithful ones and the authorised scholars and experts call a general conference of itsUlema, the learned scholars of Islamic religion, to discuss provisions such as laid out in this Charter. They should have no objection to being signatories to it, and upholding its contentboth in letter and spirit in the name of Islam and for the welfare of their host societies and that of humanity at large.We call on organisations representing the Islamic faith such as the European Council of Fatwa, the Muslim Council of Britain,the  Al-Azhar, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Muslim World League and all its affiliates, national and international Islamic bodies, to endorse and sign this proposedCharter as an example to all European Muslims.It is hoped that the Muslim leaders would agree that whosoever deviates from the path of this Charter would have gone on an unIslamic path and thus such a person would be regarded as outcast from the religion of Islam; hence a non-Muslim.It is hoped that at least all European Muslim leaders and their institutions both national and Europe-wide will be signatories to this Charter as the first expression of their desire to live in peace within their host countries, as law-abiding and peace-loving and peace-promoting communities alongside their non Muslim neighbours.Whatever their real or perceived grievances these need to be addressed through proper channels and not through violenceand terrorism. 
Introduction
We the undersigned as the representatives of Muslim communities in our capacity as leaders at various levels asMuftis,  Ulemas,  Imams, community leaders, heads of Islamic madrassas,  Muezzins,  Mazuns and all other Islamic relevant offices including those of free thinkers and leaders of NGOs as well as NOPs (Non-Profit Organisations), the leaders of youthand women's groups, and leaders at all levels of Islamic institutions commit to uphold, promote, propagate and abide by these articles in letter and spirit of this  Charter of Muslim Understanding. We commit to the fostering and promotion of peaceful coexistence across Europe in the spirit of one brotherhood amongst all humanity treating all as equals in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the charter of the United Nations, the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (General Assembly resolution 217A(III) of 1948), and the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966).Whosoever breaches any of the articles stated and detailed below will be regarded as a person outside the House of Islam, and shall be denounced as a non-Muslim, and will find no protection in the Muslim community.
 Proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding 
Article 1
We will respect all other non-Muslim religions in word and deed by issuing a clear fatwa with an immediate effect prohibiting:a) The use of force and violence of any kind against the followers of any or all non-Muslim religionsb) The issue of threats through any religious fatwa threatening with violence against institutions or assassination of individuals or groups and followers of other religions who may be domiciled in the affected localities or any othercountry be it a Muslim majority or a otherwisec) The use of any force in any form for whatever grievancesfelt or actuald) The killing or targeting of any civilian or civil institutions in Islamic and non-Islamic countries as a way and meansof addressing any of our grievances. 
Article 2
We will respect and honour all civilisations, cultures, and traditions of other nations and people irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.This will be achieved by introducing a clear educational programme through all Islamic institutions and outlets, as wellas organising special meetings to address youth:a) By promoting brotherhood of all mankind without any religious or ethnic discrimination or differentiationb) By declaring the equality of all men and women and the profanity of nonec) By insisting on the validity and the viability of national domestic law; that it shall be fully adhered to and take precedence over the Shariah.
Article 3
In the spirit of the saying," Let there be no compulsion in religion "(Sura 2:256), we commit to the upholding the value of freedom, and in particular freedom of belief and expression. The signatories hereby declare that religion is a private and personal matter and a personal choice. It is neither a right of a community nor a state right to dictate or interfere with a person's personal choice of faith.a) As such there will be no recriminations against any Muslim or non-Muslim who chooses to change, discard, or adopt another faith be it within the House of Islam, from any Islamic faction, or to a non-Islamic religion or faith.b) This concept will be re-issued as a binding  fatwa across Europe and offered for publication in national and local newspapers in order to avoid any misinterpretations.

Article 4
The basis of the legitimacy of Islamists acts of terror and their perpetuated violence is the authority that they obtain from being sanctioned by religious leaders. These sanctioning statements areknown as fatwas. This situation is now being reviewed in many Islamic nations.Jordan has passed a bill regulating the process of fatwas and the accountability of those that issue them. Those in breach of that regulation are liable to face severe penalties. Saudi Arabia too has tabled proposals to that effect, and other Arab Islamicgovernments have commissioned a study into it. Nation states must consider this measure as a safeguard.Following from the foregoing articles, the signatories to this Charter ban and prohibit the right of issuing any  fatwa that would results in violence against individuals or institutions.a) Any such fatwa will be null and void.b) The right of issuing  fatwa will be limited to a specified body, and only that body will have the right to issuerelevant religious fatwas.c) Fatwas issued by anybody else (either an individual or an institution) apart from the authorised body will be invalid and of no effect.d) In the event of an individual or an organisation other than the specified body issuing a fatwa it would be regarded as unlawful and it would be for the appropriate governmental authorities to bring him/her/them to justice.e) The signatories to this Charter will fully co-operate with the police and security forces in bringing him/her/them to justice,including measures of deportation where appropriate.
Article 5
As peace-loving and peace-promoting people domiciled in Europe, and equally believing that Islam is a religion of peace that promotes co-operation and collaboration of all peoples irrespective of their religious or ethnic or gender backgrounds:a) The notion and all teachings of violent physical Jihad is to be regarded as invalid, inappropriate and irrelevant hence inapplicableb) Therefore all Quranic  Jihad verses encouraging physical violence, whether implicit or explicit, or any other quotations from any Islamic source, be that Sunnah or the sayings of the Prophet or that of the learned scholars or leaders of  Jihad at any given time or place, are to be regarded as inapplicable, invalid and non-Islamic c) All Quranic verses that could be regarded as inciting discrimination on the grounds of religion, ethnicity or gender are just historical and will be regarded as non effective for today's worldd) These verses will be either deferred or suspended until such time as scholars find a solution for their interpretation.
Article 6
Based on the acceptance of equality of all mankind, brotherhood of all and the freedom and sanctity of all human life, and based on the principle that whosoever slays one man is as though he has slain the whole of humanity,all acts of terrorism are prohibited, shunned and outlawed:a) No suicidal mission undertaken for whatever the reason is justified b) No violent physical  Jihad operation will be regarded as sacredc) No one who chooses to die in such an operation will be regarded as a martyr.
Article 7
We jointly will fight terrorism and do all within our abilities to stem it from our institutions through:a) Full co-operation with all the relevant authorities,including those of the Police and Intelligence Servicesb) By watching and monitoring mosque sermons and other mosque teaching programmes for messages not in accordance with this Charterc) Making certain that at religious gatherings and lectures for young people co-operation and peaceful co-existence with non Muslims is proclaimed and the ideology of hate is rooted outd) Reporting any secret or suspicious gathering of youth cells in any of our institutionse) Monitoring all publications, including books, CDs, DVDs and all other media, that serve the cause of militant Islamistsf) Ensuring transparency and full access to the authorities to verify the implementation of this Charter.
 Article 8
We will foster a better relationship with non-Muslims and promote peace by:a) Issuing regular  fatwas promoting peace and brotherhood between Muslims and non-Muslims as a foundational teaching of Islamb) Produce a clear programme promoting peace and forgiveness amongst all people groups irrespective of their religious, cultural, linguistic or ethnic backgroundc) Taking stern action through establishing by-laws to expel any Muslim official or office-bearer at any level who engages or promotes any teaching or activity not in accordance with this Charterd) Forbidding any anti-Jewish or anti-Christian supplications at all times, particularly at prayer times and other religious gatherings.
Article 9
We the signatories request all Islamic institutions and all of its associates, affiliations and outlets in co-operation with the signatories to this Charter:a) To discard all texts that discriminate with impunity against Christians and Jews by describing them as  Kaffirs,apostates, polytheists, the children of apes, and swine, and prohibit any inciting, insulting and all discriminatory references based on their religion b) To abandon the practice of  takffir (infidel) against anybody, be that a Muslim or a non-Muslim. (Once a Muslim leader declares anyone as such, it is for the faithful ones to see that person eliminated.)c) To prohibit and abolish the practice of  Takkiya (Islamic doctrine of legitimate lying and deception of others) to advance the cause of Muslims and Islam.Insults, incitement, discrimination and deception are not to be upheld or practised.
Article 10
Request all officially constituted Islamic bodies and institutions to revise and issue new interpretations of those Quranic verses that call for  Jihad and violence against non-Muslims. For example, but not exclusively:a) O Prophet (Muhammad)! Urge the believers to fight. If there are twenty steadfast persons amongst you, they will overcome two hundred, and if there be a hundred steadfast persons they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are people who do not understand.(Sura 8:65)b) Let those (believers) who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter fight in the Cause of Allah, and whoso fights in the Cause of Allah, and is killed or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward.(Sura 4:74)c) Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghuat (great Satan).So fight you against the friends of Shaiytan (Satan); Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaiytan.(Sura 4:76)d) And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (dissension,disbelief and polytheism) and the religion (worship) will allbe for Allah Alone (in the whole of the world). But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly,Allah is All-Seer of what they do.(Sura 8:39)e) And kill them (unbelievers) wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the sanctuary at  Makkah), unlessthey (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.(Sura 2:191)

Please SIGN BELOW
I, the undersigned, as an individual, or as an official representative of an organisation, accept in principle the need to re-examine and address the meaning and application of certain Islamic texts and doctrines; and that the issues identified in the Proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding represent the basis for further discussion of these issues.I affirm my belief in:1. The equality of all human beings, before God and the law2. Equal rights for women, in principle and practice3. The rejection of coercion, intimidation and violence in the name of religion4. Religious freedom and rejection of the persecution of those who convert from one faith to another5. Tolerance of other religions, and their believers, and the rejection of religious teachings that discriminate against others on the basis of their religious beliefs