The great mufti of Egypt rejects a fatwa calling for jihad against Israel, calling it “irresponsible”

Faced with the catastrophic situation in Gaza, the International Union of Muslim Sciences (IUMS) deemed close to the Muslim Brotherhood, called on Muslims to lead Jihad against Israel. A radical position that the great mufti of Egypt, Nazir Ayyad, has severely condemned, denouncing an “irresponsible” initiative which jeopardizes the stability of the Muslim world.

For Nazir Ayyad, no organization, however prestigious, has the right to assume the power to launch calls to jihad, especially in such an explosive context. “This kind of appeal, launched without taking into account the political, military and economic realities of the nations, is not only contrary to the principles of Sharia law, but represents a direct threat to the security of Muslim societies”, he said.

If IUMS justifies its fatwa by the atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza – where more than 50,000 Palestinians have already been killed since October 2023 -, Nazirayyad insists on the need for intelligent support, built and coherent to the Palestinians, far from any religious populism. “” Defend Gaza, yes. But not by sending whole peoples to the abyss under cover of noble intentions ”he warned.

This warning clearly aims at fiery speeches which, on the pretext of solidarity, are likely to fuel chaos and even more expose the already bruised civilian populations. MUFTI recalls that only a recognized political authority can declare a war or a jihad, not self -proclaimed religious unions, whose calls lack legitimacy and sense of responsibility. In a context where Egypt remains linked to Israel by a peace treaty since 1979, other voices, such as that of the Salafist preacher Yasser Burhami, also denounced the Fatwa of Iums, stressing its incompatibility with geopolitical reality.

While Gaza is completely ravaged, humanitarian aid remains blocked and that part of the international community remains silent in the face of this genocide, certain choices of words can ignite powders. And in such a moment, religious leaders have a duty of measure, no exaltation.