Union of Muslim scholarship holders calls for an “armed jihad” against Israel

The International Union of Muslim scholars (IUSM) has published a radical fatwa calling for the attribution of “armed jihad” against Israel and religiously prohibiting the normalization of links. This declaration, which appeared on the official website of the organization and the official X / Twitter account of its president, Sheikh Ali al-Qaradaghi, represents a striking theological position promoted by an international Islamist organization during the current Gaza conflict.

Based in Doha with an additional presence in Istanbul and claiming to represent tens of thousands of religious specialists from around the world, the Uiusm was created in 2004 by Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradawi, a notorious and venerated cleric which led the axis of the Muslim Fraternity and was made known for its endorsement and its Hamas against Israeli civilians.

لجنة الاجتهاد والفتوى بالاتحاد العالمي لعلماء المسلمين Régit تضمنته ما يلي: 1️⃣ وجوب الجهاد بالسours الدول العربية والإسلامية.

– د. علي القره داغي (@ali_alqaradaghi) April 4, 2025

Earlier this week, the “IJTihad and Fatwa Committee” of the union designed the edict to tackle what they called “the current aggression against Gaza”. The declaration made several important requests, including calls for an in -depth besiege of Israel “on land, sea and air” while encouraging “rapid military intervention by Islamic countries” to strengthen the Palestinian armed struggle through several dimensions – military, economic areas and the diplomatic arena.

Religious scholars have cited the statistics of the victims of Hamas in Gaza, which are supposed to exceed 50,000, describing the situation as “a methodical genocide conducted with explicit support from the United States, in the midst of the Arab quiette and the passivity of the nations of the Islamic world”.

On the economic level, the Council has strengthened the previous positions approving the boycotts of “companies that support the Zionist entity” and declaring that wealthy Muslims must “participate in jihad by financial means and equip activists”.

The theological directive explains what it considers homework for Muslims at different levels of proximity to the conflict. Surprisingly, the Fatwa considers “the enemy”, which means Israel, a Kafir or an unfaithful, unlike certain other traditional views of Islam towards Judaism within the framework of the “People of the Book”.

The position of the Council also extends to commercial measures, proclaiming religiously to prohibit it from providing Israel “oil, natural gas and all the products that help their military campaign”, including “food and drinks while the Gaza population faces famine”.

Among the most politically ambitious elements of the decision, there is an appeal to the Arab and Islamic countries to “form a consolidated military coalition to protect Islamic territories”, which the Council characterizes as “an imperative obligation which does not allow any report”.

The Fatwa also deals with geopolitical aspects, calling on nations to maintain diplomatic links with Israel to “reassess these agreements and exert pressure accordingly” and explicitly prohibiting “normalization with the Zionist occupation entity in any form”.

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Despite the broad influence and the central role of the IUMS in the world of Islamist movements, others hesitated more towards the edict. For example, Dar al-IFTA, Egypt, the Islamic Council and the country’s government organization, said that, according to Sharia law, those who call armed jihad should also participate personally and the appeal to jihad without taking into account the capacities of the nation and its political, military and economic reality is an irresponsible call which contradicts the principles of Islamic law. “”

“ Proof that Hamas is supported by international organizations’ ”

Dr. Nesya Shemer, an expert in Sharia law and Jewish-Islamic relations, explained to The Jerusalem post The fact that the Fatwa calling for armed jihad against Israel is an example of Ayn eyeshadow, a religious obligation incumbent on each Muslim wherever they are.

“This means that the IUM consider jihad against Israel as a defensive jihad ” aimed at repelling the enemies of the fatherland who must be governed by Islam,” said Shemer, adding that, in their opinion, Palestine has been under the Islamic regime since the 7th century and until the British mandate and should therefore be “recovered”. “This is opposed to offensive jihad considered as Kifayah eyeshadow, an obligation incumbent on the Islamic nation as a whole, in which a representative force of Muslims would suffice,” she explained.

Asked about the meaning of the new Fatwa, Shemer stressed that it continued the line led by the IUMs since the start of the war. “Although the immediate implications of this fatwa are not yet fully clear, there is an increasing fear that Fatwa develops to become a world religious war against Jews around the world, in a way that will have a direct impact on the life of Jewish communities abroad,” said Shemer.

“In addition, war and images circulating in the media could affect public opinion in the border countries of Israel, which would affect the stability of regimes,” said Shemer. “However, with all the respect I owe you, neither these fatwas nor the perception of our neighboring regimes should guide Israel in his quest to overcome Hamas and his supporters all over the world.”

Shemer concluded: “This Fatwa illustrates how Hamas is not only a small terrorist organization operating from Gaza, but rather that which is supported by international Muslim organizations and organizations that defend the same ideology. Treating with Hamas is, in fact, dealing with this same Islamist ideology, which is international and widespread in the Muslim world. ”