Question:
assalaamu alaikum,
Is the kufr of the Syrian ruler, Bashar al Assad, apparent and clear ? If yes, has Jihad against him become obligatory ?
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
None of the forty or so Syrian `ulema who have spoken out so far about the events in Sha`aban and Ramadan of 2011 have said what you suggest. Their majority have only said that “We consider the leadership [of the country] to bear the greater part of responsibility in the bloodshed since it is the more powerful side” and has called for peace from all sides and respect for the sanctity of mosques and worshippers. This was stated by the 11 signatories of the 7th of August, 2011 petition of the `ulema of Aleppo (http://www.akkam.org/?type=3505) – including the two muftis of Aleppo and Dr. Nur ad-Din Itr – and by the 20 signatories of the 1st of August, 2011 petition of the `ulema of Damascus (http://www.islamsyria.com/news.php?action=details&NID=77) – including Shaykh al-Qurra’ Kurayyim Rajih, Shaykh Hisham Burhani, Shaykh Usama and Shaykh Sariya al-Rifa`i. Shaykh Muhammad al-Ya`qubi has been vocal in defending the right of the people to demonstrate peacefully against injustice while others – such as Dr. Muhammad Sa`id al-Buti and Shaykh Abd al-Hadi Kharsa – have stated that the demonstrations against the regime are unlawful and a fitna. Those affiliated with the two main schools of Damascus – Abu an-Nur and the Farfur Shaykhs at Ma`had al-Fath – appear closer to the latter stance, and Allah knows best.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
