Fatwa on the Sharia Ruling of the Crime of Cursing the Companions

The International Union of Muslim Scholars issues a fatwa that the crime of cursing the Companions, fabricating lies, and slandering the Mothers of the Believers carries the ruling of disbelief (kufr), iniquity (fisq), rebellion, and the fragmentation of the Islamic Ummah.

The Union declares that cursing the noble Companions, as well as fabricating lies and slandering the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them), and describing them as a band of evil, or with disbelief and treachery, constitutes disbelief, iniquity, and rebellion. It fragments the Ummah, sows sedition within a single nation, and contradicts the established reality. It is also an accusation against the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of being unable to properly cultivate the character of the Mothers of the Believers. This contradicts the testimony that Allah the Almighty has given, saying: "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient." (Al-Imran: 110). It also contradicts the Holy Quran where Allah the Almighty says: "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sower - so that He may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward." (Al-Fath: 29). This verse is comprehensive and encompasses all those who were with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), believed in him, supported him, and loved him.

Similarly, Allah the Almighty says: "Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest." (Al-Fath: 18). He also says: "And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment." (At-Tawbah: 100). Many verses of the Holy Quran and hadiths of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) have been revealed in this regard, through which faith and Islam are secured and perfected.

Indeed, this stance contradicts the positions and life stages of the noble household of the Prophet, foremost among them Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, and may Allah be pleased with them). That noble family took pride in the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, named their children after them out of love for them, and waged jihad under their banner. Our master Ali married his daughter Umm Kulthum, from Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them), to the Rightly-Guided Caliph Umar al-Faruq. What these people say about the Companions and the Mothers of the Believers is a sedition (fitnah) that leads to the fragmentation of the Islamic Ummah.

It even leads to the fragmentation of a single people within one state, because this sedition reflects the positions of the abhorrent trend of sectarianism, which no Muslim, regardless of their sect, can accept.

We, at the International Union of Muslim Scholars, which includes tens of thousands of scholars and dozens of scholarly councils and bodies, dissociate ourselves from these crimes. We condemn any form of disrespect towards our beloved, pure, and infallible Prophet and his noble family. Indeed, in our prayers, we send peace and blessings upon them, and our prayer is not valid without it. We also express our love for his noble Companions.

Therefore, we call upon all officials of the Shia sect, including their rulers and all their religious authorities (Maraji'), to restrain these foolish and ignorant individuals and to prohibit them from committing this fatal disrespect—a disrespect that leads to the further fragmentation of the Ummah and does not contribute to building a unified stance or unity. Rather, it becomes an active and complete participant that serves the Zionist and Crusader project.

In conclusion, we at the International Union of Muslim Scholars support with all our capacity the content of the statement issued by the esteemed Iraqi Fiqh Council in this regard.

"And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know." (Yusuf: 21).
Allah the Almighty has spoken the truth.

Written on 17 Safar 1444 AH, corresponding to 13 September 2022 AD.
Prof. Dr. Ali Qaradaghi
Dr. Habib Salem Saqqaf Al-Jifri