This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(September 2014)
The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq[1] (Arabic: هيئة علماء المسلمين في العراق Hayat al-Ulama al-Muslimin Fi al-Iraq) is a group of religious leaders in Iraq. It was formed on the April 14, 2003, four days after the U.S.-led invasion demolished the Ba'athist regime of Saddam Hussein, by a group of scholars who aimed to represent Sunnis in Iraq.[2] Though not a political party, the association is considered to be politically influential. It also administers a charitable fund set up for the upkeep of religious buildings.[3]
Prominent members include Harith Sulayman al-Dhari (Chairman), Muthanna Harith al-Dhari (Chairman's son and spokesman, secretary-general as of 2018),[4] Abdel-Salam al-Kubaisi, Abdel-Sattar Abdel-Jabbar (founder, and senior official),[5] Dr. Muhammad Bashar al-Faithi, Abdel Hamid Al-Ani, Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al-Samarrai, Mahdi Ibrahim, Abu Bashir al-Tarousi, and Umar Raghib.
Political stancesedit
Viewsedit
The AMS did not join the newly formed government because it believed the political process to be illegitimate whilst Iraq remains under occupation. The group believes that: "True democracy is impossible under occupation.”[2]
According to the association's spokesman in 2005 Muhammad al-Kubaysi, Iraq's problems can be attributed to "the presence of a foreign power that occupies this country and refuses even the mere scheduling of the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq."[6] Members of the AMS met a senior US embassy official in January 2005 and asked for a timetable for US troop withdrawal. When this was refused, the group called for a boycott of the elections.[7]
The AMS has been the group most critical of the occupation since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Sheikh Harith al-Dhari, the Chairman of the group, has said: "Iraq’s ordeal will not end unless the occupation ends. We must get rid of the occupation which is the cause of Iraq’s misery and pain. It acts as a cover and fuel for outsiders to meddle."[8]
The association has been called an important force in giving the anti-occupation Sunni insurgency religious sanction in Iraq, with some of its leaders, such as Ayyash al-Kubaisi, openly endorsing the Sunni resistance as legitimate.[9] However, they have consistently condemned all indiscriminate attacks on civilians, distinguishing between 'terrorism' and 'honorable resistance'[10] and have negotiated for the release of Western hostages, as well as helping to arrange aid convoys to the city of Falluja when it was under siege.[3]
When Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi called for "a full-scale war on Shiites," at least one member of the association, Abu Bashir al-Tarousi, objected, pointing out that "although sectarian war in Iraq may have been provoked and sparked by the Shia ... killing according to sectarian affiliation is not justified by Islamic law," and Muslims should not take "justice into their own hands." He also expressed concern that the attacks would cause the "legitimate Iraqi resistance" to lose its credibility in the eyes of the Islamic world"[11] In 2018, the AMS reaffirmed its opposition to foreign forces in Iraq, while maintaining its denial of organizational links to al-Qaeda despite Chairman Harith al-Dhari's inclusion on a terrorism list released by the Dawa Party-led government in Iraq.[12]
The AMS is a group of Sunni scholars. Many of its members favor the Hanbali school of fiqh law over the Hanafi school, which has traditionally been dominant among Sunnis in Iraq.[14]
^ abMeijer, Roel (2005). "The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq". Middle East Research and Information Project. No. 237. from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
^ ab"BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Who's who in Iraq: Sunni groups". 17 June 2004. from the original on 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
^"Association of Muslim Scholars refutes 'terrorism' charge". Middle East Monitor. 9 February 2018. from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
^. Muslim American Society. 30 August 2004. Archived from the original on 2005-05-07.
^. www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2007.
^. www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2007.
^"Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
^Nasr, Vali, The Shia Revival, (Norton, 2006), p.207
^"Iraq blasts mar Muslim holy month". 2004-10-16. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
^Abu Bashir Tartousi, "Hawl al-Harb al-Ta'ifiya fi al-Iraq," Tajdid al-Islami, September 17, 2005 (originally on www.tajdeed.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=7db36a1f947c54c5884590786a626586&threadid=38120 but tajdid.org.uk was closed down after the July 2005 London bombings), quoted in Nasr, Vali, The Shia Revival, (Norton, 2006), p.209
^"Association of Muslim Scholars refutes 'terrorism' charge". Middle East Monitor. 2018-02-09. from the original on 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
^Chmaytelli, Maher (26 May 2016). "Reuters: Top Shi'ite cleric urges restraint in assault on Iraq's Falluja". Reuters. from the original on 2017-03-18. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
^Nasr, Vali, The Shia Revival, (Norton, 2006), p.207-8
External linksedit
Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq 2007-06-06 at the Wayback Machine (Official Website)
January 01, 1970
association, muslim, scholars, iraq, this, article, needs, updated, please, help, update, this, article, reflect, recent, events, newly, available, information, september, 2014, arabic, هيئة, علماء, المسلمين, في, العراق, hayat, ulama, muslimin, iraq, group, re. This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information September 2014 The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq 1 Arabic هيئة علماء المسلمين في العراق Hayat al Ulama al Muslimin Fi al Iraq is a group of religious leaders in Iraq It was formed on the April 14 2003 four days after the U S led invasion demolished the Ba athist regime of Saddam Hussein by a group of scholars who aimed to represent Sunnis in Iraq 2 Though not a political party the association is considered to be politically influential It also administers a charitable fund set up for the upkeep of religious buildings 3 Hayat al Ulama al Musliminهيئة علماء المسلمينFormation14 April 2003 21 years ago 2003 04 14 FounderAbdul Sattar Abdul JabbarHarith al DhariTypeReligious organisationHeadquartersBaghdadRegion servedIraqPresidentMuthanna Harith al Dhari Contents 1 Membership 2 Political stances 2 1 Views 3 Religious stances 4 Notes and references 5 External linksMembership editProminent members include Harith Sulayman al Dhari Chairman Muthanna Harith al Dhari Chairman s son and spokesman secretary general as of 2018 4 Abdel Salam al Kubaisi Abdel Sattar Abdel Jabbar founder and senior official 5 Dr Muhammad Bashar al Faithi Abdel Hamid Al Ani Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al Samarrai Mahdi Ibrahim Abu Bashir al Tarousi and Umar Raghib Political stances editViews edit The AMS did not join the newly formed government because it believed the political process to be illegitimate whilst Iraq remains under occupation The group believes that True democracy is impossible under occupation 2 According to the association s spokesman in 2005 Muhammad al Kubaysi Iraq s problems can be attributed to the presence of a foreign power that occupies this country and refuses even the mere scheduling of the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq 6 Members of the AMS met a senior US embassy official in January 2005 and asked for a timetable for US troop withdrawal When this was refused the group called for a boycott of the elections 7 The AMS has been the group most critical of the occupation since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 Sheikh Harith al Dhari the Chairman of the group has said Iraq s ordeal will not end unless the occupation ends We must get rid of the occupation which is the cause of Iraq s misery and pain It acts as a cover and fuel for outsiders to meddle 8 The association has been called an important force in giving the anti occupation Sunni insurgency religious sanction in Iraq with some of its leaders such as Ayyash al Kubaisi openly endorsing the Sunni resistance as legitimate 9 However they have consistently condemned all indiscriminate attacks on civilians distinguishing between terrorism and honorable resistance 10 and have negotiated for the release of Western hostages as well as helping to arrange aid convoys to the city of Falluja when it was under siege 3 When Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi called for a full scale war on Shiites at least one member of the association Abu Bashir al Tarousi objected pointing out that although sectarian war in Iraq may have been provoked and sparked by the Shia killing according to sectarian affiliation is not justified by Islamic law and Muslims should not take justice into their own hands He also expressed concern that the attacks would cause the legitimate Iraqi resistance to lose its credibility in the eyes of the Islamic world 11 In 2018 the AMS reaffirmed its opposition to foreign forces in Iraq while maintaining its denial of organizational links to al Qaeda despite Chairman Harith al Dhari s inclusion on a terrorism list released by the Dawa Party led government in Iraq 12 The association has condemned the 2016 assault on Falluja as an unjust aggression a reflection of the vengeful spirit that the forces of evil harbor against this city 13 Religious stances editThe AMS is a group of Sunni scholars Many of its members favor the Hanbali school of fiqh law over the Hanafi school which has traditionally been dominant among Sunnis in Iraq 14 Notes and references edit Home amsi iq net a b Meijer Roel 2005 The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq Middle East Research and Information Project No 237 Archived from the original on 7 August 2021 Retrieved 22 December 2020 a b BBC NEWS World Middle East Who s who in Iraq Sunni groups 17 June 2004 Archived from the original on 2006 06 28 Retrieved 2008 03 27 Association of Muslim Scholars refutes terrorism charge Middle East Monitor 9 February 2018 Archived from the original on 18 June 2018 Retrieved 22 December 2020 French Muslims Rally in Support of the Kidnapped Journalists Muslim American Society 30 August 2004 Archived from the original on 2005 05 07 Breaking News World News and Video from Al Jazeera www aljazeera com Archived from the original on April 17 2007 Breaking News World News and Video from Al Jazeera www aljazeera com Archived from the original on April 20 2007 Breaking News World News and Video from Al Jazeera Al Jazeera Retrieved 2024 02 10 Nasr Vali The Shia Revival Norton 2006 p 207 Iraq blasts mar Muslim holy month 2004 10 16 Retrieved 2024 02 10 Abu Bashir Tartousi Hawl al Harb al Ta ifiya fi al Iraq Tajdid al Islami September 17 2005 originally on www tajdeed org uk forums showthread php s 7db36a1f947c54c5884590786a626586 amp threadid 38120 but tajdid org uk was closed down after the July 2005 London bombings quoted in Nasr Vali The Shia Revival Norton 2006 p 209 Association of Muslim Scholars refutes terrorism charge Middle East Monitor 2018 02 09 Archived from the original on 2018 06 18 Retrieved 2020 05 16 Chmaytelli Maher 26 May 2016 Reuters Top Shi ite cleric urges restraint in assault on Iraq s Falluja Reuters Archived from the original on 2017 03 18 Retrieved 2017 07 02 Nasr Vali The Shia Revival Norton 2006 p 207 8External links editAssociation of Muslim Scholars in Iraq Archived 2007 06 06 at the Wayback Machine Official Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq amp oldid 1205616319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
