Contrary to the assertions of Allahshukur Pashazadeh, the Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus, it is not non-Muslims in the US or “different countries,” but Islamic jihadists who are responsible for the association of Islam with violence. Among the modern-day Muslims who have linked Islam with violence are these:
“Jihad was a way of life for the Pious Predecessors (Salaf-us-Salih), and the Prophet (SAWS) was a master of the Mujahideen and a model for fortunate inexperienced people. The total number of military excursions which he (SAWS) accompanied was 27. He himself fought in nine of these; namely Badr; Uhud, Al-Muraysi, The Trench, Qurayzah, Khaybar, The Conquest of Makkah, Hunayn and Taif . . . This means that the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) used to go out on military expeditions or send out an army at least every two months.” — Abdullah Azzam, co-founder of al-Qaeda, Join the Caravan, p. 30
“If we follow the rules of interpretation developed from the classical science of Koranic interpretation, it is not possible to condemn terrorism in religious terms. It remains completely true to the classical rules in its evolution of sanctity for its own justification. This is where the secret of its theological strength lies.” — Egyptian scholar Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd
“Many thanks to God, for his kind gesture, and choosing us to perform the act of Jihad for his cause and to defend Islam and Muslims. Therefore, killing you and fighting you, destroying you and terrorizing you, responding back to your attacks, are all considered to be great legitimate duty in our religion.” — Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his fellow 9/11 defendants
“Allah on 480 occasions in the Holy Koran extols Muslims to wage jihad. We only fulfil God’s orders. Only jihad can bring peace to the world.” — Taliban terrorist Baitullah Mehsud
“Jihad, holy fighting in Allah’s course, with full force of numbers and weaponry, is given the utmost importance in Islam….By jihad, Islam is established….By abandoning jihad, may Allah protect us from that, Islam is destroyed, and Muslims go into inferior position, their honor is lost, their lands are stolen, their rule and authority vanish. Jihad is an obligation and duty in Islam on every Muslim.” — Times Square car bomb terrorist Faisal Shahzad
“So step by step I became a religiously devout Muslim, Mujahid — meaning one who participates in jihad.” — Little Rock, Arkansas terrorist murderer Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad
“And now, after mastering the English language, learning how to build explosives, and continuous planning to target the infidel Americans, it is time for Jihad.” — Texas terrorist bomber Khalid Aldawsari
Note also Allahshukur Pashazadeh about the “occupied territories” that, he claims, Armenia has illegally seized from Azerbaijan. His rhetoric here is remarkably similar to that of the “Palestinian” jihadis; both know that such talk of “occupation,” however divorced from reality it may be, will arouse the righteous indignation of many whose holy book exhorts them to “slay them wherever you find them, and drive them out of the places from which they drove you out” (Qur’an 2:191).
Baku. Mubariz Aslanov – APA. Chairman of Caucasian Muslims Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh has stated that in the US, they strain the inter-religious relationships and form a misconception about Islam.“They sometimes strain the inter-religious relationships. And it’s disgusting that they purposefully relate terrorist acts to religious ideology. In different countries, they purposefully form a misconception about Islam and even try to identify Islam with terrorism. However, laws of world religions as well as the sacred laws of the religion of Islam are against rancour, hatred, violence and aggression. The joint cooperation of states, social and religious structures can be effective in addressing a peace problem both on a global and a local scale”, said Allahshukur Pashazadeh at the Washington forum, the Caucasian Muslims Office told APA.
The Sheikh-ul-Islam noted that one of the unsettled problems in the Caucasus region is the Karabakh conflict in which Armenians have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory and a million people were exposed to the policy of ethnic cleansing and this situation has been going on for over 20 years: “In the occupied territories Islamic, Christian and Jewish religious monuments were destroyed. And it can pave way to inter-religious confrontation. I consider that the joint efforts of religious leaders are important in terms of establishing peace and tranquility in the world, moral and spiritual healthy environment in societies and preserving traditional values. We should preserve and actively promote our unity and tolerance for the sake of humanity and salvation of mankind from global disasters.”