« So What Did Sharpton Really Say? | Main | Jihadists Exploit Our Hospitality and Open Borders . . . Again »

May 9, 2007

Another 'Know Thy Enemy' Revealing Moment

Topics: Understanding Islam

Sheik Shady Suleiman, a youth leader at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney's southeast, and the deputy spiritual leader of Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, has told his students that it is "obligatory" for all Muslims to engage in jihad if an Islamic country is under attack, even if it means killing the enemy's children.

THE deputy spiritual leader of Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali has told his students that it is "obligatory" for all Muslims to engage in jihad if an Islamic country is under attack, even if it means killing the enemy's children.

Sheik Shady Suleiman, a youth leader at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney's southeast, told his students in a one-hour Arabic and English lecture that it would be "self defence" to kill children who were attacking them in battle.

Muslim leaders yesterday attacked the 29-year-old cleric, who has a substantial following in Sydney, and accused him of delivering a message contrary to that of Prophet Mohammed who said children should not be killed in war. Prominent Sydney-based imam Khalil Shami said Sheik Shady's message was "dangerous" because it was open to being misconstrued by young Muslims.

"It is very dangerous," he said. "Because ... he puts in their minds that they have to do this, and he prepares them for something wrong for sure." The nation's leading spiritual Muslim woman Aziza Abdel-Halim said Sheik Shady's message diverged from Islamic teachings that prohibit the killing of children.

In a lecture titled Rulings on Performing Jihad, obtained by The Australian, Sheik Shady differentiates between defensive and offensive jihad and quotes the Prophet by saying anyone who fights to defend their land, soul, and wealth was considered a "Shahid" (martyr). "If attackers or invaders want to invade a Muslim country or attack a Muslim country then it's obligatory on every Muslim ... to fight and protect the country," he says.

Sheik Shady says while the Prophet condemned the killing of children, "if they are involved then you have to stop them".

Robert Spencer notes Sheikh Shady Suleiman is just repeating classic rules of Islamic law. Attacks against women and children are prohibited "unless they are fighting against the Muslims" ('Umdat al-Salik o9.10, cf. al-Mawardi, al-Akham as-Sultaniyyah, 4.2).

Hat tip - Little Green Footballs

Posted by Richard at May 9, 2007 10:55 AM

Articles Related to Understanding Islam:

• Another 'Know Thy Enemy' Revealing Moment - May 09, 2007