A model fatwa
The following is a thematic excerpt from Fighting the War of Ideas Like a Real War, the new book by Dr. J. Michael Waller, the Center’s VP for Information Operations. The book, published by the Institute of World Politics Press, details message strategies that can be used to fight Islamist extremism and other foreign ideological foes.
The key to victory over insurgencies and terror movements is the removal of their ideological legitimacy. In the Islamic world, that means talking about religion. For the U.S., the appropriate rhetoric is that of Islam itself, pronounced by faithful Muslims with sufficient moral standing. However, rather than issue opinions about the inconsistency of terrorist violence with good Muslim principles, the U.S. should merely provide a platform and amplifier for messages of moderate Muslims that comport with our strategic interests. [More]
The Spanish Muslim fatwa of March, 2005 [1] provides an exceptional thematic model for culturally appropriate rhetoric that the United States should amplify and relentlessly repeat, and encourage those of sufficient standing to emulate. Here is a small example of the fatwa’s strongly-worded messages:
Terrorism and extremism are un-Islamic.
- “. . . it is necessary to point out that terrorism and extremism contradict human nature and the lessons of Islam.”
Muslims who commit terrorism are no longer Muslim.
- “The perpetration of terrorist acts supposes a rupture of such magnitude with Islamic teaching that it allows to affirm that the individuals or groups who have perpetrated them have stopped being Muslim and have put themselves outside the sphere of Islam.”
All Muslims have the duty to fight terrorism.
- “The duty of every Muslim is to fight actively against terrorism, in accordance with the Qur’anic mandate that establishes the obligation to prevent corruption from overtaking the Earth.”
God holds all Muslims responsible.
- “Do good unto others as God has done unto you; and do not wish to plant the seeds of corruption upon Earth, for God does not love those who sow corruption.” (28:77). “The term corruption’ includes here all forms of anarchy and terrorism that undermine or destroy peace and Muslim security. Muslims, therefore, are not only forbidden from committing crimes against innocent people, but are responsible before God to stop those people who have the intention to do so, since these people are planting the seeds of corruption on Earth.'” (Emphasis added.)
It is easy to see how the U.S. can fuel the debate and split support from the extremists without injecting the government itself into a theological debate. The only need, in the Spanish fatwa case, was to report on the existence and context of the document, and translate and disseminate its contents. This Muslim-led ideological offensive is precisely what is needed to strip away the false veil of religious sanction in which our enemies have draped themselves. It would show that the terrorists and extremists are on the wrong side of the fight and will suffer grievous consequences, both in this world and in the hereafter.
[1] Fatwa of the Islamic Commission of Spain, Cordova, 11 March 2005.
Mr. Gaffney is the host of Secure Freedom Radio, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard weeknights throughout the country. He is an associate author of highly acclaimed Shariah: The Threat to America and the publisher of over a dozen other books and monographs from the Center for Security Policy Press.
In April 1987, Mr. Gaffney was nominated by President Reagan to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving U.S.-USSR relations, nuclear forces, arms control, missile defense policy and U.S.-European defense ties. He acted in that capacity for seven months during which time, he was the Chairman of the prestigious High Level Group, NATO’s senior politico-military committee. He also represented the Secretary of Defense in key U.S.-Soviet negotiations and ministerial meetings.
From August 1983 until November 1987, Mr. Gaffney was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.
From February 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Gaffney was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-Texas). And, in the latter 1970’s, Mr. Gaffney served as an aide to the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (D-Washington) in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Mr. Gaffney holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Mr. Gaffney’s leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations including: the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League of the United States’ Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award (1999), and the Zionist Organization of America’s “Louis Brandeis Award” (2003), the Western Conservative Summit’s Stephen H. Long Award (2015), the Council for National Policy’s George Washington Military Leadership Award (2016) and the IMPACT Award from Ginni Thomas and United in Purpose (2017).
Mr. Gaffney was born in 1953 and resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
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