Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh denounced attacks on diplomats and embassies as un-Islamic after deadly protests against a US-made anti-Islam film swept the Middle East, and called on the international community to criminalize acts of abusing great prophets and messengers such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (PBUH). Al-Asheikh also appealed to the Ummah to react to any attempts to denigrate Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by strictly adhering to values advocated by the Prophet (PBUH), instead of unleashing violence against innocent people, the Saudi Press Agency reported. “Condemnation of attempts to abuse the Prophet (PBUH) should be within the laws of Allah and Sunnah of the Prophet. The mufti also warned that enemies of the Prophet (PBUH) and Muslims achieve their goals when Muslims resort to violence. “Muslim rage is playing into the hands of their enemies when Muslims attack innocent people and set fire to public or private institutions. Such acts, in fact, damage the image of Islam, a situation the enemies of Islam seek to create. Such acts go against the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) and are deplorable,” the mufti said. “The goal of those who abuse Islam and Muslims is to divert the energy of Muslims from building their nations and efforts for unity and development,” the mufti warned. “Muslims should not shed the blood of innocent people, or vandalize private properties or public institutions,” the grand mufti said. He said that the attempts of the filmmaker, filled with hatred for Islam, would not harm the great personality of the Prophet (PBUH) or anything in Islam in any manner, but would only reflect on the people who spread venomous ideas.
Saudi grand mufti urges criminalizing abusing prophets
