Demonstrations not the way for reform: Senior Ulema

[bamalli]

Demonstrations not the way for reform: Senior Ulema

The Board of Senior Ulema issued a statement Sunday reemphasizing "the
Islamic principles of advice, reform and unity in the Kingdom" saying that
reform "cannot be achieved through demonstrations and ways that incite
against Muslim unity".

The Board described Muslim unity as "one of greatest fundamentals in Islam",
and said that the Kingdom has as its foundation "the Holy Qur'an, the
Prophet's Sunnah, the pledge of allegiance, the unity of the Muslim
community and obedience".

"Reform cannot be achieved through demonstrations and means that incite
discord in the Muslim community," the statement said. "The Ulema of this
country in earlier and recent times have been in agreement that they are
forbidden, and they warn against them."

The Board said the Shariah method consists of "advising one another
according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who followed him
(sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam)".

"The Qur'an requires we maintain consensus and desist from disunity. The
Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) advised Muslims to adhere to the
consensus," the Board said. "With disunity there are great evils, which all
wise people know."

The statement said Almighty Allah has "blessed this country through its
people rallying behind its rulers on the basis of the guidance of the Holy
Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah".

"They are never divided by foreign parties or positions with their divergent
approaches," it said.

Despite progress and development, the Board said, the Kingdom has preserved
its Islamic identity and followed "lawful worldly means" to achieve that
advancement.

"It will not, therefore, allow in foreign ideas from east or west that
detract from that Islamic identity or divide the united group or consensus."

The statement continued by noting that the people of the Kingdom have been
"honored with serving the Two Holy Mosques".

"It is one of the bounties Allah granted the people of this country – the
rulers and the ruled," it said. "The Two Holy Mosques receive the full care
of the Kingdom's government, and with the service of the Two Holy Mosques
the Kingdom has won special honor in the Muslim world. It is the Muslims'
Qiblah, the country of the Two Holy Mosques, and Muslims come to the Kingdom
from different parts of the world during the Haj season and throughout the
year for Umrah and Ziyarah."

The senior scholars warned against "injustice, unfairness and denial of
rights" and against "links with deviant ideological and partisan thought".
"The nation of this country is one group that stands committed to what the
forefathers, the Muslim Imams of the earlier and recent times, followed in
adhering to the group and advising one another in sincerity," they said.
"The united group does not seek to spread differences and highlight
deficiencies, but does recognize failures and the importance of reform in
all cases and at all times."

The Board added that advice has "high standing in religion" and stressed
that reform and advice have "a specific method according to the Shariah that
achieves Muslims' interests and wards off evil and without issuing
statements of exaggeration and incitement to sedition and by signing
petitions, all of which violates what Almighty Allah has ordained".

The Board of Senior Ulema prayed to Allah to safeguard the Kingdom and
Muslim countries from all evil and that He unify their ranks and guide them
to the ways of peace. The Board also prayed to Allah to guide every
misguided person.