“We will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer over the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege”
In an unprecedented move, over 130 Imams have refused to perform funeral prayers for the Manchester and London attackers, saying ‘these men’s atrocious acts are incompatible with Islam’.
Not only have the Imams refused to perform the traditional Islamic prayer for the terrorists – a ritual that is normally performed for every Muslim regardless of their actions, but also have called on others to do the same.
The group says the attackers have “wilful dismissed” Islamic religious principles and this has “alienated” them from having any association with the Muslim community for whom the inviolability of every human life is the founding principle.
A statement from the Imams says: “We, as Muslim Imams and religious leaders, condemn the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London in the strongest terms possible.
“Coming from a range of backgrounds, and from across the UK; feeling the pain the rest of the nation feels, we have come together to express our shock and utter disgust at these cold-blooded murders.
“Consequently, and in light of other such ethical principles which are quintessential to Islam, we will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer over the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege. This is because such indefensible actions are completely at odds with the lofty teachings of Islam.”
Statement
Muslim Imams and religious leaders condemn the Manchester and London terror atrocities and urge fellow Imams to refuse to perform Islamic funeral prayers for the terrorists
“We, as Muslim Imams and religious leaders, condemn the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London in the strongest terms possible. Coming from a range of backgrounds, and from across the UK; feeling the pain the rest of the nation feels, we have come together to express our shock and utter disgust at these cold-blooded murders.
We are deeply hurt that a spate of terror attacks have been committed in our country once more by murderers who seek to gain religious legitimacy for their actions. We seek to clarify that their reprehensible actions have neither legitimacy nor our sympathy.
Though at no time is it acceptable, that such ruthless violence was perpetrated during the season of Ramadan, in which Muslims worldwide focus on pious devotion, prayer, charity and the cultivation of good character, demonstrates how utterly misguided and distant the terrorists are from our faith and the contempt which they hold for its values.
Alongside our friends and neighbours, we mourn this attack on our home, society and people, and feel pain for the suffering of the victims and their families. We pray to God that the perpetrators be judged in accordance with the gravity of their crimes in the hereafter. Their acts and wilful dismissal of our religious principles alienates them from any association with our community for whom the inviolability of every human life is the founding principle (Q.5:32).
Consequently, and in light of other such ethical principles which are quintessential to Islam, we will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer for the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege. This is because such indefensible actions are completely at odds with the lofty teachings of Islam.
These vile murderers seek to divide our society and instil fear; we will ensure they fail. We implore everyone to unite: we are one community. In the face of such dastardly cowardice, unlike the terrorists, we must uphold love and compassion.
Such criminals defile the name of our religion and of our Prophet, who was sent to be a mercy to all creation.
We commend our police and emergency services – with whom we stand shoulder to shoulder – for their rapid response, arriving at the scenes while risking their own lives to protect the victims and public. Their response exemplifies the courage, humanity and honour we must exhibit in such difficult times.
We pray for peace and unity, and for all the victims of terror both at home and across the globe, who are targeted, irrespective of their faith.”
List of signatories
- Dr Timothy Winter, University of Cambridge
- Imam Yunus Dudhwala, Head of Chaplaincy & Bereavement, Barts Health NHS Trust
- Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Director General, Muslim Family Institute (MFI)
- Mufti Mohammed Umair Zulfiqar, General Secretary, World Islamic Forum
- Sheikh Idris Watts, founder of Quranic Circle
- Dr Omer El-Hamdoon, President, Muslim Association of Britain
- Sheikh Imtiyaz Damiel, Abu Hanifah Foundation (AHF)
- Ustadh Arnold Yasin Mol, lecturer Islamic theology and Qur’anic studies Fahm Institute
- Imam Abdullah Hasan (British Imams & Scholars Contributions and Achievement Awards/ Imams Against Domestic Abuse)
- Imam Abdul Mateen Head Teacher Quwwatul Islam London
- Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat, FaithFull Education
- Dr. Saeed Al-Qadi, EMAN Channel
- Moulana Muhammad Imran Khan, Doctoral candidate in Theology, University of Cambridge
- Imam Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah Abu Bakr Trust, Walsall
- Sheikh Fahimul Anam, Khatib, Darul Ummah Mosque
- Sheikha Selina Begum Ali, Director – Beacon Institute
- Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri , Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council & Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre Ireland
- Imam Qari Asim, Makkah Mosque Leeds
- Mawlana Abdullah Khan, Manager, Green Academy, Nottingham
- Sheikh Bilal Brown, Imam
- Imam Abdurrahman Anwar, Imam
- Sheikh Mostahfiz Gani, Beyound Boundaries
- Imam Mujahid Ali, Head of Islamic Studies at Hafs academy
- Imam Abid Salik, York Mosque
- Shaykh Rehan Raza, Imam
- Imam Khalil Laher, London
- Imam Yahya Adel Ibrahim, Islamic Chaplain, University of Western Australia
- Mufti Liaquat Zaman, As-Suffa Institute
- Dr Mansur Ali, Imam
- Imam Fadel Soliman, Bridges Foundation
- Shaykh Muhammad Ismail Bhuta, London
- Shaykh AbdalHaq Bewley
- Imam Tahir Mahmood Kiani, Birmingham
- Mufti Adam Esmail, Zaytoon Academy, Birmingham
- Shaykha Anne Dijk, Fahm Institute
- Shaykh Salman Younas, University of Oxford
- Imam Abdul Wahhab, London
- Imam Shafi Chowdhury, The City Retreat, Leicester
- Sheikh Bilal Khan, Freeman of the City of London & Co-Chairman of Dome Advisory
- Imam Noor Ahmad, Islamic society of South Texas
- Mufti Suhail, Seven Kings Muslim Educational Trust
- Imam Mohammed Rahman, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Sheikh Imran Chaudhry, London
- Shaykh Abdul Aziz Patel, London
- Shaykh Asim Yusuf, Consultant Psychiatrist and Religious Guide, Nur al-Habib Foundation
- Prof. Jasser Auda, Maqasid Institute, UK
- Shaykh Muhammad Idoe, lecturer, Arabic Fahm Institute
- Imam Khidir Hussain, Kilburn Mosque
- Imam Chokri Majouli, Finsbury Park Mosque
- Imam Abid Khan, Cheadle Mosque
- Dr Ali Reza Bhojani, Research Fellow, Al-Mahdi Institute
- Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hilli. Noor Trust, London
- Sheikh Jaffer Ladak, Imam, Milton Keynes
- Shaykh Muhammad Reza Tajri, Al-Mahdi Institute
- Shaykh Kumail Rajani, The World Federation of KSIMC
- Imam Ajmal Masroor, Broadcaster, Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow
- Hujat Islam Shaykh Arif Abdulhussain, Al-Mahdi Institute
- Hujjat ul Islam Sayed Mohammad Musadaq Haider Taqvi, Representative of Ayatullah Bashir Najafi
- Imam Abdasamad Clarke, Norwich
- Imam Huzayfah Bhayat, Imam at Masjid-e-Saliheen, Preston
- Imam Mohammed Amejee, London
- Mawlana Yousaf Baig, Batley, Yorkshire
- Muhammad Ibn Yusuf Birmingham, Imam and Teacher
- Shaykh Abdurrahman Sayed, Deputy Manager, Foster Care Link – Muslim Fostering Service
- Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera, Whitethread Institute and Zamzam Academy
- Mawlana Iftkhar A khan, Head of Islamic Studies at M.A Al Kharafi Islamic Centre (Camberley Masjid)
- Shaykh Sulaiman Gani, Al Khaleel Institute
- Imam Abdul Rauf, Dundee Central Mosque
- Mufti Abubakr Karolia, Batley
- Shaykh Junaid bilal Uan, Dar Uloom, Birmingham
- Moulana Siraj Saleh, Masjid Quba, Bradford
- Moulana Ahmed Desai, Masjid Quba, Bradford
- Sheikh Zubair Miah. Trustee, Al Imdaad Foundation, UK
- Imam Minar Ali, Academy of Inspiration, Little Ilford Ward, Newham
- Mawlana Ilyas Koya, Imam – Darul Quran Masjid, Bolton
- Imam Abdur Rahman Mehdi, Imam at Motherwell Islamic Centre north Lanarkshire Scotland
- Shaykh Amer Jamil, Solas Foundation
- Imam Amjad Yoosuf Fulwood, Preston
- Ustadh Shaukat Warraich, Editor, Imams Online
- Shaykh Sohaib Saeed, Independent Scholar, Scotland
- Ustadha Rehana Sadiq, Muslim Chaplain & Counsellor
- Imam Hassan Ghodawala, Masjid e Noor, Gloucester
- Imam Imran Ali, Glasgow, Imam at SSACC
- Shaykh Hammadur Rahman Fahim, Manchester
- Shaykh Rafiq Sufi, Blackburn
- Imam Abdul Muheet, Bahr Academy, Newcastle
- Imam Dawood Masood, Quba Trust
- Dr. Kallingal Riyad, Consultant Surgeon & Governer – Jamiatul ilm Wal Huda, Blackburn
- Sheikh Abul Barakat Hasan, Centre for Islamic Guidance UK
- Imam Shams Tameez, Wycombe Mosque
- Imam Bilal Toorawa, Masjid e Anwar, Blackburn
- Imam Ahmed, Masjid al Khazra, Nottingham
- Shaykh Shafiur Rahman, Jibreel Institute
- Sheikh Subhan, Imam of MCEC Palmers Green
- Shaykh Zuber Karim, IF Consultants, Scotland
- Imam Ahsan Amin, Imam of Central Oxford Mosque
- Shaykh Manwar Ali, Imam
- Imam Muhamed Salim Jawara, Sec, African Cultural Centre
- Mufti Shabir Moosa Adam, Imam-Masjid Ibrahim, Perth, WA
- Ustadha Khola Hasan, Islamic Shariah Council, Leyton
- Pir Ahmad Zaman, Naqshbandi Jamati, Khalifa Majaz Ali Pir Syeda Sharif
- Imam Talha Ahmed, Forestgate Mosque London
- Mufti Salim Patel, Masjid Al Hikmah, London
- Sayyid Ali Raza Rizvi, President, Majlis e Ulama e Shia Europe
- UmmulBanin Merali, QFatima, Head of Hujjat Saturday Workshop
- Mawlana Shah Muhammed Anas, Imam Zakariya Academy
- Ustadha Mariam Saeed Bhaiyat, Masjidul Hikmah
- Ustadha Safiyyah Adam, Quwwat ul Islam
- Mufti Nadeem Ahmed Khan, Manchester
- Ustadha Najiyya Mallu, Quwaat Ul Islam, London
- Ustadha Bilkis Ibrahim, Quwwat ul Islam, East London
- Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh, Imam & Social Worker
- Shaykh Junaid Bilal Usman, Darul Uloom, Birmingham
- Ustdah Aziza Patel, Quwwat ul Islam and Masjid Hikmah
- Ustadha Rizwana Dalal, Jamea-al-kauthar
- Shaykh Abbas Jaffer, Stanmore
- Ayatollah Ali H. Al-Hakim, Imam of Brighton Faith Society
- Mawlana Adnan Qurayshi- Hifz and Religious Education Teacher – Hafs Academy
- Shaykh Sulaiman Ahmed, CEO and Founder Avicenna Academy
- Ustadha Abida Ahmed, Quwwatul Islam
- Ustadha Fatima bint Siddiq, Quwwat-ul-Islam Aalimiyya
- Ustadha Latifa Khan, Quwwatul Islam
- Imam Irfan Chishti MBE, Manchester Central Mosque
- Mawlana Ouwais Data, Al-Faatihah Institute
- Ustadha Fatimah Adam, Masjid Hikmah
- Maulana Mohammed Abubakar Saleem, Imaam Jamia Masjid Noor
- Dr Musharraf Hussain, Karimia Institute
- Dr Amina Inloes, Lecturer, The Islamic College
- Imam Hamza Ibn AbdurRahman, Imam – Scotland
- Imam Fazlurrehman Hassan, Muslim Chaplain and Muslim Chaplain Coordinator, Royal Blackburn Hospital NHS Trust
- Imam Ghulam Rasool, Tipton, Hazrat Sultan Bahu Trust UK
- Ragih Muflihi, Sandwell, Inclusive Muslim Action Network (IMAN)
- Imam Monawer Hussain, Founder, The Oxford Foundation
- Sheikh Mohammed Nizami, Kingston Mosque, Averroes Trust
- Mawlana Muhammad Patel, Blackburn
- Shaykh Haytham Tamim, Utrujj Foundation
- Mufti Zubair Butt, Institute of Islamic Jurisprudence
- Sayyid Ali Abbas Razawi, Scottish Ahlulbayt Society
- Shaykha Safia Shahid, London
- Shaykh Saad Al Attas, Ark Academy, Bradford
- Ustadha Halima AbouBakar, Quwwat Ul Islam Mosque, London
