Riyadh, September 07: An eminent Saudi scholar is calling on Muslim imams and preachers to avoid praying for the downfall of non-Muslims during their religious sermons.
“Praying for the ruin and the destruction of all infidels is not permitted,” Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda told.
“(This is ) because it goes against God’s law to call upon them … to take the righteous path.”
Some imams and preachers close their sermons with prayers that call for the downfall of enemies of Muslims, especially Israel and its allies.
“Calling for their offspring and ancestors to be eradicated is not legitimate … (except) for the tyrants among the infidels and those who violate the sanctities and harm the faithful,” said Ouda.
Ouda is a director of the Arabic edition of the website Islam Today and he has a number of TV shows and newspapers articles.
The influential Muslim scholar is known for his pro-peace and anti-violence stances.
Last year, Ouda harshly criticized Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, blaming him for the deaths of many innocent people.
Bin Laden has claimed responsibility for the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, which killed some 3,000 people and imposed a new world order.
In response, the US administration of George W. Bush invaded two Muslim countries; Afghanistan and Iraq, leaving thousands of people dead and injured.
-Agencies