Discussion on Islamic Leadership and Doctrine

Sheikh, may God never deprive us of you.

No objection, Sheikh.

Our esteemed Sheikh, many of the Indonesian people

and scholars and preachers are asking whether—

what is the methodology of Syria's scholars? Is there

any change in the methodology of Syria's scholars? Or are you still following what

your esteemed father, our Sheikh, the eminent scholar,

Imam Abdul Karim al-Rifa'i, may God have mercy on him, and the

great scholars left you upon?

What is your opinion, Sheikh?

In the name of God.

In the name of God. The current government

or the brothers who carried out this movement,

follow the Wahhabi school, that is. In fact,

for years, they were extremists.

In fact, they were takfiris.

They used to declare others unbelievers. There was hostility between us and them.

I was in Turkey.

I was in Turkey. I had many contacts

with them, I would hear from them, yet I refused to meet them because they were following this

methodology. I would not.

The Turks interceded with me, the Turkish government interceded, that is,

for me to meet them. I said, "No,

I will not meet them." I remained so until Khbeil was liberated.

Khbeil was liberated.

He announced in the East, he announced

that he had abandoned the issue of extremism and victory

And terrorist groups and so on, while he supports Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama'a

and the Ash'aris, praising and commending them.

We go by appearances, and God knows best

what is hidden. He called me and said, "My situation is such and such."

I mean, thank God, I am one of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama'a,

and I mean, no, I do not create discord

between myself and you. The country is your country, and so on.

He asked me to

meet with him, so I met with him.

We had several meetings together.

And he asked—

He had previously believed that

there should not be a mufti in Syria.

Forget having a mufti altogether, it is not necessary, because he knew that the mufti

would be from Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama'a, as he used to say.

But when I met with him, I told him,

I mean, I am

the mufti of the Syrian opposition.

I was elected by

the Syrian Islamic Council and the Syrian Fatwa Council.

These comprise scholars, the scholars of Syria, most of whom are

in Syria and throughout the diaspora around the world.

I told him, but I preferred to be a symbolic mufti.

He used to sit with us

in Turkey. So I told him, God willing, I will join the Syrian

Islamic Council.

I asked him, how could I want this? I had assigned this

task to others. I nominated so-and-so, and so-and-so and so on, but no one

would accept except me. I told him, and now I do not want this

fatwa position.

But you should not open the post of mufti for us.

The post of mufti is very prestigious.

In every country, in all Islamic countries, there is a mufti

or a Sheikh al-Islam or a symbolic head of religious affairs, I mean.

This exists, it does not differ, I mean. And I do not want this.

I nominate for you four or five names among the scholars of Damascus.

They are more competent and better than me for issuing fatwas.

And do not do as Rashad al-Azzawi did. He abolished

the entire fatwa platform. He abolished it completely.

And you will be an example for all the Islamic countries of the world.

He said, “Fine.”

Then he said to me once again at that time.

He said, “We

saw the brothers whom

you mentioned by name.

They refused to take the position.”

He said,

“Because Osama al-Rifa'i is with you.”

They all refused.

Then he returned to another group afterward, that as well. “And you must be

the mufti.” I said, “All right, God willing.”

Sir

He is among the upper echelon of their group.

They are in complete agreement with us, and every matter

we raise concerning religious issues

or scientific issues,

they support us.

They do not cling to the political issues they cling to.

What he means is,

whether it is in their hearts or political, God knows best. We leave them to God Almighty.

That is, we leave their innermost secrets to God, Glorified

and Exalted be He. As for me, that is how I am.

But they are a lower tier, not the upper echelon among them.