Imams and preachers of Al-Adhamiya speak out against insults to late Mullah Mudarris

BAGHDAD, December 24– The Association of Imams and Preachers of Al- Adhamiya (AIPA) issued a statement condemning remarks made by Mahdi ibn Ahmed Al-Sumaidaie, the Iraqi Grand Mufti, and the head of the Sunni Fatwa Council in Baghdad, against the late Mala Abdul Karim Mudarris. Mudarris was a renowned Kurdish scholar, Grand Mufti of Iraq, and Quran interpreter. The association expressed concern that allowing Al-Sumaidaie’s statements goes on to encourage extremist ideologies.

Al-Sumaidaie, in a TV interview said that, “Religious scholars, including Mala Abdul Karim Mudarris, were spokespersons for the government, but today’s Dar Al-Fatwa (currently headed by Al-Sumaidaie) has a strong attitude, thanks to God and the Iraqi government.”

In a response obtained by 964, the AIPA stated:

“Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Quran 10:62)

Statement about insulting the status of Iraqi grand scholar Sheikh Abdul Karim Mudarris Bayara.

Praise be to God, prayer and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah:

The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, says: “The scholars are the heirs of the prophets.” So insulting the position of scholars is an insult to the position of the prophets, and the scholars would only be insulted to be by layman who does not understand anything about religion.

Once again, the so-called Mahdi Al-Sumaidaie comes out to us with a video clip in which he attacks the position of Iraqi Mufti Mala Abdul Karim Bayara, “may God have mercy on him,” in an event that was not even done by a layman who knows the simplest limits of Sharia law.

While we condemn this abuse, we call on the scholars, Sharia institutions, and concerned institutions, most notably the Sunni Endowment Office, to take a firm stance against the so-called Mahdi Al-Sumaidaie.

The responsible authorities in the government and the judiciary must implement the decisions issued against him, as he crossed all red lines.

We also demand the implementation of Iraqi law, as it criminalizes insulting Islamic symbols, and that Mahdi Al-Sumaidaie, with this insult, has insulted all scholars and students of knowledge, and this is a threat to societal security and an encouragement to extremists, from whom we are accustomed to insulting scholars and Islamic symbols.

May God’s blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his family and all his companions.

Association of Imams and Preachers of Al-Adhamiya