Muslim World League and Organisations Subordinate to it Condemn the Airing of Offensive Film Entitled ‘Fitna’

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

The main office of the Muslim World League described the film ‘Fitna’, which degrades the Holy Qur’an and which was aired on the internet by the radical Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders during the evening of Thursday 27th March 2008, as a reprehended action which aims at igniting hatred and hostility between nations, and at inciting conflict between people.

The condemnation was mentioned in a statement issued by his Excellency the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Dr. Abdullah Abdul-Muhsin Al-Turky, in which he stated that the Muslim World League and all the organisations and Islamic centres throughout the world which come under its auspices condemn the production of such a film, the airing of it through the internet with the aim of degrading the Holy Qur’an, the dissemination of false allegations about the Holy Qur’an and accusing the religion of Islam with inciting terrorism. His Excellency stated that producing such a film aims at slandering the Holy Qur’an and at turning the nations of the West away from Islam, after witnessing the increased interest of Westerners in Islam. He reminded that attacks against the Holy Qur’an are not new, having started since It was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, pointing out that Allah, Most High, had warned those who defy Allah and His Prophet with humiliation in this life and punishment in the hereafter:

{Indeed, the ones who oppose Allah and His Messenger - those will be among the most humbled. * Allah has written, "I will surely overcome, I and My messengers." Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.} 58:20-21

Allah, Most High, made it clear that the outcome of their deeds is in vain:

{Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of Allah . So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they will be overcome...} 8:36

Dr. Al-Turky emphasised that the way to face this wave of slander against the Qur’an is by striving to memorize It, pondering over Its meanings and striving to uphold Its teachings, which is what the Muslims actually do to taking care of It, and that Muslims today are required to be aware of the plots which are being conspired against Islam, and that Muslims are required to adhere to the Book of their Lord, the Qur’an, in response to the command of Allah, [the translation of] which is:

{So adhere to that which is revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path. * And indeed, it is a remembrance for you and your people, and you [all] are going to be questioned.} 43:43-44

Dr. Al-Turky clearly stated that the cooperation between Muslims in defending the this Great Religion of Allah (i.e. Islam) and His Noble Book (i.e. the Holy Qur’an) is one of the great obligations, and that revealing the beauty of Islam to non-Muslims is also an obligation. Therefore, the Muslim World League appeals the Muslims, Muslim governments, Islamic organisations and the media in their respective countries to achieve the highest standard of cooperation between one another in the aim of presenting Islam to non-Muslims and showing our high esteem of the Qur’an in front of Humankind, without feeling ashamed:

{[This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muhammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers.} 7:2

The Muslim World League also requests Muslim governments and Islamic organisations, both official and NGOs, to conduct joint efforts in defending the Holy Qur’an and exposing the falsehood of slanderer’s attempts [to defame the Qur’an], in order to demonstrate to the non-Muslim nations that Muslims firmly defend the Book of their Lord (i.e. the Holy Qur’an).

Article ends here. This is a translation of the statement which was published on the website of the Muslim World League on 29th March 2008. Translations of Qur’anic verses were quoted from the Sahih International Translation.