Al-Azhar Graduates branch in Qardho, Somalia, held a lecture entitled: “Explaining verses which misunderstood by Extremists”, as part of the activities carried out by the Organization’s branch to confront extremist ideologies, correct misconceptions and spread the moderate approach.
During the lecture, Sheikh Awl Ahmad Abdi, a Member of the organization, pointed out that extremists claim that the verses of forgiveness, peace and security are abrogated by the verse of the sword. He added that this is an incorrect claim, and there is no proof of that. Rather, what was agreed upon by scholars is that verses of forgiveness are decisive (Muhkam). It is worth mentioning that Abdi said that peace is the general principle of fiqh, and as for war, it is the exception ordained by Allah for defending themselves and protecting homelands and citizens. Needless to say that all international rules established the right of self-defense and defending homelands. Those extremists, because of their ignorance, do not differentiate between verses of fight and verses of Jihad. The true interpretation is that verses of Jihad are more generalized than verses of the fight since Jihad could be with word and proof, not with a weapon, as those extremists understand. The lecture was attended by many Sheikhs and young people who are victims of these misconceptions.
