I put together this information about the Scholastic Response and also wanted to show that there are alternate views, so I reblogged a post that disagrees with the views in this letter from a different point of view. I think the point is that there is diversity and it is that tolerance for diversity we must encourage. 

But I am not going to pretend that those who reblog Musa Cerantinio are unaware of the situation surrounding his exile and arrest in Australia. I was surprised to find the dissenting blog but I felt that it is important to show other views. Since the WordPress blogger clearly states that they have no direct connection with Musa Cerantinio and are blogging the views like any other bloggers. I don’t see a problem with showing alternate views!

Info about Musa Cerantonio: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-22/radical-preacher-musa-cerantonio-deported-from-philippines/5615614

My personal preference will remain with the “Thoughtful” scholars from Egypt and all over the world who drafted the Open Letter. #notinmyname

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA5MQTTzE5g

Context and information about this Letter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6tN2BAt378

Link to Text: http://www.lettertobaghdadi.com/ in multiple language including Persian and Turkish.

letter_to_Baghdadi

Link to multiple language pdf translation: http://www.lettertobaghdadi.com/#translations
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Quick Summary of Text!

1
Executive Summary
1- It is forbidden in Islam to issue fatwas without all the necessary learning requirements. Even
then fatwas must follow Islamic legal theory as defined in the Classical texts. It is also
forbidden to cite a portion of a verse from the Qur’an—or part of a verse—to derive a ruling
without looking at everything that the Qur’an and Hadith teach related to that matter. In other
words, there are strict subjective and objective prerequisites for fatwas, and one cannot ‘cherrypick’
Qur’anic verses for legal arguments without considering the entire Qur’an and Hadith.
2- It is forbidden in Islam to issue legal rulings about anything without mastery of the Arabic
language.
3- It is forbidden in Islam to oversimplify Shari’ah matters and ignore established Islamic
sciences.
4- It is permissible in Islam [for scholars] to differ on any matter, except those fundamentals of
religion that all Muslims must know.
5- It is forbidden in Islam to ignore the reality of contemporary times when deriving legal rulings.
6- It is forbidden in Islam to kill the innocent.
7- It is forbidden in Islam to kill emissaries, ambassadors, and diplomats; hence it is forbidden to
kill journalists and aid workers.
8- Jihad in Islam is defensive war. It is not permissible without the right cause, the right purpose
and without the right rules of conduct.
9- It is forbidden in Islam to declare people non-Muslim unless he (or she) openly declares
disbelief.
10- It is forbidden in Islam to harm or mistreat—in any way—Christians or any ‘People of the
Scripture’.
11- It is obligatory to consider Yazidis as People of the Scripture.
12- The re-introduction of slavery is forbidden in Islam. It was abolished by universal consensus.
13- It is forbidden in Islam to force people to convert.
14- It is forbidden in Islam to deny women their rights.
15- It is forbidden in Islam to deny children their rights.
16- It is forbidden in Islam to enact legal punishments (hudud) without following the correct
procedures that ensure justice and mercy.
17- It is forbidden in Islam to torture people.
18- It is forbidden in Islam to disfigure the dead.
19- It is forbidden in Islam to attribute evil acts to God .
20- It is forbidden in Islam to destroy the graves and shrines of Prophets and Companions.
21- Armed insurrection is forbidden in Islam for any reason other than clear disbelief by the ruler
and not allowing people to pray.
22- It is forbidden in Islam to declare a caliphate without consensus from all Muslims.
23- Loyalty to one’s nation is permissible in Islam.
24- After the death of the Prophet , Islam does not require anyone to emigrate anywhere.2
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds,
Peace and Blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers
By the declining day, Lo! man is a state of loss, Save those who believe and do good works,
and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. (Al-‘Asr, 103: 1-3)