In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Fatwa of the Ijtihād and Fatwa Committee of the International Union of Muslim Scholars
Regarding the “Continuation of Aggression on Gaza and the Termination of the Truce”
Date: 28 Ramadan 1446 AH / 28 March 2025 CE
All praise is due to Allah, the Abaser of the oppressors, the Supporter of the oppressed, the Strengthener of the Mujāhidīn, the Protector of His believing servants, the Guardian of His righteous allies, the Eliminator of tyrants, the Selector of martyrs from among the Muslims. And may blessings and peace be upon the Leader of the Mujāhidīn, the Mercy to the worlds, and upon his family and all his companions.
The Ijtihād and Fatwa Committee of the International Union of Muslim Scholars follows with hearts filled with pain the ongoing brutal aggression against our people in Gaza, where the number of martyrs has exceeded 50,000 since the beginning of the assault. The occupying Zionist entity has violated the ceasefire agreement—as is its custom in breaking covenants with Allah, His Messengers, and His creation—and has resumed a systematic campaign of genocide against our brothers in Gaza, with direct support from the United States government, which continues to supply the Zionist aggression with deadly bombs and destructive weapons amidst Arab silence and abandonment by the Islamic world.
We, the committee, clarify the Shar‘ī rulings related to this current calamity in light of the continued Zionist aggression, fulfilling the trust that Allah has placed upon the shoulders of the scholars, as follows:
Supporting the oppressed takes precedence over obeying a sinful ruler
Muslim peoples must provide for their brothers in Gaza—medicine, food, clothing, fuel, and more. If governments prevent this, then:
“There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator.”
Supporting the oppressed takes precedence over obeying a ruler who fails to support Muslims.
Financial Jihad: BDS (Organizations Worldwide)
It is ḥarām (prohibited) to provide any form of support to the disbelieving enemy in their genocide of Muslims in Gaza. This includes selling them weapons, facilitating their transport through ports or international routes such as the Suez Canal, Bab al-Mandab, Strait of Hormuz, or any land, sea, or air route. The committee issues a fatwa obligating the complete siege of the occupying enemy—by air, land, and sea—in support of our brothers in Gaza.
The committee issues a fatwa that it is ḥarām to provide the Zionist entity with oil, gas, or any commodities that assist it in its war against our people. It is also prohibited to send them food and water while the people of Gaza are dying from hunger. Whoever does so out of love for the disbelieving Zionist enemy and with the intent to destroy the Islamic resistance is considered an apostate (murtadd), and their guardianship (wilāyah) is nullified. If done out of greed for profit or similar motives, they have committed one of the gravest sins, and are in serious danger.
These actions fall under the prohibited tawallī (alliance/friendship) with disbelievers, as Allah says:
“O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you—then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (Sūrat al-Māʾidah, 5:51)
The committee calls for the continued boycott of companies supporting the Zionist entity. This has proven effective globally, especially where companies or states support the aggression with weapons, bombs, equipment, or political backing.
It is religiously obligatory for Muslims—rulers and the ruled—to boycott the Zionist entity and anyone supporting it in the genocide. This includes:
- Political boycott (withdrawing ambassadors),
- Economic boycott (refraining from buying weapons, equipment, aircraft, vehicles, and other goods),
- Cultural and academic boycott.
It is also ḥarām for states involved in settler-colony construction to remain so. Muslims must withdraw investments from companies building settlements or serving the occupation. This is a major betrayal.
Financial Jihad: Donations & Expertise (Organizations Worldwide)
The committee reaffirms its previous fatwā on the obligation of financial jihād upon every capable individual. Wealthy Muslims must support the Mujāhidīn—not just through zakāh, but from their own wealth—to help stop the shedding of innocent blood. Allah says:
“Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if you only knew.” (Sūrat al-Tawbah, 9:41)
And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever equips a fighter in the cause of Allah has participated in the fighting, and whoever takes care of the family of a fighter has also participated.” (Agreed upon)
They must strive to deliver financial aid to the Mujāhidīn by all possible means and take care of the families of fighters and defenders.
Physical Jihad: Training for Hijrah
In line with all our previous fatāwā issued since the beginning of the genocide, and as a reaffirmation of them, we declare to all Muslims and their states the obligation of jihād against the Zionist entity and anyone who supports it—whether mercenaries or soldiers from any country—in their genocide of our people in Gaza. This obligation includes military intervention, supplying the Mujāhidīn with weapons, military expertise, and intelligence. It is a personal obligation (farḍ ‘ayn) first on the people of Palestine, then on neighboring countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon), and then on all Arab and Islamic countries.
- Jihād against the occupation in Palestine is obligatory on every capable Muslim in the Islamic world.
- The committee affirms that it is a Shar‘ī duty upon governments in our Muslim countries to intervene immediately—militarily, economically, and politically—to stop this genocide and total destruction, in accordance with their responsibility.
- Neglecting to support Gaza while it is being annihilated is considered in the Sharī‘ah a grave crime against our oppressed brothers in Gaza. Allah says: “And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children?” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, 4:75)
Allah says:
“O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].” (Sūrat al-Anfāl, 8:27)
United Muslim Military Alliance (Conferences & Delegations)
The committee issues a fatwa obligating Arab and Islamic states to establish a unified military alliance to protect the lands of Islam, its faith, lives, resources, decisions, and honor. This obligation is immediate and must not be delayed due to the resulting corruption and chaos in the land. Allah says:
“And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy…” (Sūrat al-Anfāl, 8:60)
Global politics today has no place for the weak or the divided. A unified Arab and Islamic military alliance is what will establish security and stability for Muslims and serve as a global balancing power.
Allah also says:
“Those who disbelieve are allies of one another. If you do not do so, there will be fitnah (discord) in the land and great corruption.” (Sūrat al-Anfāl, 8:73)
Muslims must unite and set aside division, particularly the Palestinian factions, and there must be unity among Arab and Islamic states and institutions. Allah says:
“And do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and your strength would depart.” (Sūrat al-Anfāl, 8:46)
Review all treaties & Sever all normalization ties (Governments)
The committee calls upon Islamic states with treaties with the Zionist entity to reconsider them and use them as leverage. Since these treaties were established to serve the general welfare of Muslims, it is necessary to review their objectives, assess the occupier’s adherence, and respond appropriately to violations.
The committee issues a fatwā prohibiting normalization with the Zionist entity in all its forms. It is an obligation for countries that have normalized ties to sever them in support of the oppressed, as aiding the disbelievers against Muslims is prohibited. Allah says:
“You see many of them becoming allies to those who disbelieve. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves—that Allah has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally.” (Sūrat al-Māʾidah, 5:80-81)
Eighth:
It is a Shar‘ī obligation upon scholars to fulfill their duty, not remain silent or apathetic, to speak the truth, declare the obligation of jihād against the occupying enemy, and pressure governments, armies, and institutions in Muslim countries to fulfill their religious, historical, and civilizational responsibilities.
Ninth:
Muslim communities in the U.S. to pressure the administration (US Organizations)
The committee directs a message to the American government, reminding them of President Trump’s campaign promise to bring peace to Gaza, which earned him Muslim voter support. They are reminded of these pledges, and Muslim communities in the U.S. are urged to pressure the administration through all available legal means.
Dua (Citizens)
The committee calls upon the Ummah to perform Qunūt al-Nāzilah in obligatory and voluntary prayers—silently and aloud—and to frequently make du‘āʾ for the people of Gaza in all situations, due to the great impact of du‘āʾ.
The committee expresses gratitude to the countries, institutions, people, and individuals who support the people of Gaza—by rejecting displacement, offering aid, speaking the truth, issuing just rulings (as seen in some international organizations and civil societies in both the Muslim world and the West), and religious institutions, foremost al-Azhar al-Sharīf. Gratitude is also extended to politicians and officials in the West who oppose Zionist policies, including some Jews, fulfilling the saying of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:
“He who does not thank the people has not thanked Allah.” (Narrated by Abū Dāwūd and al-Bukhārī in al-Adab al-Mufrad)
Issued by: The Ijtihād and Fatwa Committee of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) Secretary of the Committee: Prof. Dr. Faḍl ‘Abdullāh Murād Chairman of the Committee: Prof. Dr. ‘Alī Muḥyī al-Dīn al-Qaradāghī
Participating Members:
1. Shaykh Muḥammad al-Ḥasan al-Daddū
2. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Ḥayy Yūsuf
3. Shaykh Ibrāhīm Abū Muḥammad
4. Shaykh Khālid al-Ḥanafī
5. Shaykh Aḥmad Kāfī
6. Dr. Farīdah Ṣādiq Zūz
7. Shaykh Muḥammad Gormāz
8. Shaykh Muṣṭafā Daddāsh
9. Shaykh Sālim al-Shaykhī
10. Shaykh Mas‘ūd Ṣabrī
11. Shaykh Wanīs al-Mabrūk
12. Shaykh ‘Ajīl al-Nashmī
13. Shaykh Nūr al-Dīn al-Khādimī
14. Shaykh Aḥmad Ḥawwā
15. Shaykh Sulṭān al-Hāshimī
