Traveling to Islamic countries with civil unrest in the name of jihad and fighting in civil wars are forbidden in Islam, the Supreme Council for Fatwa in the Maldives has declared.
Clear and evident words of the Noble Prophet (pbuh) show that Muslims fighting each other is forbidden, the Supreme Council said in a fatwa issued today.
What Muslims should do against it is to pray for deliverance from war, be patient, avoid division and work towards the unity of the ummah, the fatwa stated.
"This unrest occurring in some Islamic countries is discord facing the Islamic ummah. How to act when faced with discord is also shown by the words of the Noble Prophet (pbuh)," the fatwa stated.
The fatwa characterized civil unrest occurring in some Islamic countries as the result of a series of plots against Islamic countries.
"People belonging to an Islamic country going to a country where unrest is occurring in the name of waging jihad would open the door for enemies of Islam to meddle in the affairs of Islamic countries," the fatwa stated.
The fatwa was issued after 21 people from among the Maldivian families who left to fight in the Syrian civil war were brought back to the country on Tuesday morning on a chartered flight at the Maldivian state's expense.
They included 15 children, five women and one man. About MVR 1.8 million was spent on their transport, according to the Home Ministry. The government was aware of more Maldivians who still wish to travel to Syria, Home Minister Ali Ihusan said.
