Islam Times - Saudi Senior Cleric: This is “Civil War” not “Jihad” in Syria

Islam Times - Member of the Senior Scholars Council in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manea assured that what is taking place in Syria, “the land of revolutions”, is a “civil war” not “jihad”, indicating that “in civil wars, it is hard to specify friends from enemies, especially if the country is Muslim.”

Sheikh Al-Manea condemned in an interview the fatwas that call upon Saudis to travel for “jihad” in Syria, and considered that “it is prohibited to engage in civil wars, for the negative consequences and incitements they bring to the country; and religion seeks to quench incitements.”

In parallel, Manea stressed that the individual cannot specify the public interest, like the state or government does, and he is prohibited from working merely in accordance with his opinion.

He further pointed out that “Riyadh has not given the permission for Jihad in Syria."