Terrorism, not Jihad, in Iraq
By Ahmad Wahaj Al-Siddiqui — The Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH: A PROFESSOR of Islamic philosophy in Iraq took exception to reports that the terrorism launched by militants in the war-torn country is a form of Jihad.

Dr. Abdul Jabbar Rifae, who came here as guest at the Grand Haj Seminar on the invitation by Minister of Haj, Iyad Madani, said in an interview with the Saudi Gazette that it was not correct to call the terrorism in Iraq a Jihad.

That is incorrect, baseless and a mistaken opinion that encourage the factions which do not want Iraq to return to normalcy and take pleasure in ruthless killings and kidnappings to serve their own ends, he said.

Rifae said Islam does not allow anyone to take the law in his own hands and that a fatwa (jurist opinion)could only be given by leaders like a Grand Mufti or a recognized jurist.

This Saudi Gazette article is an interview with an Iraqi professor who points out–for his Saudi readers–that there’s a difference between jihad and terror… and what’s going on in Iraq is terror.

Good article.