Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi

Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi (يوسف القرضاوي)

To the Westerner, Sheikh Yousuf Al-Quradhawi may not be a familiar name. But he is one of the leading Sunni Muslim scholars in the world.

Qaradawi (يوسف القرضاوي) is considered Al-Jazeera’s religious authority and has a program that aires on that channel, “Shariah and Life” reaching some 40 million people worldwide.
Qaradawi (يوسف القرضاوي) founded a popular website: IslamOnline.
Qaradawi (يوسف القرضاوي) has published more than 80 books.
Qaradawi (يوسف القرضاوي) has had a prominent role in the intellectual leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi (يوسف القرضاوي) has recently returned back to Egypt and has issued a fatwa to the Libyan army to kill Mu’ammar Al-Qadhafi. In order to learn more about Qaradhawi I am posting exerpts along with transcriptions of some of his sermons and interviews.

I found Qaradhawi’s comments about Muslim-Christian dialogue especially interesting

Admittedly there is a problem with snippets of interviews and sermons because statements can be taken out of context. Therefore, please note the ellipses (…). I’ve searched the Internet and tried to fill in more of the context (which I’ve added with brackets []); however, I have not been able to find Qaradhawi’s complete sermons in English. Feel free to comment, send corrections, or links.

Friday Sermon by Sheikh Yousef Al-Qardhawi, January 7, 2005

0:15-2:24

“In the last few months, a war was launched against yours truly. It is a ruthless media war, spanning most of the world in the East and the West. In this war, weapons of all kinds were used. This war was waged by global Zionism and its strategic partner, the USA. They recruited the soldiers and used mercenary writers and the reprehensible TV channels to attack me. They unleashed rabid dogs here and there to bite me with their fangs and bark at me with their voices. I can say that America has proven its ability to mobilize the media…I have become the number one inciter for terrorism in the world; I have become the one who calls for the abduction and killing of hostages; I have become a preacher of violence; I have become…Peculiar accusations…It is one of this world’s misfortunes and the peculiarities of these days that a man must defend himself against such false allegations.”

“Who says that I call for terrorism and killing?! This is astonishing! I operate in full view of the public eye. People read my books and hear my sermons on the TV channels, my lectures are published for everyone to read, on my Internet website, and on the Islam Online website. People can familiarize themselves with my positions. I have nothing to hide from people…”

2:25-3:46

Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Sermon. Aired on Al-Jazeera TV, January 9, 2009

“We say to the West, and especially to America, that Allah will not let you support falsehood. He will not let you support inequity against justice.

[…]

“The USSR collapsed before their eyes. The USSR possessed military power, including a nuclear arsenal, but nevertheless, it collapsed. According to the law of Allah, they should collapse as well, unless they pull themselves together and stand by what is just. Oh Allah, take this oppressive, Jewish, Zionist band of people. Oh Allah, do not spare a single one of them. Oh Allah, count their numbers, and kill them, down to the very last one. Oh Allah, take your enemies, the enemies of Islam. Oh Allah, take the Jews, the treacherous aggressors. Oh Allah, take this profligate, cunning, arrogant band of people. Oh Allah, they have spread much tyrrany and corruption in the land. Pour Your wrath upon them, oh our God. Lie in wait for them.”

3:50-5:19

Sheikh Yousef Al-Qardhawi Friday Sermon, November 1, 2002

“There is no alternative to continuing the path of the boycott, which we have called to implement, a boycott of Zionist and American goods. There is no alternative to continuing with it, and not despairing. It amazes me how children monitor their fathers and mothers, saying: “No, my father, no, my mother, these are American goods…” There is no alternative to continuing our boycott. This is a subject from which there is no escape, and it is reeducating the nation. This issue is not only economic; the issue is economic, moral, psychological, educational, and political. Thus, I call on the sons of this nation. Allah, bring us the victory over your enemies, the enemies of Islam. Thus, I call on the sons of this nation. Allah, bring us the victory over your enemies, the enemies of Islam. Allah, remove their trap from us, weaken them, eradicate their countries and banish their regimes from your land. Do not let them reach any of your believers. Allah, deal with the aggressive and treacherous Jews. Allah, deal with the aggressive Americans. Allah, deal with the extremist pagans. Allah, deal with the oppressing Crusaders.

Egyptian Scholar Sheikh Yousef Al-Qardhawi. Qatar TV. July 28, 2007

5:20-6:15

“The conquest of Rome – the conquest of Italy, and Europe – means that Islam will return to Europe once again and therefore, I expect that Islam will conquer Europe without resorting to the sword or fighting. [It will do so by means of da’wa and ideology. {For some reasons this was edited out of the clip}] Europe is miserable with materialism, with the philosophy of promiscuity, and with the immoral considerations that rule the world – considerations of self-interest and self-indulgence. It is high time Europe woke up and found a way out from this. Europe will find no life saver or life boat other than Islam. [The following was edited out of the above clip: Islam will save Europe from the raging materialism from which it suffers. The promiscuity, which permits men to marry men and women to marry women, is horrifying. All religions condemn this. [Islam] is capable of granting Europe and the entire West the world to come, without denying them this world. It can grant them faith without denying them science. It can grant them truth, without denying them power. It can connect them to the heavens, without tearing them away from the earth. It can grant them spirit, without denying them matter. The message of Islam is a message of global balance, and therefore, I believe the next conquest will be conducted through da’wa. But, of course, the Muslims must start acting in order to conquer this world.]

“But, of course, the Muslims must start acting in order to conquer this world.”

Sunni Islamic Scholar Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Qatar TV. February 20, 2009

6:18-7:00

“A few days ago, a Muslim asked me if we were allowed to possess WMDs – nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. I said to him: ‘Yes, we must possess such weapons, but not use them.’ We must possess such weapons in order to strike terror in our enemies – ‘Strike terror in the hearts of the enemies,’ and frighten them. [If we had nuclear weapons, they would be afraid to attack us, as was the case between the Soviet Union and the Americans, and between India and Pakistan. This is armed peace.]

“We must acquire [military] strength. ‘Prepare against them what force and steeds of war you can, to strike terror in the hearts of the enemies of Allah and of your own enemies.’ The ‘steeds of war’ of our times are tanks, armored vehicles, and submarines. Each generation must prepare its own devices with which to strike terror in the enemies of Allah.”

Dr. Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar). November 20, 2004

7:01-8:19

Interviewer: “How do the Americans want to change our identity and turn our life inside out?

Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi: They want us to teach the religion without Jihad. They want us to omit the raids from the Prophet’s biography, to omit the Islamic conquests from history, to omit Jihad from religious jurisprudence, [to omit Khaled Ibn Al-Walid, Saladin, Qutuz, Muhammad the Conqueror, to omit the Islamic heroes from our history… They don’t want us to form a strong homogenous personality that defends its land, its honor, and its holy places.
Let’s take an issue like of Iraq as an example. The moderation of Islam doesn’t mean we can abandon our brothers in Falluja. They are being killed and massacred, and they are even being denied aid. There is no consideration for human sanctity when hospitals are bombed, there is no consideration for civil sanctity when mosques are bombed, people are killed while seeking refuge in mosques… Rescue forces are denied access to these people. Medical teams are forbidden to… Does “moderation” mean we agree to this? This is unacceptable.
The (Americans) want to force their own private culture and philosophy on all people, including the Muslims. We did not start it, the West did. America is the one that started it. Its political strategists, when the USSR collapsed, nominated Islam as an alternative enemy. When Reagan said that the Empire of Evil had fallen, they wanted to establish something else, to mobilize the forces, and Islam was nominated as the alternative. This is the problem.] The events of 9/11 did not alter American policy. On the contrary, all the documents and evidence show that this was planned in advance.
[American journalists came up to me and said: “By sanctioning martyrdom operations in Palestine, you are sanctioning the attacks of 9/11.” I said to them: “No, there is a big difference between the two, a difference in objective and means.” Martyrdom operations that take place in Palestine are defense of the homeland. On the other hand, someone who raids America is not a defender, but a raider of another country. In addition, in terms of means, in a martyrdom operation a person sacrifices his own soul. He is free to do as he wishes with his life. On the other hand, one who sacrifices the passengers of an airplane – did they give him the right to sacrifice them? Afterwards he struck civilians in the Two Towers. These civilians work in companies and among them there are Muslims, Arabs, and of all nationalities.]
I have forbidden the killing of Americans. When I was asked, I said that I forbid the killing of civilians. I said that it is permitted to kill only those who fight. Islam forbids killing women, youth, and so on. I said so openly, but I asked: “Who is a civilian?” When engineers, laborers, and technicians enter (Iraq) with the American army, are they considered civilians? Is the fighter only the one inside the tank or also the one servicing it? [I am speaking of the interpretation of the word “civilian.” If it is established that a certain person is a civilian, his killing is forbidden. We in the Muslims Clerics Union issued a statement yesterday, telling our brothers in Iraq that they must make sure… The resistance in Iraq must obey the religious rulings. A civilian must not be killed, only a fighter may be killed. The resistance cannot kidnap people unjustly.]

Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Qatar TV. Al-Jazeera TV. February 3, 2006

8:20-8:46

“We are not jackasses for riding, but lions that roar. We are lions that zealously protect their dens, and avenge affronts to their sanctities. We are a nation that should rage for the sake of Allah, His Prophet, and His book. We are the nation of Muhammad, and we must never accept the degradation of our religion.”

“We must rage, and show our rage to the world.” (See Where Does the Term ‘Day of Rage’ Come from?)

Excerps From a Friday Sermon at a Qatar Mosque. Dr. Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Qatar TV. Arpil 9, 2004

8:47-9:47

“Are the Americans the Iraqis’ teachers? The Iraqis have a country that inherited cultures thousands of years old while the Americans have a culture only two hundred years old. Two hundred years will teach thousands of years!? Oh Americans, leave Iraq to its people…”

“It so happened that some people killed a few Americans and mutilated the corpses of our of these soldiers. The Americans went out of their minds: [How could their soldiers’ corpses be mutilated? They wanted to take revenge on all the people of Fallujah because of those few individuals. This is the logic of the terrorists themselves! They fight the terrorists, claiming that the terrorists do not distinguish between a civilian and a non-civilian and fight entire groups because of one or two individuals. They do the same.” {Memri}]

“The terrorists did what they did, perhaps, because of their inability to realize their rights and their despairing of the chance to even the score with the oppressors. But you are a superpower.”

Sunni Scholar Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Qatar TV. June 5, 2009

9:48-10:57

“The man (Obama) tried to quote from the Koran, as well as from the Toran and the New Testament. He drew a parallel between the Koran and the Torah in their call for peace. He quoted the Talmud and the Torah as saying that the Torah calls for peace. Never have I seen a single verse, paragraph, or sentence in the Torah which calls for peace. Everything in the Torah constitutes a call for war. [They even call God ‘Lord of Hosts’ – they don’t call Him ‘Lord of the Universe’ or ‘the Compassionate, the Merciful.’]…

“[The Torah contains] the notion of annihilation. We saw it when the Europeans went to America – they tried to annihilate the Indians. When they went to Australia, they tried to annihilate the aboriginal people. Indeed, they annihilated them. This is a biblical notion – annihilate them totally, do not leave a living soul among them. How could Obama draw a parallel between the Koran and the Torah?”

Sunni Islamic Scholar Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar). January 28-30, 2009

10:58-11:36

“Throughout history, Allah has imposed upon the (Jews) people who would punish them for their corruption. The last punishment was carried out by Hitler. By means of all the things he did to them – even though they exaggerated this issue – he managed to put them in their place. This was divine punishment for them. Allah willing, the next time will be at the hand of the believers.”

11:37-12:20

“To conclude my speech, I’d like to say that the only thing I hope for is that as my life approaches its end, Allah will give me an opportunity to go to the land of Jihad and resistance, even if in a wheelchair. I will shoot Allah’s enemies, the Jews, and they will throw a bomb at me, and thus, I will seal my life with martyrdom. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Allah’s mercy and blessings upon you.”

Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi and Hamas Leader Khaled Mash’al. Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar). July 16, 2007

12:21-13:48

“The support we got from Sheik Al-Qaradhawi is different from the support of anybody else, because of his religious status, his status in terms of morale, and his ability to draw the attention of the nation and the world to the issues of the nation, particularly the issue of Palestine. [This support was of great value to us, to the Palestinian people, in the first and second Intifadas, and in all matters pertaining to the Palestinian cause. He has publicly declared his support for the resistance factions, unequivocally and without any hesitation or embarrassment, without fawning over anyone.] From day one to the present, the sheikh, may Allah reward him, has not hesitate to support the jihad and the resistance, and to support the fighters, and the resistance factions. One of the most notable manifestations of this support was when we relied – after Allah – on his support of martyrdom operations. [He never hesitated to issue rulings in support of these operations, and there were times when we were in dire need of these rulings.”]

“I support the Palestinian cause. I support the resistance and the Jihad. I support Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and Hizbollah. I oppose the peace that Israel and America wish to dictate. This peace is an illusion. I support martyrdom operations, and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back…What am I supposed to do? This great terrorist next to me will get me into trouble…He gave me a picture of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and showed me respect – that’s it, my guilt has been proven.”

Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Qatar TV. February 25, 2006

13:49-end

“We are fighting them in the name of Islam, because Islam commands us to fight whoever plunders our land, and occupies our country. All the school of Islamic jurisprudence – the Sunni, the Shi’ite, the Ibadhiya – and all the ancient and modern schools of jurisprudence – agree that any invader who occupies even an inch of land of the Muslims must face resistance. The Muslims of that country must carry out the resistance, and the rest of the Muslims must help them. If the people of that country are incapable or reluctant, we must fight to defend the land of Islam, even if the local [Muslims] give it up.”

“”They must not allow anyone to take a single piece of land away from Islam. That is what we are fighting the Jews for. We are fighting them… Our religion commands us… We are fighting in the name of religion, in the name of Islam, which makes this Jihad an individual duty, in which the entire nation takes part, and whoever is killed in this [Jihad] is a martyr. This is why I ruled that martyrdom operations are permitted, because he commits martyrdom for the sake of Allah, and sacrifices his soul for the sake of Allah. We do not disassociate Islam from the war. On the contrary, disassociating Islam from the war is the reason for our defeat. We are fighting in the name of Islam. This is how it should be. Religion must lead the war. This is the only way we can win.”

“Everything will be on our side and against the Jews on (Judgment Day), even the stones and the trees will speak, with or without words, and say: ‘Oh servant of Allah, oh Muslim, there’s a Jew behind me, come and kill him.’ They will point to the Jews. It says ‘servant of Allah,’ not ‘servant of desires,’ ‘servant of women,’ ‘servant of the bottle,’ ‘servant of Marxism,’ or ‘servant of liberalism’… It said ‘servant of Allah.’ When the Muslims, the Arabs, and the Palestinians enter a war, they do it to worship Allah. They enter it as Muslims. The hadith says: “Oh Muslim.” It says “oh Muslim,” not “oh Palestinain, Jordanian, Syrian, or Arab nationalist.” No, it says: “Oh Muslim.” When we enter (a war) under the banner of Islam, and under the banner of serving Allah, we will be victorious.”

Sunni Scholar Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Qatar TV. October 30, 2009

0:04-2:17

“No pope has ever apologized to the Muslims for what happened to them in the Crusader wars, which were hostile wars. They came to our countries from Europe, and did what they did in the nine Crusades. Therefore, we have halted our dialogue with these people, with the Vatican.”

“Let me tell you, with regard to the Christians, in general, there is a problem, which I raised at the third conference, held in Doha, as well as at the interfaith dialogue conference in Mecca, convened by the Saudi monarch a year and a half ago.

“I said: Brothers, the problem is that [although] we recognize Christianity, and we recognize Christ, his holy book, and his religion… [A Muslim’s faith is not complete unless he believes in this, because it is incumbent upon him to believe in every book that was sent down and in every prophet who was sent [by God]. ‘And what was given to Moses and Jesus and other prophets from their Lord – we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit.’ ]

“But these [Christians] do not recognize us. [They say]: Muhammad was a liar. The Koran is a fabrication. They created the Koran and attributed it to Allah.’

“These things have practical implications. We were at a conference in Cairo, called The Christians of the Middle East. I wanted to say, in the closing statement: ‘The people of the divine religions agreed…’ But [the Christians] said: ‘Stop!’ I asked: ‘What is it?’ They said: ‘We do not recognize Islam as a divine religion. It is not a divine religion.’ They agreed to say all kinds of things, but not that Islam is a divine religion. I wanted to include another sentence, about ‘Godly values.’ They said: ‘No, we do not recognize Islamic values as being Godly. They are human values, brought by a guy who claimed to be a prophet.’ I exploded and said: ‘So what are we convening for? If you do not recognize our religion and our values as divine, what are we meeting for? Go away.’ And I left the meeting.”

[I Cannot Find “One Practical Thing That These Conferences Have Achieved for the Benefit of the Islamic Nation”]

“Brother, there is a problem with our dialogue with these people, who look at our Prophet, our Koran, and our nation this way, while we flock to them, and do not achieve a thing. Give me one practical thing that these conferences have achieved for the benefit of the Islamic nation. I cannot find a thing.” (Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Explains His Objections to Muslim-Christian Interfaith Dialogue, Memri).

Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Al-Jazeera. February 6, 2005

2:18-3:23

“In order to really implement religious law we must provide an atmosphere of freedom. First of all, people must have the opportunity to say: “We want religious law.” The secularists say: “No, the people don’t want religious law. We provide them with liberty so they…” What do you want? Do you want to be ruled by Muhammad’s law, or by Marx’s law, or by Napoleon’s law, or by the Americans’ law? In which direction do you pray — to Mecca, to Washington, to London or to Paris? 99% said: Yes, we want Islamic law. Therefore, freedom should be in the service of Islam.”

“I think that our peoples, for the most part– there is a faction that has become secularist, Western, and Marxist — but the vast majority of this people still believes that Islam is the solution and the source of authority and the foundation. They don’t want to import anything from the East or from the West.”

Friday Sermon by Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Qatar TV. January 7, 2005

3:24-4:09

“People must ask themselves why this earthquake occurred in this area and not in others? Why did it occur at this time and not another? Why? Whoever examines these areas discovers that they are tourism areas. Tourism areas are areas where forbidden acts are widespread as well as alcohol consumption, use of drugs, and performing acts of abomination. Don’t they deserve punishment from Allah?!”

Dr. Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi. Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar). June 5, 2006

5:28-6:17

Interviewer How should a homosexual or a lesbian be punished? We mentioned the story of the people of Sodom and how Allah punished them, but how should someone who commits this abomination be punished today?

Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi: The same punishment as any sexual pervert – the same as the fornicator […]

The schools of thought disagree about the punishment. Some say they should be punished like fornicators, and then we distinguish between married and unmarried men, and between married and unmarried women. Some say both should be punished the same way. Some say we should throw them from a high place, like God did with the people of Sodom. Some say we should burn them, and so on. There is disagreement […]

The important thing is to treat this act as a crime.

Sheik Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi. Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar). November 28, 2004

6:18-end

“Not all Americans…Even the extreme Christian right that fights us protects the family, but Allah decreed that they want to ruin our families. But there are strong tendencies in the West to destroy the family. An example of this is the marriage of men with men and women with women. [Unfortunately, some clergymen welcome this and perform these marriage ceremonies in their churches. In addition, several Western parliaments have permitted this and issued laws about it so it has won legal recognition. This stands in contrast to Christianity, Judaism, and all religions. All international conventions and laws determine that marriage is a bond between a man and a woman in a legitimate and recognized fashion. Only this is considered marriage. Same-sex marriages are totally unacceptable.] They want to make the perversion [ie homosexuality] widespread.”

“It is one of the things I was accused of and that made a commotion this summer in London. The Zionist lobby organized a massive campaign against me. One of the main reasons for this campaign was that I object to the homosexuals. They said to me, “You hold a hostile position against homosexuals.” When they asked me in the press, on television, on the radio, and in other media, “What is your opinion?” I said: “I don’t have an opinion on homosexuals.” My opinion is the same as decreed in Judaism, Christianity, and the Islam, and which appears in the Torah, the New Testament, and the Koran, and which was announced by the Pope of the Vatican, the founders of Christianity, the rabbis of Judaism, and the moral philosophers. This is the opinion of all of these. I have no personal opinion on this matter. They want to make the pervert… They are called “perverts” and the phenomena is called “perversion.” Perversion means a deviation from the norm. They want to make this perversion a natural thing. How can a pervert be natural? This is what they want.”

“They attack Islam because of issues such as wife-beating, which is one of the things I was accused of. They claimed that I supported wife beating. I don’t say that wives should be beaten and I don’t like wife beating. The Prophet did not encourage wife beating. Out of more than 6,000 verses of the Koran, there is one verse that deals with a condescending and disobedient wife. It is said there that one of the methods of treatments is, “And beat them.” This is not obligatory, but it is permitted and it does not suit all wives. All Koranic commentators agree on this. Beating does not benefit all wives, but it is suitable for some. [The Prophet said, “The best among you do not beat.” The best people do not beat their wives and the Prophet never beat a woman, a slave, or a beast. Even the beast–a donkey or a camel–he never beat a beast. He said, “Are you not ashamed to beat a wife and then sleep with her?” One contradicts the other. Even if it comes to beatings, with what does one beat? A hadith of the Prophet says that when one of the Concubines angered him, he said to her, “If not for the punishments of the Judgment Day, I would hurt you with this toothpick.” He held a toothpick that he used to clean his teeth. It is not that he would grab a whip or a board and break her bones. These are not the [permitted] beatings.]”