In June 2025, Iran’s Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, issued a fatwa declaring US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as 'enemies of God'. According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, Shirazi urged Muslims to unite against leaders he said posed a threat to the Islamic Republic’s religious authority. He stated that any person or government endangering Iran’s Supreme Leader or top clerics, referred to as Marja, should be treated as a 'mohared', or one who wages war against God. This incident has reignited global debate over the power and peril of fatwas.&nbsp;<h2>What Is a Fatwa?</h2>A fatwa is a formal legal opinion or interpretation issued by an Islamic scholar on a point of Islamic law (Sharia). It is not a law in itself but a non-binding opinion meant to guide Muslims on religious or ethical matters not explicitly covered in the Qur’an or Hadith.Fatwas can deal with topics such as fasting, medical ethics, finance, or voting. However, when fatwas target individuals or groups, particularly on grounds of blasphemy or apostasy, they can become highly volatile.&nbsp;<h2>Who Can Issue a Fatwa?</h2>Only a qualified jurist or mufti with extensive training in Islamic jurisprudence can issue a fatwa. In Sunni Islam, fatwas are decentralised and can differ based on the scholar or region. In Shi’a Islam, particularly in Iran, high-ranking clerics known as Marja have the authority to issue fatwas with potentially binding influence. In countries like Iran, where religion and state are closely intertwined, fatwas have the force of law.&nbsp;<h2>Notable Cases: Salman Rushdie and Naguib Mahfouz</h2>Perhaps the most infamous fatwa was issued in 1989 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran’s Supreme Leader, who called for the execution of author Salman Rushdie over alleged blasphemy in The Satanic Verses. The fatwa led to multiple deaths, violent attacks, and, over 30 years later, Rushdie’s near-fatal stabbing in New York in 2022, when he lost his eye.&nbsp;Another case involved Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz, who was stabbed in 1994 by an extremist acting on a fatwa from Omar Abdel-Rahman, a Sunni militant cleric. The attacker later admitted he had never read Mahfouz’s work but acted solely on the cleric’s decree, according to Reuters.&nbsp;<h2>Who carries out Death Fatwas, and can they be revoked?</h2>Such fatwas are not enforced by governments but are often acted upon by indoctrinated militants, sleeper cells, or individuals who believe they are fulfilling a religious duty. These actors may be radicalised through sermons, social media, or religious literature. Even fatwas issued from prison have incited violence, according to Reuters. Fatwas are rarely rescinded. Without an official withdrawal, they remain in force indefinitely. As seen in Rushdie’s case, even decades-old fatwas can inspire violence long after their issuance.&nbsp;<h2>Everyday Fatwas</h2>Despite their notoriety, most fatwas concern routine matters, dietary rules, fasting exemptions, or the permissibility of modern technologies. However, fatwas calling for violence continue to present a dangerous intersection of religion and politics.&nbsp;

A fatwa is a formal legal opinion or interpretation issued by an Islamic scholar on a point of Islamic law (Sharia)

In June 2025, Iran’s Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, issued a fatwa declaring US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as 'enemies of God'. According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, Shirazi urged Muslims to unite against leaders he said posed a threat to the Islamic Republic’s religious authority. He stated that any person or government endangering Iran’s Supreme Leader or top clerics, referred to as Marja, should be treated as a 'mohared', or one who wages war against God. This incident has reignited global debate over the power and peril of fatwas. What Is a Fatwa? A fatwa is a formal legal opinion or interpretation issued by an Islamic scholar on a point of Islamic law (Sharia). It is not a law in itself but a non-binding opinion meant to guide Muslims on religious or ethical matters not explicitly covered in the Qur’an or Hadith. Fatwas can deal with topics such as fasting, medical ethics, finance, or voting. However, when fatwas target individuals or groups, particularly on grounds of blasphemy or apostasy, they can become highly volatile. Who Can Issue a Fatwa? Only a qualified jurist or mufti with extensive training in Islamic jurisprudence can issue a fatwa. In Sunni Islam, fatwas are decentralised and can differ based on the scholar or region. In Shi’a Islam, particularly in Iran, high-ranking clerics known as Marja have the authority to issue fatwas with potentially binding influence. In countries like Iran, where religion and state are closely intertwined, fatwas have the force of law. Notable Cases: Salman Rushdie and Naguib Mahfouz Perhaps the most infamous fatwa was issued in 1989 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran’s Supreme Leader, who called for the execution of author Salman Rushdie over alleged blasphemy in The Satanic Verses. The fatwa led to multiple deaths, violent attacks, and, over 30 years later, Rushdie’s near-fatal stabbing in New York in 2022, when he lost his eye. Another case involved Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz, who was stabbed in 1994 by an extremist acting on a fatwa from Omar Abdel-Rahman, a Sunni militant cleric. The attacker later admitted he had never read Mahfouz’s work but acted solely on the cleric’s decree, according to Reuters. Who carries out Death Fatwas, and can they be revoked? Such fatwas are not enforced by governments but are often acted upon by indoctrinated militants, sleeper cells, or individuals who believe they are fulfilling a religious duty. These actors may be radicalised through sermons, social media, or religious literature. Even fatwas issued from prison have incited violence, according to Reuters. Fatwas are rarely rescinded. Without an official withdrawal, they remain in force indefinitely. As seen in Rushdie’s case, even decades-old fatwas can inspire violence long after their issuance. Everyday Fatwas Despite their notoriety, most fatwas concern routine matters, dietary rules, fasting exemptions, or the permissibility of modern technologies. However, fatwas calling for violence continue to present a dangerous intersection of religion and politics.

A fatwa is a formal legal opinion or interpretation issued by an Islamic scholar on a point of Islamic law (Sharia)

What is a Fatwa? Everything you need to know about the Islamic religious decree

Controversial Islamic preacher Mufti Amir Hamza has been nominated as Jamaat-e-Islami’s MP candidate for the Kushtia-3 (Sadr) constituency in the upcoming national parliamentary elections. Jamaat’s Central Executive Council member Mubarak Hossain announced Hamza’s name at a gathering at the Abdul Wahid Auditorium in Kushtia district on Sunday (May 25).&nbsp;After announcing Hamza’s name, Hossain said, “The candidate (Amir Hamza) we have nominated for this seat is not limited to the country; he is a well-known candidate internationally.”&nbsp;“The announcement of candidates for most of the 300 seats has been completed, including the Kushtia-3 constituency. Jamaat-e-Islami will not accept any elections without reforms and progress in the judicial process,” he added.&nbsp;“Jamaat-e-Islami does not want to see elections like those in 2018 or 2019. Our biggest demand is that the elections be held under a caretaker government.”<h2>Hamza faced legal action in Bangladesh and Singapore</h2>&nbsp;Hamza has faced legal action in Bangladesh and Singapore for delivering provocative speeches, misinterpreting religion, and spreading extremism. Singapore launched an investigation against Hamza for giving a sermon to migrant workers in the country on 9 August, 2024, without a permit.Singapore’s home ministry said Hamza’s sermon propagated extremist and segregationist teachings that were dangerous and detrimental to Singapore’s communal harmony.&nbsp;In his sermon, Hamza referred to non-Muslims as kafirs (infidels) and praised extremists as models of religious devotion, said Singapore’s minister for home affairs and law, K Shanmugam.&nbsp;Hamza is notorious for his alleged extremist teachings and terror links, as he promotes religious intolerance, hatred, and violence in his sermons. He is also alleged to be an influential figure in Ansar al-Islam (AAI), a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh.Earlier, on May 24, 2021, Hamza was arrested by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and he confessed to misinterpreting religion and spreading extremism.

Hamza is notorious for his alleged extremist teachings and terror links, as he promotes religious intolerance, hatred, and violence in his sermons. He is also alleged to be an influential figure in Ansar al-Islam (AAI), a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh.

Controversial Islamic preacher Mufti Amir Hamza has been nominated as Jamaat-e-Islami’s MP candidate for the Kushtia-3 (Sadr) constituency in the upcoming national parliamentary elections. Jamaat’s Central Executive Council member Mubarak Hossain announced Hamza’s name at a gathering at the Abdul Wahid Auditorium in Kushtia district on Sunday (May 25). After announcing Hamza’s name, Hossain said, “The candidate (Amir Hamza) we have nominated for this seat is not limited to the country; he is a well-known candidate internationally.” “The announcement of candidates for most of the 300 seats has been completed, including the Kushtia-3 constituency. Jamaat-e-Islami will not accept any elections without reforms and progress in the judicial process,” he added. “Jamaat-e-Islami does not want to see elections like those in 2018 or 2019. Our biggest demand is that the elections be held under a caretaker government.” Hamza faced legal action in Bangladesh and Singapore Hamza has faced legal action in Bangladesh and Singapore for delivering provocative speeches, misinterpreting religion, and spreading extremism. Singapore launched an investigation against Hamza for giving a sermon to migrant workers in the country on 9 August, 2024, without a permit. Singapore’s home ministry said Hamza’s sermon propagated extremist and segregationist teachings that were dangerous and detrimental to Singapore’s communal harmony. In his sermon, Hamza referred to non-Muslims as kafirs (infidels) and praised extremists as models of religious devotion, said Singapore’s minister for home affairs and law, K Shanmugam. Hamza is notorious for his alleged extremist teachings and terror links, as he promotes religious intolerance, hatred, and violence in his sermons. He is also alleged to be an influential figure in Ansar al-Islam (AAI), a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh. Earlier, on May 24, 2021, Hamza was arrested by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and he confessed to misinterpreting religion and spreading extremism.

Hamza is notorious for his alleged extremist teachings and terror links, as he promotes religious intolerance, hatred, and violence in his sermons. He is also alleged to be an influential figure in Ansar al-Islam (AAI), a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh.

Jamaat-e-Islami names Islamic preacher Amir Hamza as parliamentary poll candidate in Bangladesh

The Indian government today indicated it might take action against controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. Naik was followed by one of the five Bangladeshi attackers who killed 22 people at a restaurant in Dhaka. 
 
&quot;Zakir Naik&#39;s speech is a matter of concern for us. Our agencies are working on this. But as a minister, I will not comment what action will be taken,&quot; Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told reporters here. 
 
Rijiju said India has good relations and mutual understanding with Bangladesh, especially in the matter of co-operation on fighting terrorism. 
 
&quot;Terror can be defeated only through close coordination and by fighting together (against it),&quot; he said. 
 
Bangladeshi newspaper &#39;Daily Star&#39; had reported that militant Rohan Imtiaz, son of an Awami League leader, ran propaganda on Facebook last year quoting Naik. 
 
Naik, in a lecture aired on Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, had reportedly &quot;urged all Muslims to be terrorists&quot;. 
 
Naik, a popular but controversial Islamic orator and founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in the UK and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions. He&nbsp;is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia. 
 
He is hugely popular in Bangladesh through his Peace TV, although his preachings often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects, the report said. 
 
Another Dhaka attacker Nibras Islam used to follow two alleged suspected recruiters of Islamic State - Anjem Choudary and Shami Witness on Twitter in 2014. 
 
Shami Witness is the Twitter account of 24-year-old Mehdi Biswas, who is facing trial in India for running propaganda for terror group Islamic State (ISIS). He was arrested in December 2014 following an investigation into his Twitter account, which was last active in August 2014. 
 
Biswas was charged with operating the &quot;single most influential pro-ISIS Twitter account&quot;. 
 
Choudary, a Pakistan-origin British citizen, is now facing a trial in England for breaking the British anti-terrorism law. His Twitter account turned inactive since August 2015 after terror charges were brought against him. 
 
(PTI)

One of the Bangladesh attackers reportedly followed him. Naik is already banned in the UK, Canada, and Malaysia

The Indian government today indicated it might take action against controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. Naik was followed by one of the five Bangladeshi attackers who killed 22 people at a restaurant in Dhaka. "Zakir Naik's speech is a matter of concern for us. Our agencies are working on this. But as a minister, I will not comment what action will be taken," Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told reporters here. Rijiju said India has good relations and mutual understanding with Bangladesh, especially in the matter of co-operation on fighting terrorism. "Terror can be defeated only through close coordination and by fighting together (against it)," he said. Bangladeshi newspaper 'Daily Star' had reported that militant Rohan Imtiaz, son of an Awami League leader, ran propaganda on Facebook last year quoting Naik. Naik, in a lecture aired on Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists". Naik, a popular but controversial Islamic orator and founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in the UK and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia. He is hugely popular in Bangladesh through his Peace TV, although his preachings often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects, the report said. Another Dhaka attacker Nibras Islam used to follow two alleged suspected recruiters of Islamic State - Anjem Choudary and Shami Witness on Twitter in 2014. Shami Witness is the Twitter account of 24-year-old Mehdi Biswas, who is facing trial in India for running propaganda for terror group Islamic State (ISIS). He was arrested in December 2014 following an investigation into his Twitter account, which was last active in August 2014. Biswas was charged with operating the "single most influential pro-ISIS Twitter account". Choudary, a Pakistan-origin British citizen, is now facing a trial in England for breaking the British anti-terrorism law. His Twitter account turned inactive since August 2015 after terror charges were brought against him. (PTI)

Indian government hints it might take action against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik