Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America
Statement About the Massacre in Aleppo
The Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America monitors the news from Aleppo with much sorrow and frustration. Aleppo has been subject to a large scale massacre. The explosive barrel bombs are being used on civilian neighborhoods, killing hundreds, and reducing entire neighborhoods to wastelands of blood and charred cement. The casualties among civilians are mounting on daily basis, and destruction looms on the city from all directions. The ineffectiveness of the Arab nations and the silence of the international community are contributing to this tragedy. The international organizations are paralyzed, only issuing faint statements here and there.
The turmoil of the Syrian people has been ongoing for several years, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties and millions of refugees; then came this recent massacre to add to their pain and suffering. They are hammering the children and elderly with mad fire. Even the hospitals and medical teams were not spared by them. They are not differentiating between young and old or men and women. A conduct that is deplored by the dwellers of the heavens and the earth.
The Assembly calls first upon the Muslim nations, the people and governments, to assume their responsibility towards their fellow Muslims, and to expose the crimes of the transgressors and extend help and relief to the affected victims. There is no excuse before Allah for inaction, as long as one can help in any way possible, and there is no excuse for falling short; we must do the best we can to end this tragedy or minimize its impact on the victims. Let the Muslims all over the world remember the statement of their prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), “No (Muslim) man will desert his fellow Muslim in a place where his respect is violated and his honor aspersed except that Allah will desert him in a place here he wishes His help; and no (Muslim) man who will help a fellow Muslim in a place where his honor is aspersed and his respect is violated except that Allah will help him in a place where he wishes His help.” [Abu Dawood]
The Assembly then calls upon the international community to assume its responsibility in the face of this massacre. Do what your human conscience mandates in this regard, and enforce the international human rights treaties.
The Assembly also calls upon the various relief organizations, Muslim and non-Muslim, to rush to the help of the victims of this massacre and supply the people of Aleppo and the rest of Syria with the basic needs they are gravely lacking.
Finally, the Assembly implores those victims to hold on to the rope of Allah and show patience and resolve. Be united and reconcile you hearts, for the mercy to descend upon you. Renew your faith in Allah and reassert your covenant with Him through repentance and complete reliance on Him. He alone is the refuge when all others fall short, come late, or let us down. Victory comes with patience, and after hardship comes ease; and Allah’s decree will come to pass. He is the best helper and greatest aid.
