'We will destroy the enemies of Allah', Iranian cleric issues 'Moharebeh' fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu, why is it dangerous?

News Topical, Digital Desk : Iran's top Shia religious leader Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has issued a strict fatwa against US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In this fatwa, both leaders have been termed 'enemies of God' and Muslims around the world have been appealed to unite and overthrow them.

The fatwa comes in response to threats against Iran's Islamic regime, which recently fought a 12-day war with Israel and the United States. According to Iran's Mehr News Agency, Ayatollah Makarem said, "Any person or regime that threatens our leader or marja (religious leader) will be considered a 'moharebeh' (warrior against God)."

Appeal to Muslims to unite

The fatwa states that it is the duty of every Muslim to make these 'enemies' repent of their statements and mistakes. It also adds that it is haram for any Muslim country or person to support these enemies. According to the fatwa, if any Muslim faces difficulties or suffers losses in this so-called jihad, he will be rewarded in heaven as a 'fighter in the way of God'.

This fatwa comes after the 12-day war that began on June 13. Israel bombed Iran, killing top Iranian military commanders and scientists involved in the nuclear program. In response, Iran attacked Israeli cities with ballistic missiles.

What is a fatwa?

 It is an interpretation of Islamic law, issued by the highest cleric of the Shia community. It applies to all Muslims, whether individuals or Islamic governments, and it is considered their duty to implement it.

This is not the first time that Iranian clerics have issued a fatwa against someone. The most famous case was in 1989, when a fatwa was issued against author Salman Rushdie for calling his book 'The Satanic Verses' offensive.

This fatwa ordered his murder, after which Rushdie had to live in hiding for years. Due to this fatwa, the Japanese translator of his book was killed and many attacks were made on publishers. In 2023, Rushdie was attacked with a knife in New York, in which he lost one eye.

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