Amman Message

The Amman Message (رسالة عمان) is a statement calling for tolerance and unity in the Muslim world that was issued on 9 November 2004 (27th of Ramadan 1425 AH) by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, and his advisor Sheikh Izz-Eddine Al-Khatib Al-Tamimiv. The message aims to "clarify to the modern world the true nature of Islam and the nature of true Islam," and to specify which actions do and do not represent the religion. A three-point ruling was issued by 200 Islamic scholars from over 50 countries, focusing on issues of defining who is a Muslim, excommunication from Islam (takfir), and principles related to delivering religious opinions (fatāwa). The message receives substantial support from the royal family of Jordan and the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, which has been set up for the purpose of its promotion. Through its website, the Amman Message is easily accessible in English and Arabic. The Amman Message was delivered in Amman, Jordan, as a Ramadan sermon by Chief Justice Sheikh Iz-al-Din al-Tamimi in the presence of King Abdullah II and a number of Muslim scholars. In a subsequent speech, King Abdullah invited 24 senior scholars from all legal schools to debate the following questions: Who is a Muslim Is it permissible to declare someone an apostate? Who has the right to undertake issues relating to fatwas (legal rulings)? The next year, in July 2005, an Islamic convention brought together 200 Muslim scholars from over 50 countries who issued a three-point declaration (later known as 'Three Points of the Amman Message'). This declaration focused on: The recognition of eight legal schools of sharia/fiqh (madhāhib) and the varying schools of Islamic theology viz. Sunni Hanafi Sunni Maliki Sunni Shafi'i Sunni Hanbali Shia Jaʿfari Shia Zaydi Ẓāhirī Ibadi Forbade declaring an apostate anyone who is a follower of: the Ashʿari/Maturidi creed real Tasawwuf (Sufism) true Salafi thought The forbiddance from pronouncing disbelief (takfir) upon (or excommunicating) others recognized as Muslims The stipulations placed as preconditions to the issuing of religious edicts, intended to prevent the circulation of illegitimate edicts The declaration was created in the midst of global tensions relating to the War on Terror following the September 11 attacks, and in the wake of the Iraq War.