Ash-Sharq al-Awsat published an interview between Turki as-Suhail and the Saudi Scholar, ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Ubaykan on 12th September 2005. We reproduce below some extracts from it that highlight important Islamic issues, regarding which the extremists and terrorists had been misled by their ideological figureheads. A very large number of these people, who were youth poisoned by evil people like Abu Qatada al-Filisteeni and Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi (’Isam Barqawi) repented and recanted from their falsehood, on account of these dialogues.
Turki as-Suhail: What about removing the non-believers from the Arab peninsula?
‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Ubaykan: This is another issue prominent amongst the wanted men. We tell them that removing non-believers from the Arab peninsula in context of the hadith (of the Prophet) is not how they interpret it.
This is because the area the Prophet (peace be upon him) was concerned about removing the non-believers from was that surrounding the two Sacred Mosques and not other areas such as the Eastern Province or other regions in Arabia.
Another point is that there were non-believers who lived in Arabia during the Caliphs’ times. Muslim men married non-Muslim women and lived together in the region.
I even found fatwas for Shaikh Mohammad Ibn Uthaimeen who supported this notion.
A third point is that this issue is the business of the country’s guardians rather than the people. The Caliph Abu Bakr did not have the Jews removed from Medina during his time, nor did he ask ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab to do so either.
A fourth point is that even if non-believers are to leave the region, it does not mean violating their properties or permitting their bloodshed. Furthermore, having them leave the region is related to what is in the best (interest) and it is not an indefinite general predicament.
