By Nabil Al-Bukairi
FOR THE YEMEN POST
Sheikh Dr. Aqeel Al-Maqtari is one of the most prominent leaders of the Salafi Moderate Hekma Group in Yemen and is the scientific official in the Al-Hekma Al-Yamania Charitable Society.
During the interview with him, many issues were discussed some of which are, the problems faced by the Salafi group, their attitude from the current Yemeni political crisis, and their participation in the upcoming elections, along with many other issues.
Yemen Post: What is the Salafi groups’ position towards the Yemeni current political crisis?
Aqeel Al-Maqtari: First of all I would like to thank the Yemen Post Newspaper for being interested in the issues of the country. Also I want to express that I am here speaking my own opinions and not for an organization.
Let me first put the reader in the bigger picture. The Salafi groups are part of the Yemeni society. They are of different views, positions and thoughts but are always strict, clear and wise, and must always be put into consideration and not be ignored.
Some Salafi’s point of view regarding Al-Houthi rebellious in Sa’ada is that it was completely unlawful, as was the killing of innocent people, and this is agreed upon by all religious leaders in Yemen. We also condemned fighting authorities as this results in nothing but more complexity and foreign interference in the country.
Another issue is that seeking fairness in projects distribution among Yemeni citizens. The same issue was mentioned in the scholars’ statement declared in the scholars’ conference held in Sana’a last month and, upon which the path of the Salafi Al-Hekma and Al-Ehsan groups was very clear. The same problem was raised by Aden and Hadramout scholars and the so-called Separatists in the south. This doesn’t mean that we are for the separation; on the contrary, we are calling for unity seeking fairness for both southern and northern people equally. Also, bringing back people’s stolen rights, which were taken by the senior officials in the south and north, especially in Aden.
YP: What is your attitude towards the forthcoming elections, and would you, representing the Yamani Hikma Charitable Organization, participate in these elections?
AM: As I have already mentioned, I represent no one but myself, but regarding Salafis, and as far as I know, we are of many groups and different trends, this has resulted in a great conflict among themselves and therefore there are three different views concerning the elections.
The first view is the strictest and clearest which is completely rejecting the electoral participation saying, from a religious point of view, elections are forbidden.
For the second group, elections are neither forbidden nor useful.
The third is Salafi groups who on one hand curse the Islamist candidates who participate in the election, while on the other hand support non-Islamists. This in my opinion is surprising.
Having a number of different and contradictory points of views, I suggest that all Salafi groups hold a meeting during which this issue is discussed in order to reach a conclusive, unified and final decision.
YP: As we all you know, the recent war on Gaza drew people’s attention worldwide while giving sympathy with Gaza’s people that resulted in demonstrations against the Israeli attack on Gaza. These demonstrations were a reason for a fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) to come out by Saudi scholars confirming that these demonstrations are nothing but chaotic acts that bring back nothing. How do you evaluate this fatwa?
AM: For me, demonstrating is a means and not a goal, so what happened during some demonstrations of chaos and the damaging the peoples’ possessions makes it forbidden and a waste of time.
However, holding demonstrations to show anger and delivering a protesting message which are then accepted is acceptable in Islam.
Some people say that holding demonstrations is a Western habit, so that is why it’s forbidden. No, when it’s fruitful, useful and brings rights back to their owners it becomes a must.
YP: Specialists in the Islamic Movement groups said that, the Salafi groups’ attitude towards the Palestinian issue is very weak, or in other words, it is nearer to the weak Arab ruling regimes’ attitudes, what do you think?
AM: This is untrue, the Salafi attitude towards this issue is very clear and upon which all Islamic Movements have agreed.
It is true that there are some extremist Salafis who describe the Palestinian resistance to be a rebellion against the legal leader presented by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abass. Such Salafis always put the responsibility on the resistance movements. But it’s their own viewpoint, and it does not represent all Salafi groups. There are other Salafi groups who support the Palestinian issue by their speeches and collecting donations for the Palestinian people. For confirmation you can go to Al-Aqsa, Hamas and Al-Quds organizations and ask them about our support to them.
YP: The Salafi factions in Yemen are suffering a lot of dissimilarities and segmentations, which can’t be described as intellective diversity, but rather personal issues, what is your opinion on this?
AM: Arguments among the Salafi groups, are of intellective and scientific type but, and it’s due to not respecting the others opinions that we are separated and not together. However, these disagreements are near the end and will finish soon.
YP: Some say that the new Salafi factions in Yemen are following the same path as other hard-line Salafi movements like the one in Saudi Arabia. They say that Yemeni Salafi groups are not built on current intellective and scientific knowledge, but rather on prominent famous sheikhs from the past like Al-Shawkani, Ibn Al-Amir, Ibn Al-Wazir and Al-Maqbali?
AM:The Salafi groups in Yemen are a mixture of Yemeni and Saudi Salafism. As you know, a lot of Yemenis who live in Saudi return to Yemen adopting the thoughts they learned in Saudi Arabia.
Then, they educate and spread this Saudi sect’s viewpoints in Yemen, and which is sometimes against the Yemeni Salafist scholars.
Many Yemenis reject Saudi thoughts because they came from the Najd’s (Saudi) scholars, and if these thoughts were taken from Yemen’s scholars, and under different living situations.
Some Yemenis who studied in Saudi universities return to Yemen with such old thoughts which don’t serve the Salafi Dawa (Propagation).
YP: The Banning or in other words, “the Religious Veto” against political work by most Salafi groups, except some Salafi groups in Kuwait, Bahrain and recently, in Saudi Arabia. Why do you not participate in politics?
AM: I think that Salafis in those countries have more experience than Salafis in Yemen, and that is why they started participating in elections and politics in general. Salafis in Yemen need a long time to reach what others in Arabic countries have already achieved.
YP: Is it true that Salafis main idea on the ruler (president) is that people should not go against him, and those who do go against Islam?
AM: Some believe that going against the Muslim ruler is forbidden, even if he does wrong actions. Their view is that one should advise him when he goes wrong and nothing else. This practice was followed by many scholars.
However, there are others who believe that armed opposition against the ruler is important if you have the capacity, which means defeating the ruler, on condition that the ruler clearly declares going against Islam.
In the past, there were some scholars who clearly said that revolution against the disobedient ruler is an o