Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, one of the country’s most influential Shiite clerics, has issued a fatwa declaring US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “enemies of God.” The powerful statement comes amid escalating tensions following a deadly military conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
The Ayatollah’s decree, reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency, calls on Muslims worldwide to unite and take action against both leaders, accusing them of threatening the Islamic Republic’s top leadership.
Iran’s Top Cleric’s Fatwa
In the religious ruling, Makarem stated: “Any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja (May God forbid) is considered a ‘warlord’ or a ‘mohareb’.”
Under Iranian Islamic law, a mohareb is someone seen as waging war against God. The legal consequences for such individuals can be severe, ranging from execution and crucifixion to exile or limb amputation, according to Iranian penal codes and cited in a Fox News report.
The fatwa further declared, “Any cooperation or support for that enemy by Muslims or Islamic states is haram or forbidden. It is necessary for all Muslims around the world to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes.”
Makarem also assured that those who face suffering or hardship in confronting these “enemies” would be “rewarded as a fighter in the way of God, God willing.”
The religious decree follows an intense 12-day conflict that began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes targeting Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israeli cities. The violence escalated further when the US joined Israeli forces to attack three Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Iran to launch missile strikes on a US military base in Qatar.
What Is Fatwa?
A fatwa is a formal interpretation of Islamic law issued by a Marja, a high-ranking Shia cleric. Though not legally binding in all Islamic states, a fatwa carries immense religious and political weight within Shia communities, and often acts as a directive to both Muslim governments and individuals to comply with its teachings.
