Jordanian Sheikh: "There's No Permit to Kill Jews Just Because They Are Jewish"

In a viral discussion that surfaced recently among Muslim users online, Jordanian Sheikh Ali Al-Halabi (considered one of the leading Salafi sheikhs) was asked whether it is permissible to kill Jews. He responded with the following: "The Jews provide you with electricity and water, and you work for them. They support you and you want to kill them? It is forbidden."

"It is only allowable to kill Jews if a heated confrontation develops face-to-face, and if war is declared. But any other way is treacherous. If you and the Jew get along with each other, there's no justification to kill a Jew just because he is Jewish. We must separate emotion and feelings from reason, legal ruling, and actions," the sheikh said. 

Later, another user asked if it was permissible to kill Israeli soldiers carrying weapons or provoke them, but the sheikh's answer was unequivocal: "It's the same answer. Is the soldier carrying a weapon responsible for the deaths of other Muslims? No. I haven't lived in Palestine, but our brothers in Palestine say that the Jews do not attack them without reason. I'm not saying we need to protect the wicked Jews, but there shouldn't be a situation where everyone does as they see fit."

It goes without saying that the sheikh's words caused great anger among Muslim users, many of whom did not hold back on derogatory words and slanders against him.