Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Council on the 1995 Riyadh Bombings

All praise is due to Allāh alone and may He send prayers and peace upon the one after whom there will be no other prophet, Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.

The Permanent Council of the Senior Scholars of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have come to know of the bombings that occurred in the ‘Ulayyá neighborhood of the city of Riyadh the afternoon of Monday, 6/20/1416 Hijrah (November 15, 1995) in which innocent souls were massacred and people wounded because of the actions of others and due to which, those who once felt safe were terrorized and common pedestrians threatened.

For this, the Permanent Council holds this to be none other than a sinful act of transgression and an atrocious crime. It’s an act of treachery and treason, a public display of breaching that which is considered sacred by religion such as people’s lives, religion, wealth, their safety and security. No one but a wicked person could do such an act, someone full of envy, disloyalty, jealousy, oppression and enmity, and the hatred of life and well-being. Muslims have never differed with regards to the forbiddance of such an act, its hideousness, and the great sin acquired thereby. The verses of the Quran and ḥadīth (statements of prophet Muhammad صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) regarding the forbiddance of these kinds of crimes are well-known.

In establishing the prohibition of this crime, the Permanent Council warns everyone against these evil tendencies, against aligning themselves with those of this ideology and corruptive belief and this destructive cause. If a soul inclined to evil takes this matter lightly, then someone could possibly convince them that an act like this is justified, thus leading him to the methodology of destruction and killing. In this way, the envious people find an entrance to spread their objectives and desires that they try to beautify within people’s hearts. It’s an obligation on anyone and everyone who knows anything about these corruptors that they report it to the appropriate authorities. Allāh (تعالى) has warned in His revelation of wisdom (the Quran) against the callers to evil and those who spread corruption on earth… He said:

﴿وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِي قَلْبِهِ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ الْحَرْثَ وَالنَّسْلَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَسَادَ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ الْعِزَّةُ بِالْإِثْمِ ۚ فَحَسْبُهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ﴾

And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you in this worldly life, and he calls Allāh to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet he is really the most harshest opponent. And when he turns away, his effort in the land is to spread corruption and destroy crops and cattle, and Allāh does not like corruption. And when it is said to him, “Fear Allāh,” he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. So sufficient for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.

[Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:204-206]

We ask Allāh by His perfect names and exalted characteristics that He discloses and exposes those who attack the sanctity of people’s safety, and that He protects us and all Muslims from their harm, and that He safeguards these lands and all Muslim lands from every evil plot. We ask Him to guide our leader and all the leaders of the Muslims to that which establishes well-being of the servants and their lands. Certainly, He is the best One to ask.

May He send prayers and peace upon our prophet, Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.^[1]