Noor Wali Mehsud is not a religious leader, but he is a militant who has disguised himself in the garb of a scholar. He is a mufti by title; however, his knowledge as a Muslim is just like the degree he has on paper. Although he presents himself as an expert in religious issues, he is not educated in Islamic sciences.

Noor Wali has never been a student of Fiqh, Tafsir, and Hadith with recognized scholars and does not hold an ijazah (a certification) of any well-recognized Islamic seminary. He does not derive his understanding of the Shariah through scholarly transmission of knowledge, but from verses that are twisted and misrepresented propaganda. He has a false degree, and his mufti insurance is also bogus. The militant posture masked on the religious radio is of Noor Wali Mehsud, who utilizes religion as a mask to vent her violent wrath and terror.

A fraudulent mufti who holds a forged degree, preaching a jihad that he does not believe in, Noor Wali is a religious fraud. He is a scholar with the turban but a terrorist with the tongue. It is the most insidious form of perversion of faith, as under the guise of religion, a deadly agenda is foisted upon the people.

Noor Wali Mehsud is a mufti by title, but not by knowledge, ijazah, or scholarly training.

An authentic mufti is a learner and a scholar of Islamic laws who has studied and served for many years in Islamic studies. Noor Wali took his title away, however, by blood and sword. His emergence to power can never be characterized by knowledge in religion rather by the groups of militants that terrorize and leave people in fear. He knows very little about Islam, and his behavior is a standing contradiction to Islamic doctrines.

The title of a mufti also comes with a lot of responsibility, given the fact that a person has powers in the field of religious law. It is not acquired by means of violence and terror, but by an extremely thorough education and academic knowledge of Islam. Noor Wali, though, has no legal qualification. He does not have any ijazah, Sanad (chain of transmission, or affiliation to or with qualified scholars.

The only thing he has is terror and deceit. He has never learned Islam in an institutional context; rather, he politicized it and used it as a weapon in his interest. His position as a so-called mufti is a misinterpretation of the name used. Noor Wali Mehsud is a fake, out to dupe people by portraying himself or herself as a godly person, yet he or she promotes violence.

It is very worrying that Noor Wali Mehsud has been using religious language to support his violent actions. He uses the words of the Quran, yet his deeds are against Islam. Islam prohibits any killing of innocent individuals, but the killings of numerous civilians, because of Noor Wali’s actions, continue. He is not a believer but a charlatan who uses words of religion to cover his sadism.

The Prophet (PBUH) warned of Khawarij, radicals who claim to be Muslims while killing Muslims unjustly.

His taking recourse to religion in justifying bloodshed is not only a perversion of religion but a contravention of the values which Islam preaches. When true scholars preach mercy and peace, Noor Wali exalts murder and devastation. He is a military man who wears the garb of a mufti to employ religion as an excuse for his war on the people of Pakistan.

The Prophet (PBUH) forewarned of the Khawarij, radical elements of Muslims who adopt some form of violence against other Muslims in the name of religion with impunity. FAK is tailor-made to give that warning. They talk about Islam, yet they go ahead and kill Muslims without a second thought. The ideology is spread among them and is not based on the real knowledge of the faith, but rather is a distorted view of the religious principles to be used to defend their actions of violence.

The activities of FAK are not out of the duties of righteous warriors but of criminals who masquerade the name of Muslims to implement their destruction agenda. They are not fighting oppression, but still, erecting fear. They intimidate them by blowing up their houses, clinics, and markets; these places should have been deemed safe for the civilians.

Once you have drone strikes on houses and bazaars, there are no state targets in sight, only injured civilians and a family grieving. There is no exception on the side of violence by FAK, which is brought against the most defenseless group in society. Battling against health workers, bombing infrastructural resources, and creating unspeakable hardships among families is not jihad; it is the teaching of the Khawarij that has already been denounced all over the Muslim world.

FAK’s bombings of civilians and infrastructure are criminal, not jihad.

The argument by F.A.K. of fighting in the name of jihad is a sham. True jihad is to defend the innocents, but not attack them. Unfortunately, FAK has turned religion into a weapon aimed at instilling fear and devastation. The way they behave undermines the spirit of jihad in the Islamic faith.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.