Shedding more light on the Islamic Charity Projects Association many of it's members are titled as Al-Ahbash: an introspective view

During the last few weeks, the Islamic Charitable Projects Association, (ICPA) also known as Al-Ahbash, received a good deal of media attention in light of the recent UN report concerning the ongoing investigation of the assassination of late Primer Minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri. According to the Mehlis report, two members of this group, Al-Ahbash, had intriguing contacts with some suspects. That led to their group being placed under the Spotlight. Now, with the return of Detlev Mehlis to the Middle East, it will be crucial to clarify important aspects in regards to this group, which has branches here in the Australia, and has the potential role in helping the international community in fighting and winning the war against extremism.

Some Lebanese members of ICPA migrated to Australia and other parts of the world during the notorious Lebanese civil war (1975-1990). Wherever they set foot and whenever able, these individuals, with the limited resources they had, established organizations or associations similar to their venerated Association back home.

In Australia the Association was chartered in 1990 as a non-profit organization to provide charitable services as platform for our harmonious multiculturalism.

Since its inception in Lebanon, more than twenty five years ago, the Association had no thread of financial or ideological link with any government or agency. Its sole revenue has been the donations of its students and the benevolent contributions of its supporters.

The newly formed organizations, under the doctrine of their spiritual leader who resides in Lebanon, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Harari maintained a similar independent financial philosophy. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Harari, commonly known as Al- Habashi (hence, his followers named as al-Ahbash) continually provided scholarly Islamic guidance. Their efforts in collaboration with other centers around the worlds and in Australia were based on strong convictions that extremism need to be confronted wherever it is.

There is a firm belief among the members of the Association that their spiritual leader, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Harari, has not innovated a new school of thought, nor has he called for an aggressive and oppressive ideology such as those stemming from Sayyed Qutub (original spiritual leader of the group known as Muslim Brotherhood Known as JI) or from Wahhabism and its offshoot Alqaida.

The Association's creed is that of the majority of Muslims; the creed of hundreds of millions of Sunni Muslims, that of well-established scholars of jurisprudence, specifically the Ashaaris and Shaafiis.

The most central objective of the Association is to spread the correct knowledge of Islam, as supported with clear evidence, to all those interested in learning about Islam. The Association aspires to instill the virtues of Islam in Muslims, and to protect communities from extremist and violent ideologies.

The ICPA centers throughout the world are solid proofs of that agenda. Expectedly, among the resounding teachings of Sheikh Abdullah is to deem islamically unlawful any act of terror leading to the death of innocents, including assassinations of political figures. This assertion can be found in numerous publications of the Association. This approach and vision had put the Association on a collision course with numerous extremist groups that culminated in the assassination of its Chairman, Sheikh Nizar Al-Halabi, in August 1995 at the hands of extremists.

In line with the teachings and policies of the Association, no member sought vendetta. Rather members showed restraint and cooperated with the investigation that lead to the arrest of the assassins (who were later executed for their crime after late Prime Minister Hariri himself signed off the order of execution). Moreover, the response of the dedicated members was to continue to build institutions rather than to emulate the extremists in their cowardly and heinous acts.

Even during those dismal moments and dire circumstances, the Association was successful in distancing itself from acts of violence, therefore preserving its members’ well being and beliefs. At no time, anywhere in the world has an ICPA member ever been involved in any terrorist actions.

There should not be a slight doubt that the approach and role taken by the Association has been valuable in thwarting the dangers of extremism in many communities and should be replicated in extremists’ hotbeds. There is a continuing call to moderate Muslims to be more proactive in stifling known violent ideologies.

However, unfortunately those words have not been followed by actions to empower the voice of moderation. Currently, there is a fierce global battle on the ground to contain terrorism, but sadly it seems every time a fire is extinguished, two or more are starting somewhere else. Consequently, the war on extremism is incomplete and doubtful to be won without an ideological approach similar to that of the Association.

The Association affirms its denouncement of the assassination. Again, carrying out such a terrible act has always been contrary to the methodology and practices of the Association. From a purely religious standpoint, the assassination was contradictory to the teachings of Islam that the Association espouses. It is unfortunate that the same groups the Association tries tenaciously to discredit have derived from the recent report grounds for fabrications and direct accusations against the Association, based on speculative actions of one or two of its members.

These campaigns in reality are geared to undermine the concept of moderation and eliminate organizations such as the Association to give extremists more room to breathe, grow, and wreak havoc in Muslim and non-Muslim communities. This is being done because the Association has drained the recruitment pools of the extremists, agitated them, and exposed them through solid religious proofs, steadfastness of its leaders, awareness of its base, and truthfulness and loyalty of its supporters.

Although the Association adopts and welcomes those who appear genuine in their motivation to join the lifelong ideological struggle against extremism, it must be made crystal clear that the Association does not condone any act deemed to be unlawful, let alone unjust murder, and will never follow or support such a path. Therefore, the Association earnestly wishes for the investigation to continue, the full truth to emerge, and the due punishment to be enforced on the perpetrators.

Media Board

ICPA