DUBLIN, Ireland, February 28, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Wrapping up its 14th session, The European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) called on Muslims living in the West to avoid violence in all its forms and aspects.

At the conclusion of their half-annual meeting, held in Dublin February 23-27, Muslim scholars made several important recommendations, mostly directed to the Muslim minorities in the West.

“Muslims in the West should shun all forms and aspects of violence including domestic violence inside the family that should be established on love, affection, respect and mercy,” said the ECFR.

The Council assured that in Islam, the family is the cornerstone of the society, adding Islam gives special attention to its solidarity and strength in pursuit of establishing a well-prepared society.

It also stressed the importance of marriage which should be the only means for having sex between man and woman as all aspects of having intimate relation outside marriage are absolutely prohibited in Islam.

The Council also recommended that Muslims in general and those constituting a minority in the West adhere to Allah’s religion and brotherhood, tolerance, moderation, cooperation in matters of benevolence and righteousness, and adopting quiet dialogue and sound methods to solve controversial problems away from strictness and extremism that would distort the image of Islam and badly harm Muslims in general and Muslim minorities in particular.

The Council also recommended Muslims living in the West to, "Observe all their rights and reflect a good image and a benevolent example.

"Be creative and inventive and encourage that on all levels. To do their best to bring up the new Muslim generation – boys and girls- in a contemporary Muslim way via opining schools and educational and recreational centers to protect them against deviation.

"To work hard to establish firms and financial institutions that do not get involved in illegal transactions. To work hard to form legal (Shari'ah) committees to regulate their family affairs according to the Shari'ah and in conformity with the laws of the country where they live.

"To work hard to attain the recognition of their states of Islam as a religion and of Muslims as a religious minority like the other minorities in respect of enjoying their complete rights and organizing their personal affairs, such as marriage and divorce according to the tenets of their religion."

The Council also called on Muslims to facilitate marriage in order to protect Muslim youth against deviation or what is called “Friend Marriage”.

The ECFR’s meeting was attended by tens of Muslim scholars from all over the world along with guests and media figures of different nationalities.

“This session of the Council was dedicated to complete addressing the last session’s topic on the affairs of the Muslim family in the West since these are very important and have a profound impact on preserving the Muslim identity, children’s upbringing and the balanced integration,” said Sheikh Hussein Halawa, ECFR Secretary General.

As regards the hotly debated issue on wife-beating in Islam, the Council recommended Muslim minorities in the West to follow in the footsteps of the practical Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) who never beat any of his wives.

Muslims should follow the Prophet’s example in dealing with his family and at home. The family should play its role in enhancing the welfare and prosperity of the society, Sheikh Halawa added.

He went on saying that participants discussed a number of studies including a research on “Domestic violence and the solution” by Dr. Ali Al-Qura Daghi, “Marrying a woman from the People of the Book” by Sheikh Mustafa Mula Auglu, “Means of prevention of divorce” by Dr. Ali Al-Qura Daghi, “The Shari'ah Way of Counting the Obligatory Maintenance After Divorce” by Dr. Abd As-Sattar Abu Ghuddah.

Also, a number of resolutions were passed regarding the researches discussed in the session and numerous questions coming from different European countries were answered during the concluding session,” Sheikh Halawa said.

Sheikh Qaradawi, the head of ECFR, had highlighted the issues of integration and moderation during the opening session February 23.