Sher Afzal Marwat asks Mufti Taqi Usmani to start Gaza Jihad from home

Former PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat has stirred controversy by openly challenging renowned Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani over his recent fatwa calling for jihad against Israel, urging the scholar to first act on his own advice.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad on Tuesday, Marwat questioned the practicality of Mufti Usmani's declaration, stating: “Mufti Taqi Usmani must begin jihad from his own home. He should sell his underused Mercedes and donate the money to the Palestinian cause.”

The remarks come days after Mufti Taqi Usmani, addressing the National Palestine Conference in Islamabad, declared that jihad in support of Palestine and Gaza had become obligatory (fard) for Muslim countries.

He lamented the lack of tangible action from the Muslim world and called for stronger support for Palestinian resistance fighters, beyond just issuing resolutions and holding conferences.

The former judge of the Federal Shariat Court, Mufti Usmani strongly condemned Israel’s brutal military operations in Gaza and urged a widespread boycott of Israeli and allied products as a peaceful means of protest. However, he balanced his call for action by asserting:

“Islam is a religion of balance. It is not a faith that promotes property damage or hurting others driven by uncontrolled emotions.”

Sher Afzal Marwat’s comments have since drawn mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting his call for individual accountability, while others have criticized it as disrespectful towards a highly revered scholar.

The heated exchange reflects broader debates within Pakistan about the role of religious guidance, practical political action, and solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.