Dr Qadri runs the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement based in Lahore but also has many British followers. He follows the moderate sufi form of Islam and has campaigned for greater religious tolerance.

But his ruling is unprecedented in this country in its widespread condemnation of terrorism and, it is thought, could have an affect on those on the fringes of extremism.

Dr Qadri told a press conference there were no "ifs or buts" about terrorism and called on Islamic leaders to convey the message that acts of terrorism cut people off as true followers of Islam.

"They can't claim that their suicide bombings are martyrdom operations and that they become the heroes of the Muslim ummah (nation), no, they become heroes of hellfire, and they are leading towards hellfire," he said.

"There is no place for any martyrdom and their act is never, ever to be considered jihad (holy war)," he said.

He said Islam was a religion of peace that promotes beauty, "betterment", goodness and "negates all form of mischief and strife".

"Good intentions cannot convert a wrong into good, they cannot convert an evil into good," he added.

"Terrorism is terrorism, violence is violence and it has no place in Islamic teaching and no justification can be provided for it, or any kind of excuses or ifs or buts."

Shahid Mursaleen, spokesman for Minhaj-ul-Quran UK, said: "He has hit hard on the terrorists as it prevents Islamists from considering suicide bombers as 'martyrs'. This fatwa injects doubt into the minds of potential suicide bombers.