A fatwa is an Islamic religious
ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law; it is not necessarily
"binding" on the faithful. But it does carry weight.
On Friday night, Sheikh Yahya
Safi, while delivering a sermon, warned the faithful that “participating
in the festivals of non-Muslims is a kind of cooperation in the disobedience of
Allah” and one of the "falsehoods that a Muslim should avoid ... and
therefore, a Muslim is neither allowed to celebrate the Christmas Day nor is he
allowed to congratulate them (the infidels) ".
The Sheik is not a semi literate fanatic. He is an Islamic scholar with a higher degree in Sharia Law and the Imam of the largest mosque in Australia. His sermon was tailored to the audience and I see no evidence that anyone got up and left in disgust. One can deduce therefore, that the congregation did not find his utterings too offensive. There is some evidence, though, that some found the content of the sermon unwise; and the consequent public airing on Facebook of the fatwa, was deemed to be “irresponsible” by the Grand Mufti of Australia.
One should also point out
that the Sheik was not breaking new grounds in his interpretation of the Sharia
Laws: in 2009, In Egypt, Sheikh Yousuf
Al-Qaradawi, issued a fatwa forbidding Muslims to participate in Christmas
celebrations or mark the holiday in any way. “Such appearances are prohibited
by Islam,” he said. “Muslims participating in them are ignorant of Islamic
teachings in this regard.” Al-Qaradawi, is head of the European Council for
Fatwa and Research, president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars
(IUMS), and a spiritual guide for many Islamist organizations, including the
Muslim Brotherhood.
The Egyptian Christians saw this as part of the wider
problem of Muslim persecution of Christians in Egypt. The
Australian Christians will no doubt draw their own conclusions.
The reaction of the Australian Muslim community is just as
interesting and telling:
Samier Dandan, the head of the Lebanese Muslim
Association, which oversees the mosque, said the fatwa was unsanctioned. He blamed a junior employee for airing the fatwa; he
did not condemn the fatwa itself, merely the airing of it. And he refused to apologise. Nor did he suggest that the Sheik may be happier elsewhere.
''Removing the post was the right thing to do,'' Mr Trad, a spokesman for a section of the Australian Muslim community and a controversial figure in his own right, said. But was Mr. Trad referring to the removal of the fatwa from the Facebook or withdrawing the fatwa itself?
''Removing the post was the right thing to do,'' Mr Trad, a spokesman for a section of the Australian Muslim community and a controversial figure in his own right, said. But was Mr. Trad referring to the removal of the fatwa from the Facebook or withdrawing the fatwa itself?
The fallout from this fatwa will be considerable. It
may, perhaps, force our politicians to re-examine our immigration policies; it
could become a major obstacle in progressing interfaith relations and understanding; it will add to the antipathy that many Australians feel for Muslims. Finally, it
casts a shadow on multiculturalism in Australia.
Before signing off, I leave you with this thought: Sheik Yahya Safi came to this country in 1992. I assume
that he became an Australian citizen several years later. If that is the case,
instead of the Oath of Allegiance, he would have taken the Australian Citizenship Pledge. It reads:
From this time forward, under God,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I will uphold and obey.
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I will uphold and obey.
I wonder which part of the Pledge did the Sheik had in
mind when he was issuing the fatwa?
from DANI
ReplyDeletedad, i agree that the fatwa was ridiculous. but i bet that ultra-orthodox jews feel the same way about christmas that the imam clearly does. not to mention jehovah's witnesses, who won't even respond if you wish them merry christmas.
as for me, i was chatting with a veiled (i'm guessing malaysian or indonesian) checkout chick last week, then wished her merry christmas at the end, and she wished me likewise. afterwards, i thought, 'that was a fairly pointless exercise' but neither of us minded (which i guess is your point).
anyway, hope that all goyim reading this have a merry christmas, and that those of us who don't celebrate it also have a lovely day.
Your point is well taken, Dani. But surely the aspect that is galling is not that Christmas is not for the non-believers, but rather that those who believe should not be congratulated. And doing so is a sin. Yak. That is not what this is all about. Not in this country. I do not think I would have any trouble wishing someone well over the ramadan. Would you?
ReplyDeleteIt appears that, as further damage control, the Lebanese Muslim Association says it arranged a Christmas wish to be written in the sky over Lakemba mosque. No doubt that with the original fatwa some of the more fundamentalist amongst the Muslims are trying to prevent the younger generation from being assimilated into the prevailing Australian culture. I seem to remember that when we were young, some of our Jewish colleagues warned us against the dangers and horrors of assimilation. These days I think it is called “integration” and carries a more positive tone.
ReplyDeleteMuch of mainstream Australian society considers Xmas as little more than an opportunity to meet and overeat in the company of their extended families. As a cultural (vs religious) Jew, I find this fairly innocuous and commendable and not that different from the way some Jews celebrate many of the Jewish festivals and the Friday night dinner. I have to confess that I have been known to cook a “toykey” on the 25th and stuff myself (rather than the toykey) and drink to excess – so as not to miss out on the fun that everyone else seems to be having. Much of my family seems to be doing something similar. Does that makes us assimilated or merely integrated? Possibly both.
Leo G.
I suspect, Leo, it makes you an Australian who also happen to be a cultural Jew. My objection is to the use of the word "infidel" which does carry a pejorative connotation. I also object to the implication that respect for other religions could in any way form or shape, be sinful. And I am absolutely certain that this is the norm that most Australians adhere to.
ReplyDeleteI heard on the news today that in Tobruk Islamists have began blowing up mausoleums because they are not “Islamic”. Is this also part of their concern with integration and assimilation? Respect for the beliefs and culture of others has to be central in any multicultural society. I would have thought that this is axiomatic.