|
Fatwa: Obey your country's laws, Iraqi cleric urges Muslims
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Fir3start3r |
THIS fellas is the kind of answer I was looking for.
It directly addresses the 'concerns' I had earlier.
Apparently they weren't offended by their host country's concerns...
(What I mean by that is that the Muslim religion is not indigenous to Canada's culture; argue what you will but you know it's true).
| quote: |
C B C . C A N e w s - F u l l S t o r y :
Obey your country's laws, Iraqi cleric urges Muslims
Last Updated Wed, 14 Jun 2006 22:40:03 EDT
CBC News
Iraq's top Shia cleric sent a message Wednesday to Muslims in Western nations, urging them to obey the laws of the countries in which they live.
Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress. CBC
The fatwa, a non-binding directive, was delivered at a Montreal news conference of prominent Shia Muslims on behalf of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
"Muslims have undertaken to obey the laws of the country of their residence and thus they must be faithful to that undertaking," the statement read.
It condemned all acts of violence and encouraged imams to keep a watchful eye on what's going on inside their mosques.
A fatwa is a legal opinion or ruling issued by an Islamic scholar.
Muslims are not bound to obey it, but many will if they are comfortable with its content, said freelance journalist Zuhair Kashmeri.
The fatwa was drafted in response to the arrests earlier this month of 17 people connected to a bomb plot investigation in southern Ontario. Police allege some of the suspects were inspired by al-Qaeda and its attacks on Western targets.
Jamal Badawi, an Islamic scholar at St. Mary's University, said a number of similar fatwas have been issued in recent years.
"It's nothing new, but I'm very glad it attracted the attention of the media," Badawi said. "Muslims have been speaking loud enough, but no one's listening."
Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress, said it's encouraging that clerics would promote obedience to the rule of law, but disappointing that the message needs to come through a fatwa.
"It's so medieval to be thinking … religious dictates should govern how we live our lives," said Fatah.
He said he doesn't doubt the group's sincerity, but that Canadian Muslims shouldn't be governed from overseas.
"He should not be telling me how to behave," said Fatah, who said al-Sistani has issued earlier fatwas saying gays and lesbians should be killed.
|
>>Source<<
Good. 
I know fayraree had mentioned in another post that Tarek Fatah, "...is not a very well-respected representative of the majority Sunni Muslim community." but it appears he is only the messenger in this instance.
I'm interested in what fayraree and shaolin_Z think of this Fatwa.
Do you figure it will it have any effect? Do Muslims follow Fatwa's that seriously?
Or is it much like the Catholic church denoucing contraception but Catholics continuing with it anyways?
I only ask because obviously, I don't know.
(I couldn't think of another analogy...it's late and I'm tired...) :p |
|
|
| shaolin_Z |
| quote: | Originally posted by Fir3start3r
THIS fellas is the kind of answer I was looking for.
It directly addresses the 'concerns' I had earlier. |
(Simple question here, don't worry, I'm not assuming anything here)
What concerns would those be exactly?
| quote: | Originally posted by Fir3start3r
Good.
I know fayraree had mentioned in another post that Tarek Fatah, "...is not a very well-respected representative of the majority Sunni Muslim community." but it appears he is only the messenger in this instance. |
Well, firstly, my mother's Sunni and my dad's Shia, and I frankly don't care much for identifying or being loyal to any particular sect as I view it as negative division. I guess it's kind of analagous to being a non-denominational Christian.
| quote: | Originally posted by Fir3start3r
I'm interested in what fayraree and shaolin_Z think of this Fatwa.
Do you figure it will it have any effect? Do Muslims follow Fatwa's that seriously?
|
Well, his fatwa "Obey your country laws," isn't anything new really. Respecting and obeying your country's laws, as a Muslim in a non-Muslim society, is part of the religious teachings and tradition. So this dude didn't exatly tell Muslims something they don't already know, and most of them don't already practice.
I don't know, did that help answer whatever question you had? |
|
|
| qussay |
| quote: | Originally posted by shaolin_Z
Well, his fatwa "Obey your country laws," isn't anything new really. Respecting and obeying your country's laws, as a Muslim in a non-Muslim society, is part of the religious teachings and tradition. So this dude didn't exatly tell Muslims something they don't already know, and most of them don't already practice.
|
^
exactly !
this fatwa especially is not new , and is very clear in islam . goes along with the overall good manners and behaviour ; which is what islam is all about . |
|
|
| Marc Summers |
This is just what the country needs! (No sarcasm)
A religious figure that is highly respected, telling the people to obey the laws. Amazing, and I hope it works. :) |
|
|
| Fir3start3r |
| quote: | Originally posted by shaolin_Z
(Simple question here, don't worry, I'm not assuming anything here)
What concerns would those be exactly?
|
Sorry for getting back to you on this so late.
Basically, the same concerns I've been yabbering about in all my others posts of the same subject; that (at least the Canadian) Muslim community be a little more vocal with their intentions in light of the recent arrests here. It's the same a lot of other people are or at least were, asking.
While they may have been issuing statements in the past, those messages obviously weren't reaching the eyes and ears of their neighbors; and it's not their neighbors fault for coming up with half-baked conclusions if the message(s) never reached them to begin with.
The media finally got it right this time!
They (the media) obviously realize the seriousness of this situation with their recent actions of putting this Fatwa on the front page to quell the fear, doubt and mystery of our Muslim friends.
I'm happy for all sides because of this. :)
| quote: |
Well, firstly, my mother's Sunni and my dad's Shia, and I frankly don't care much for identifying or being loyal to any particular sect as I view it as negative division. I guess it's kind of analagous to being a non-denominational Christian.
Well, his fatwa "Obey your country laws," isn't anything new really. Respecting and obeying your country's laws, as a Muslim in a non-Muslim society, is part of the religious teachings and tradition. So this dude didn't exatly tell Muslims something they don't already know, and most of them don't already practice.
I don't know, did that help answer whatever question you had? |
Yea, I figured it was more a media show and a show of solidarity (that was needed) than anything else and that it wasn't anything new to any of the moderate Muslim community.
But it was still nice to see.
So thanks for the feedback. :cool: |
|
|
| shaolin_Z |
Fir3start3r, I'm posting this here just for you. ;)
| quote: |
Muslim leaders condemn terrorism
Islamic leaders across Birmingham have issued a joint message against terrorism in a bid to tackle mistrust of Muslims in the UK.
Leaders of the 150 mosques in the city have backed the statement, which comes in response to the police raid in London's Forest Gate this month.
The religious edict makes clear the killing of innocent victims is against the principles of Islam.
It has been welcomed by the chief constable of the West Midlands.
The message is thought to be the first joint statement made by Muslim scholars in the UK against terrorism.
Activities regulated
It states: "That killing of innocent civilians is absolutely forbidden in Islam and anyone who contemplates or commits any such act, does so against the teachings of Islam."
The statement adds action has been taken to regulate the activities of every mosque to ensure worshippers are given a message of "calmness and civic responsibility".
It said the action of the UK Government in Iraq had caused anger in the Muslim community but there is a "resolve to guide the Muslim response in accordance with good citizenship".
Dr Muhammad Naseem, chairman of the Birmingham Central Mosque, said: "There is a perception that Muslims are a source of terrorism.
"Although individuals have made statements against terrorism people still say Muslims aren't denouncing terrorism."
'Positive announcement'
Terrorism is against the teachings of Islam, Dr Naseem explained, saying he was making the leaders' position clear.
"We hope this will improve the understanding between religious communities in the city," he added.
West Midlands chief constable Paul Scott-Lee said: "I am delighted by this positive announcement from our local mosques and fully support what is an important statement for all our communities."
It is planned that similar anti-violence messages from Muslim leaders across other UK cities will be issued as part of the initiative.
|
Source: BBC |
|
|
| Fir3start3r |
| quote: | Originally posted by shaolin_Z
Fir3start3r, I'm posting this here just for you. ;)
Source: BBC |
Coolio.
What they have to say, can't be said enough unfortunately but it's good to see none the less. :) |
|
|
| George Smiley |
| quote: | Originally posted by Fir3start3r
Coolio.
What they have to say, can't be said enough unfortunately but it's good to see none the less. :) |
It's said plently enough all the time... |
|
|
|
|
