'Fatwa Activism' versus 'Educational Activism'
Submitted by Lennard James on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 07:25
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PDF versionThis article comes to us from Pakistan and we thought we should share the comments along with the actual article so our readers will understand fully the background of the article.
The editors
FFI editors,
Yes, I have translated this article from seraiki language which is one of the spoken languages in Pakistan which we publish fortnightly. We are just small time writers unknown in the Lands of the Linguists! We have had tough times here to face great adversaries/jails/hardships and even death threats. As FFI has given us awareness and helped us in breaking the bonds of religion. We have people from different walks of life who collectively (privately) hold seminars, discussions and even speak at conventions if we are invited.
At this moment here in Pakistan, since the media has taken a hold and is widely watched through out Pakistan -satellite channels have given people awareness about women's rights. We find many of the women here are standing up and fighting for their rights to live honourably. There are countless stories published everyday in the newspaper and on television channels here.
We request FFIeditors to give us the opportunity and publish our articles in FFI. As we believe the Voice of Suppression is much Louder than Words could express!
We hope in anticipation to be given a place and also to be shoulder to carry the flags of Truth...
'Fatwa Activism' versus 'Educational Activism' By: Lennard James There is much talk these days about different kinds of activism. One hears of political activism, social activism, community activism, media activism, judicial activism and so on. A section of Muslim religious leaders have launched a new form of activism of their own -which could be called 'fatwa activism'. The Muslims think that by issuing a flurry of fatwas they can reform a Muslim society or even the infidel world which Allah has deemed via Mohammed to rid the world of unbelievers! So, when one hears of scores of fatwas against un-Islamic dress, fatwas against women being present at certain religious places, fatwas calling for the killing of people accused of traducing the Prophet, fatwas demanding the banning of books by controversial authors, fatwas declaring some persons as apostates and insisting on their social boycott, fatwas announcing television or other things to be haram or impermissible, fatwas declaring banking to be un-Islamic and so on and on and on... Fatwas of this sort have been issued in their thousands in recent years, but almost all of them have proved to be practically without any impact other than the liberation of the Muslin Ummah from the occupation of Infidel governments or their plans. They have not been able to produce the changes that they intended to do. In the modern period I know of just one instance where a Mufti refused to give a fatwa despite being asked to do so. I am of the opinion that this approach is the right one. This instance concerns a noted Indian Islamic scholar, Maulana Abdul Haq Haqqani, who died in 1831. He was the author of a commentary on the Quran. In this period, the British had replaced gold and silver coins with paper money. This new form of money appeared to be unacceptable according to the rules of traditional fiqh or Muslim jurisprudence. The Maulana was asked to issue a fatwa on the matter to judgement whether this was Islamically acceptable or not? However, he declined to give the fatwa, and simply said, 'My fatwa [in this regard] won't work. Instead, the paper money will.' In such matters, this is the correct Islamic approach to take. The literal meaning of the word fatwa is 'opinion'. A fatwa can take two forms. The first is in the form of a question asked to a Mufti/Maulana by a person with a regard to a matter directly concerning himself or herself with the intention of gaining guidance thereby. For instance, a sportswoman asks a Mufti what he feels is an Islamically legitimate sports-dress for her. It is proper and appropriate for the Mufti/Maulana to give a fatwa in response to this form of request. The second way of eliciting a fatwa relates to a particular social evil in the wider society regarding which an individual approaches a Mufti for a fatwa on his/her own will. It is not proper for the Mufti to give a fatwa in response to these sorts of questions. If he does so, the fatwa is unlikely to have any positive role or an influence in correcting the social ills that it seeks to address. Instead, it can turn out to be a cause for giving Islam a bad name. This has happened in numerous cases. To paraphrase the words of Maulana Abdul Haq Haqqani whom I referred to earlier, such fatwas did not work and the social ills they sought to combat remained as before. Thus, scores of fatwas have been delivered on a variety of social ills, against biddat or wrongful innovations in religion, against polytheistic customs, against dowry, against television and cinema, against loudspeakers in mosques, against interest on bank deposits, against men shaving off their beards, against wearing Western clothes, against English education and so on. But, needless to say, all these fatwas proved to be of little or no effect. According to what I have studied so far, only a person who has a question relating directly to himself or herself should approach a Mufti/Maulana for a fatwa. If a Mufti/Maulana should issue a fatwas only in such cases. A fatwa must not be asked or issued when the matter does not directly concern the person who requests it. For instance, if a person approaches a Mufti/Maulana asking him if it is permissible to say prayers behind an Imam of a particular mosque whose beard is short, it is not right for the Mufti to issue a fatwa in this regard. To do so it might as well cause strife and conflict (fitnah). The question then arises of what the proper Islamic method of social reform is. This method is one of persuasion and guidance, through writings and lectures, and not through delivering condemnatory fatwas. People should be addressed in such a way that the advice given to them impresses itself in their hearts, and they then recognize and act on that advice on their own. In today's terms, this could be termed as 'educational activism'. Islam's approach to solving social ills is through this sort of educational activism, rather than 'fatwa activism'. A guiding principle in this matter is to be found in a narration which is contained in the Sahih al-Bukhari. According to this narration, Hazrat Ayesha said that the Quranic verses that were revealed in the initial stages of Islam dealt with the issue of heaven and hell so that in this way people's hearts would be softened enough to receive the Islamic message. Then, gradually, after people had developed adequate capacity to accept Divine laws, the Quranic commandments prohibiting adultery and the consumption of alcohol were revealed. Had these commandments been revealed in the initial stages of Islam people may not have accepted them, and, instead, might have refused to give up adultery and consuming alcohol. From this instance one can understand that general social reform cannot happen through delivering fatwas against social ills. Rather, for this sort of work people's capacity and willingness to accept and act on divine guidance must first be developed. Only after this can any religious laws be enforced. To issue orders, in the form of fartwas, in the absence of developing people's capacity to accept religious guidance is no solution at all. Often, it is not ignorance of religious rulings that causes social ills. Rather, the basic cause is the lack of the appropriate spirit among people. This is why social reform cannot begin with the issuing of fatwas. Rather, it has to begin with seeking to inculcate and promote the right spirit among people, and to ignite their consciousness and their capacity and willingness to abide by the teachings of their faiths. Only after this work has been sufficiently done, one should issue and should be explained to the people using the language of the religious laws. Without developing this inner spirit among people, seeking to cure their social ills by issuing fatwas from without would be of no use! This is like putting the cart before the horse. The only criterion for judging a 'fatwa activism', or, for that matter, any other form of activism, is its efficacy in producing the required results. Only those methods of activism are worthwhile that actually succeed in achieving their goals. Action must always be result-oriented. The present-forms of 'fatwa activism' must be seen and evaluated in the light of this basic principle and be fooled by the Mufti/Iman/Maulana into believing that what he is saying is the right judgment. This is a translation of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan's essay titled Fatwa Activism Ya Educational Activism in his book Islam Aur Intihapasandi ('Islam and Extremism') (Positive Thinkers Forum, Bangalore, n.d., pp. 14-17)
Nice site. There
Nice site. There
Feels really good to see
Feels really good to see Pakistanis coming forward to get their articles published in FFI. Its good to see sane voices coming out of Pakistan which is a country overtaken by Mullahs and their cronies the Taliban.
The Seirakies are one of those etchinc minorities which have been subdued by the Punjabi admistration just like they have done with the Baloch and Sindhis.
I do hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel and people in Pakistan will realise the poison that Islam has filled their minds with is counterproductive.
Today Pakistanis are as much at a risk of being hit by the Mullah-Jihadi combine as ae we Indians.
It is also time for the Pakistanis to realise that healthy relations with India are in their favour. Depending on Gulf nations is not really going to help. Its upto the people of Pakistan to decide as to what they wish for the comming generations. As of now India Pakistan relations have hit a new low, and the situation could precipitate into a full blown war which is not in the favour of either of the nations. Both stand to loose in case of a full blown conflict.
While India will loose some of its millitary and finacial might, Pakistan will be cease to exist as an entity in case of a war. Its much better that we learn to live in peace with each other, and I am not proposing a mereger of the two nations as neither indias nor pakistanis want that to happen, atleast not in our lifetimes.
At best we could live as friendly neigbours and Pakistan could benifit from India'a expertise in the IT, Telecom, Civil Aviation and other sectors.
Even today Pakistanis import Maruti 800's from Dubai, which cost them a hell lot of money than if they would start importing directly from India. The costs would be cut by half and the Gulf people would not need to be uneccesarily be benifited by being middle men who themselves are good for nothing.
I hope we get to see this reconciation in our lifetimes.
Bible says, women are wicked,
Bible says, women are wicked, dog, and sinner:
"Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman." (Eccles. 25:13)
"Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die." (Eccles. 25:22)
"Women are the source of sin and death. If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go." (Eccles. 25:26)
"The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids. If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty." (Eccles. 26:9-10)
"A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord." (Eccles. 26:25)
"For from garments cometh a moth, and from women wickedness. Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach." (Eccles. 42:13-14)
Bible says, wives should
Bible says, wives should submit to their husbands as they submit unto the Lord:
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22)
Bible says, Eve was deceived, and not Adam:
"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:14)
"And the man (Adam) said, the woman (Eve) whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, what is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:12-15)
Bible says, women must keep
Bible says, women must keep silent in Churches. It's shameful for them to open their mouths therein. They should learn in silence from their husbands with all subjugation. They should not teach, and they are not permitted to have authority over men:
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." (1 Timothy 2:11-12)
A-MIN I am trying to figure
A-MIN
I am trying to figure out what exactly you are teying to acheive here by posting these Biblical verses. I mean you are not an atheist, nor an agnostic nor do you belong to a religion which believes in peaceful co-existance. So what exactly are you trying to prove.
I mean most of us here in the Forum, atleast the educated ones (some high school drop outs have also joined us recently) are aware of the the absurdities in the Bible. But then again how do you justify the absurdities and the hateful verses in the Qur'an by posting these Biblical verses. Or are you trying to say that " Look we are not theonly ones who are stupid, there are others as well, they just cover up their stupidities and we dont."
Well of course we have to give credit to the Muslims for not being pretentious and hippocritical while they explain or understand their religion, like people who follow other faiths which are similar in their religious undertones.
However this does not exonarate Islam from being a hateful cult. It is one and it will always be one, amogst other such cults. They only differ in their intesities, hateful they all are.
A-MIM This article is about
A-MIM
This article is about guiding principles and dimentions of fatwa. Do you or do you not have anything to say on the subject?
What kind of irrelevant copy/paste postings are you doing?
Ibrahim, AMIN has entered the
Ibrahim,
AMIN has entered the second stage of purification process which is a good thing. Instead of denying wrong things, he is now trying to justify the same by pointing to similar issues with other religions. Let him console himself by thinking that other religions are equally bad if not better..
Keep it up A-MIN. I am impressed with your progress. I am sure in next couple of months, you will seek our help to lead you out of Islam.
allah giveth children and
allah giveth children and mohammad screweth children.The new shahada to leave islam!
focussed, Your dormant
focussed,
Your dormant frustration is obvious. Keep up your utopia dreaming. Islam is The Truth. Allah is the Creator of the Universe. The Quran is the Revelation from the Creator of the Universe. Jesus was a Prophet of Allah. So, where are you heading to? Keep in mind that Ali Sinner cannot save you! He can’t even help himself! He is just fooling some gullible people like you to earn some bucks.
Here is my final Fatwa:
Here is my final Fatwa: Anyone who issues a fatwa after this is a crminal and ought to be put in jail. Fatwas interfer with people's lives in a mean-spirited matter. Therefore, the place of all Fatwas is the abode of hell. This is a final Fatwa folks. I am the seal of the prophets, and I have said so.
Anyone who does not agree with me, I may send him a "bouncer" to take care of him, but I can't issue a Fatwa against him anymore.
Ibn Kammuna, Each and
Ibn Kammuna,
Each and everybody can see that Jesus was a human like you and me. But you believe him to be the Creator of the Universe! Can you prove to the world that he is the Creator of the Universe? You also believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross! Does it not then mean that your God is dead?! If this is the case, then how can you make sure that you are not worshiping a Satan or Devil? Please answer to the readers without giving fatwa for my death penalty! Because the Bible is full of this kind of fatwas!
Dear A-MIN Why are you so
Dear A-MIN
Why are you so angry? If you are convinced that Islam is the truth, the there is no reason for you to get angry. After all you will get your rewards from your deity, wont you. Say we are wrong and Ali Sina is a mentally restarted guy, can you prove to us that Islam really is a religion from God (that God exists or not is another issue) than prove that it is so. The onus of proving Islam is on you and not us.
Most of us here have read the Qur'an, Hadith and the Sira on our own. I am sure you must have done the same. One can only be so confident of something when one has properly researched something. You sound extremely confident about Islam. Lets say we are poor confused souls who are going to go to Jehannam. Is it not you duty to do Da'wah to us and save us from the Azzab e Naar. Cmmon my friend lets try to talk like civilized people and see for ourselves who is right and who is wrong.
If you prove us wrong by yourself, I can bet that this site will get closed down in no time. Its not a challenge but an offer and the choice is urs. You can either go on abusing Ali Sina and the rest of the Forum members of you can prove that Islam is true. If you choose the first choice, people in this Forum will take you for a fool and a twerp and just dismiss you. However if you make the second choice, who knows, Glory might be yours to claim and if you manage to convert a few in the process, your reward due to you from your God will be multiplied. Just think about it A-MIN.
Dear A-Mim I hope you are
Dear A-Mim
I hope you are well brother. As you know, I am the seal of the prophets, and I say this to you: this forum is about Islam and Islam alone. Please read the reseach done on this forum. There are many researchers and many articles, all dedicated to find the truth about Islam. Convince us that our research conclusions are false, and then we'll become good Muslims right away, no questions asked. But, at the same time, I ask you dear brother to have an open mind to the possibility that you may be the one on the wrong side, and not us. Attacking me personally, and accusing me, or any other person here for that matter, about certain beliefs, won't help you brother. It really amounts to a hill of beans what I believe in on this forum. What is important is learning the truth about Islam. Are you up to the challenge brother? if you are, I give the first challenge (many more to come). here it is:
Challenge 1: The Qur'an (4:34) clearly teaches that a man can beat up a woman. Do you agree with that? Please answer with "Yes" or "No". Do not give qualifications. If you believe a man can beat up a woman, I am sure the ladies who read this site will take care of what you write. I won't even have to repond to your answer. A scond challenge will follow when I hear from you brother. Peace to all including those "geniuses" who believe they can beat a woman.
Ibn Kammuna has run away!
Ibn Kammuna has run away! Here is another challenge to him/her:
$1 Trillion Reward if you can prove that Jesus himself said "I am God", Or "Worship Me".
Jesus surrendered his will to
Jesus surrendered his will to the Will of his Creator (Allah):
“Jesus says: I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father.” (John 5:30)
So, he was a Muslim. Praise be to God!
http://forum09.faithfreedom.o
http://forum09.faithfreedom.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=696&start=0
47. Learning Says:
January 28th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
“31. A-MIM Says:
January 28th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
$1 Trillion Reward to Christians If They Can Prove That Jesus Said “I am God”, Or “Worship Me”.
Ok A-MIM, I accept your challange.
Please register (if u r not already) and log into the english forum.
Go to the exclusive debate rooms area (where then no others can post except you and me) and set up a thread there for your challange inviting me to debate.
(since it is your challange).
Or if you like, I can set up the thread.
Are you game enough for it?
Awaiting your positive reply, thank-you.
55. Learning Says:
January 29th, 2009 at 2:47 am
A-MIM, I have accepted your challange to prove that Jesus is God.
I have said that here is not the place to debate but rather to into the exclusive debate room section of FFI.
I am asking are you AGAIN. Are you going to debate me or not?
If you do not debate me, it will show to the world that you are a coward and a liar. It will show that you have no integerity.
Is this how you do jihad on the internet?
Your recording angels have recorded this event that YOU have let Allah and his messenger down. You have sold them out for a $1 Trillion dollars. (Not bad considering that Judas only recieved 30 pieces of silver).
Ok, I will up the ante and assume that you do not have 1 trillion dollars and am too embarrous to admit it. In that case, I will do it for FREE!
Are you going to debate with me?
Waiting…….
57. Learning Says:
January 29th, 2009 at 3:11 am
A-MIM, I have set up the thread in the exclusive debate room.
Please click on this link: http://forum09.faithfreedom.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=696&start=0
Thank-you
58. Learning Says:
January 29th, 2009 at 3:23 am
AMIM, if you do not debate me after this, it would mean that you have lowered yourself even lower than Judas Iscariot.
It would mean that you have sold out your deen for free. ie you have thrown out your religion like garbage.
…still waiting…..
Dear A-MIN Lets say that
Dear A-MIN
Lets say that Jesus was did actually say all those things and he is not God. How does it prove that Islam is correct or Allah is God and Muhammad was his messenger? Kindly do let us know as to how you did derive this hypothesis.
In any case this is not about the true religion or the fake religion. This is about the charater of Muhammad and his teachings. Lets say some other religions also have similar stuff as Islam, does that somehow justify Islam's claim to being the true religion.
Moreover I dont understand
Moreover I dont understand another thing, A-MIn. On one hand you claim that the Bible is a corrupted book and on the other you use the Bible to prove that Jesus was just an ordinary man. You either accept the book in its entirity or you you rejecet it wholly.
Why are you quoting from a book that you believe to be corrupted? Futhermore lets look at things from the point of view of theist, can the Bible or the Torah be corrupted if you claim that they are the word of God. Does'nt that make God failable rather than infailable. If God is all powerfull why and how could he allow his book or books to be corrupted by ordinary mortals. I mean if he could send birds to defend the Kaa'ba, I am sure he could perform a similar miracle to stop the corruption of the Bible and the Torah.
8. focussed Says: Ibrahim,
8. focussed Says: Ibrahim, AMIN has entered the second stage of purification process which is a good thing. Instead of denying wrong things, he is now trying to justify the same by pointing to similar issues with other religions. Let him console himself by thinking that other religions are equally bad if not better..
Keep it up A-MIN. I am impressed with your progress. I am sure in next couple of months, you will seek our help to lead you out of Islam.
How right you are. He or She sounds very confuse and in delirium stage. All those anger and pain. Must sympathise with her/him. It can be very painful you know. Just imagine seeing "yourself" being dissecting pieces by pieces. Its like watching the movie... initially you are being shown all the beautiful images then out of sudden pictures of destruction appear before you. It throws your mind off in disarray. Its throwing this mind off in disarray that eventually lead one to the higher self... to the next stage of the purification process: that is acceptance then eventually Wisdom.
NUKE WORLD WAR 3 MAYBE COMING
NUKE WORLD WAR 3 MAYBE COMING SOON THANKS TO FAKE PROMISE OF IMAGINARY ALLAH TO GIVE IMAGINARY-WINE-HOURIES IN IMAGINARY PARADISE.
THE ONLY WAY IS TO SPREAD TRUTH MESSAGE OF FFI AND ISW TO ALL.
PLS ALL PLS HELP SEND THE MESSAGE OF FFI AND ISW TO ALL.
LET US SAVE MANKIND FROM MAD ARAB HATE BASED IDEOLOGY.
USE E-MAIL,PERSONAL CONTACT WHATEVER BUT SPREAD MESSAGE OF TRUTH OF FFI.
I agree with nurdula and
I agree with nurdula and Focussed. The point is that the person who is suffering from a mental agony does not himself know that he is acuattly suffering. Even if he does he tries to hide his agony with his anger and hence the name calling and abusive nature.
I really dont blame A-MIN. I feel that we should help him come out of his safe zone and help him to see things differently. That the purpose of this website. We are not hear to preach religion or any other philosophy that we might believe in. We are so that we can help our Muslim friends to see the truth with their own eyes. We are here only to assist, however the choice is upto the person who wishes to see or learn and maybe even teach.
Rather than abusing each other it would be more important that we keep ourselves dedicated to the purpose that this Forum and this site was set up for.
A-MIM wrote: Ibn
A-MIM wrote:
Ibn Kammuna,
Each and everybody can see that Jesus was a human like you and me. But you believe him to be the Creator of the Universe! Can you prove to the world that he is the Creator of the Universe? You also believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross! Does it not then mean that your God is dead?! If this is the case, then how can you make sure that you are not worshiping a Satan or Devil? Please answer to the readers without giving fatwa for my death penalty! Because the Bible is full of this kind of fatwas!
No Jesus was not a mere human being since he performed miracles like healing the blind, the paralyzed, and exc. These are actual miracles, not like the fake ones Muhammed supposedly performed.
Jesus is not the creator of the Universe, his father is and no Jesus is not dead, he is up in heaven with the father.
No the Bible is not filled with fatwas, because the Bible is descriptive, not prescriptive ( they are not sanctioned commands for generations to follow )
Also your Islamic teaching proves how little you know about Christianity.
Ibrahim wrote:
"Moreover I dont understand another thing, A-MIn. On one hand you claim that the Bible is a corrupted book and on the other you use the Bible to prove that Jesus was just an ordinary man. You either accept the book in its entirity or you you rejecet it wholly.
Why are you quoting from a book that you believe to be corrupted? Futhermore lets look at things from the point of view of theist, can the Bible or the Torah be corrupted if you claim that they are the word of God. Does’nt that make God failable rather than infailable. If God is all powerfull why and how could he allow his book or books to be corrupted by ordinary mortals. I mean if he could send birds to defend the Kaa’ba, I am sure he could perform a similar miracle to stop the corruption of the Bible and the Torah."
Excellent critique and analysis from Ibrahim.
I wonder how long if it will take A-MIM to answer these questions, if he answers them at all.
A MIM Please, answer the
A MIM
Please, answer the questions! Be polite.Obey woman!
woman= dog=donkey=fart all
woman= dog=donkey=fart all equally anull the prayers. shahada for leaving islam
mohammad was a pilla chod and allah was his pimp. Allh supplied pillas to mohammad the rapist pilla chod.islamic evil leaving sjajada