living islam _ Islamic tradition

Guest Name Dr.  `Abdul-Fattah `Ashoor 
Profession Professor of the Exegesis of the Qur'an at Al-Azhar Univ.

Name
Salih    - 

Profession
Question we have been discussing Salman Rushdie's fatwa in class at school, and the only other muslim in my class said Muhammad sentanced people to death for blasphemy. a Christian said that if Allah was the same God as his that a contemporary believer would not do such a thing. How can I present our God humanely? Please offer opinions on this matter.
Answer In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

To Almighty Allah belongs the Finest Attributes. He is the One, the Absolute, the Unique, the Most Besought, He begets not nor is He begotten. No one is comparable to Him. Almighty Allah says: ??Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.? (Ash-Shura: 11)

Bearing this in mind, how can we say that we want to present Him in humanly manner. The God (Allah) of Muslims is the Most High and His Attributes are not comparable. You can present Allah by presenting His favors and blessings showered upon His creatures and the signs denoting His Existence. Direct their attention to such signs so as to make it clear to them that He is the Only One Who deserves such Finest Attributes.

Islam does not compel any one to convert to it. However, those who deny faith after they have accepted it are punished. This is meant to protect the Muslim society. This is nothing new.

In any country, we see that any traitor is subject to trial and is sentenced to death or life imprisonment, for, after knowing the secrets of such a country, he has turned against them and now forming a danger. This has nothing to do with compulsion.

Allah Almighty knows best.
http://www.islam-online.net/livefatwa/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=06175a
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Guest Name Dr. Sano Koutoub Moustapha
Profession Professor of Jurisprudence & Its Principles at the International Islamic University, Malaysia

Name
Danial    - Malaysia

Profession
Question I am a student in university at the moment. My question is related to the issue of freedom of expression. If a person were to express his/her own personal views when would it be classified as blasphemous? For example, how would the work of the author Salman Rushdie be classified? And if someone were to be accused of blasphemy what would the punishment be? I would be deeply grateful if you would be so kind to answer my questions. Thank you!
Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

?Thanks a lot for your question. Freedom of expression is granted in Islam as far as it doesn't go beyond its teachings such as blasphemous one. This means that one is allowed to express him or herself within the Islamic teachings. He or she must say the truth and should not say lies like the author of Satanic Verses which clearly and deeply consists of gross lies, slanders, misinterpretations and misunderstanding of the sources of Islam.

As for the punishment of blasphemy, it depends on the nature and type of the lie or slander. It could lead to consider a Muslim as an apostate if his blasphemy consists of insulting and accusing the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him). Furthermore, it could lead to the punishment appointed for false accusation (Qadhf). All in all, specific punishment will depend on the nature of blasphemy. May God help all of us to say only the truth when we talk or we express ourselves."

Allah Almighty knows best.
http://www.islam-online.net/livefatwa/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=0Q84l2
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Title of Fatwa Jihad and Peace in Islam 

Date of Reply
23/ February/ 2003 

Topic Of Fatwa
Jihad  

Question of Fatwa
As-Salamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh. Islam is a religion of peace. We greet our brothers and sisters by wishing peace for them. Must Muslims accept violence? Can Muslims be strictly non-violent? Too often the media in the West presents the image of Muslims as violent, but I know this is not correct. I?m a Muslim, but insha'Allah, I will never kill anyone, or even hurt them intentionally. When I watch the genocide in Chechnya or Bosnia, or the tragedy which unfolds in Palestine, it makes me very angry and very sad. I pray that Allah will allow peace to prevail among humanity, between the Muslims and the non-Muslims alike. I like to think that I and other Muslims can be a force for peace rather than for violence. Am I wrong? Thank you for your help. This is really troubling me, and any advice you can provide would be much appreciated. Jazakum Allah khayran. Wa Salamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh. 

Name of Mufti Sheikh Muhammad `Ali Al-Hanooti 
Content of Reply
Wa`alykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Brother, we do really appreciate your question, which reflects your open-mindedness and interest in analyzing the Islamic teachings. May Allah help us all keep firm in the straight Path!

Before tackling your question, we'd like, first of all, to commend you for your good and inspiring words that typify the nature of Muslims; they are peace-loving people. As we have made it clear in our fatwas, Islam is the religion that calls to peace and urges its followers to help peace prevail. It neither incites violence nor does it stand in favor of terrorism, contrary to all the concocted ideas and information that the Western biased media have spread.

In response to your question, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti, member of the North American Fiqh Council, states:

?Brother, we should be careful when referring to the Islamic language, conceptions, vocabulary, and ideologies. There are many non-Islamic terms and vocabulary mingled with the Islamic ones.

When talking about Islam, we should base our argument on the Qur'an and the Sunnah. We should get rid of the terms abused by the enemies of Islam such as terrorism, fundamentalism, etc.

Islam never believes in force or forcing anyone to become a Muslim. The Qur'an says: "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things." (Al-Baqarah: 256)

Also, we read in the Qur?an: "And if your Lord had pleased, surely all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them; will you then force men till they become believers?" (Yunus: 99)

We have never had any proof that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, or his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, fought for forcing people to accept Islam. This is a matter of fact. Had people entered Islam because of force, they would have gone back to their roots after the fall of the Islamic Caliphate.

We see that all the ideologies have shown their peak at the time of their founders or thinkers. For example, Communism, Fascism, Nazism, and Existentialism have become historical artifacts that now reside in museums. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, died, Islam was adopted by tens of thousands. It has been flourishing ever since and encroaching almost every land and sea all over the world to make the population of Islam counts more than 1 billion followers. Islam spread in China and Indonesia without any sword or fight; it is only because of the good demonstration of Islam by excellent Muslims.

I'd like to make it close to your mind why Muslims are in need of fight or combat. How are you going to deal with drug traffickers or any outlaw if your preaching is not doing well? How will you deal with a criminal who wants to disturb peace and make life panicky? Islam believes in stopping injustice, oppression and any threat to peace or freedom. In many instances, there is no way to guarantee these goals without arms and fighting. The Qur'an says, "... And fight the elites of blasphemy. They don't honor any vow." (At-Tawbah: 12)

Brother, for further information, we recommend you to read:

- Jihad: Its True Meaning and Purpose ,

- Was Islam Spread at the Point of Sword? ,

- Spirit of Tolerance in Islam .

Allah Almighty knows best.
http://www.islam-online.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hFatwaID=16844
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"This concept of blasphemy and the prescribed punishment are both contradictory to the Qur'an and the Prophet's conduct. The Qur'an prescribes restraint, and distancing from the blasphemous persons or situations. The emphasis is on restraint and forgiveness" said Brig ® Nazir Ahmed, a prominent religious scholar associated with Hamdard University. He added that he was able to identify fifty-seven verses from Qura'an having a direct bearing on the subject and more than 250 others which emphasize forgiveness, forbearance and compassion.

But there are even stronger voices defending this law. "We will not allow any change in this law. The government could do it over our dead bodies only" said Maulana Hamid Ul Haq a leader of Jamaiat e Ulema e Islam (JUI). Whoever tries to defame Islam, should be punished, he added.

It is only a select group of moderate Pakistani Muslims which is supporting this minority claim that the Blasphemy law be amended. Almost every political party and leader opposes any change in the law as they cannot afford to betray the feelings of the common Pakistanis who are violently opposed to any change in this law. Ends.

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2002-10/01/article65.shtml
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