I come across ridiculous opinions (Fatwas) of Rabbis and Imams, like an Imam declaring Tomato to be a Christian. Don't
laugh, your tradition in no exception whether it is Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i
or Christian, all have their share of ridiculousness.
Hold your breath, these men (rarely women) are a few and far between. A “few” Muslims make it a business to highlight the “perceived weaknesses” of Jews, and the “few” Jews and a "few Hindus" make it their business to malign the “perceived weaknesses” of Islam. Same goes with a “few” Bahai, Sikhs, Wicca, Buddhists, Christians and others.
Hold your breath, these men (rarely women) are a few and far between. A “few” Muslims make it a business to highlight the “perceived weaknesses” of Jews, and the “few” Jews and a "few Hindus" make it their business to malign the “perceived weaknesses” of Islam. Same goes with a “few” Bahai, Sikhs, Wicca, Buddhists, Christians and others.
My point; don’t laugh at any one before laughing at
yourselves. It is human to err, and not Muslim, Jew or Christian to err, no one
can thump his chest and say, “we don’t do it in our religion” - baloney it is!
As time permits, I will put through all the idiosyncrasies… over a period of time. The idea is let’s highlight 99.99% goodness of others rather than get bogged down with the few.
Rabbis in Israel
are pressurizing the government and issuing fatwas to have separation
of men and women in the places of worship. They even spat on a girl for not
covering the hair.
In Kerala, one of the big female movie stars walked into a Hindu temple and the whole priesthood gave a fatwa that the temple has to be washed completely three times, because a woman cannot enter that temple.
In Kerala, one of the big female movie stars walked into a Hindu temple and the whole priesthood gave a fatwa that the temple has to be washed completely three times, because a woman cannot enter that temple.
The Baha’is refused to perform a wedding, because the girl could not get permission from his mother, who had disowned her… hold it, someone in your faith has done it too. You integrity demands you to laugh at your own first.
Disgusting statements are coming out of the mouths of a "few" men and women; Hitler thought Jews don't deserve a life and went on about the Holocaust, and shame on you, if you justify Hitler. The rulers of Japan, China, Bosnia, Israel, Palestine, Burma, Rwanda and other nations have all called the others "as roaches or rats" that need to be exterminated. Jesus was absolutely right when said, " no one can cast the first stone". Next time when you hear some one put down one or the other, ask them to Google.
A “few” clergy men desperately want to prove that they have
special privileges with God, and direct line - and declare that Tsunamis, 9/11,
Katrina and other disasters are God’s punishment. Check it out; your clergy has said the
ridiculous things as well, if not find it out.
What can you do about it?
If an Imam, Rabbi, Pundit, Pastor, Shaman, Gyani or a Clergy makes a statement that causes you to think negatively about another group of people*, have the balls to tell him to look at himself first (loaded with malice), before he or she has the gall to tell others not to have what he has. You will find these in the internet forums as well - guys hatefully telling others not to hate, It just won't cut it.
The role of right Imams, Rabbis, Pundits, Pastors, Shamans, Gyanis or Clergy is to work to mitigate conflicts and ill-will and nurture goodwill, so all of God's creation can live with least fear and most secure. That is what each one of their masters did. You have a right to stop them from spewing the non-sense. If not, let me know, I will be happy to come and do that for the sake of humanity.
The fringe element among Muslims have made some really humorous declarations - among them; is it was wrong for a woman to cut cucumber, or peel a banana, that a woman's independence amounts to her becoming lesbian...the gangsters in Somalia had banned Samosa (triangular egg roll) as it appears like a cross… now the tomato thing below.
I would appreciate if you could share some of the idiotic things from your traditions, your clergy man... so we all can laugh at ourselves.
Salafist group warns tomatoes are “Christian”
(Photo via Facebook.com)
This makes perfect sense... because it makes no sense.
A Salafist group called the Popular Egyptian Islamic Association has come under fire after sending out a warning on Facebook urging its followers not to eat tomatoes because the vegetable (or fruit) is a Christian food.
The group posted a photo on its page of a tomato - which appears to reveal the shape of a cross after being cut in half – along with the message: “Eating tomatoes is forbidden because they are Christian. [The tomato] praises the cross instead of Allah and says that Allah is three (a reference to the Trinity).
[God help us]. I implore you to spread this photo because there is a sister from Palestine who saw the prophet of Allah [Mohammad] in a vision and he was crying, warning his nation against eating them [tomatoes]. If you don’t spread this [message], know that it is the devil who stopped you.”
Yeah... no.
Predictably, Facebook users expressed outrage over the post, which prompted the group to clarify its stance on the controversy with the update, “We didn’t say you can’t eat tomatoes. We said don’t cut it in [such a way that reveals] the cross shape.”
I see what you did there. Crazy religious nutjobs are still crazy.
I wonder if the Muslim Brotherhood’s presidential candidate, Mohammad Morsi, is happy about getting an endorsement from this group?
*(individuals are fine, it is personal specific bad experience, but cannot blame the group - if you legitimize that, then what others say about you would be equally true)
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MikeGhouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.com is updated daily.
Danish,
ReplyDeleteFatwa is a tool of oppression and amounts to shirk.
Good piece, a good fatwa is meant to be just and sound, and requires intellect to assess all the 4 conditions you have laid it out.
Muslim majority nations do not have any seperate consitution other than Sharia, that is the only vehicle they have to deliver justice.
Like all other laws, Fatwa has been abused and misued to the gain of the men in power or collusion. It is used as a threat to subdue people into obedience.
Fatwa for social conduct like theft, breaking contracts, rape, murders is needed to serve justice, but in nations like India, BD, Malaysia, Turkey they have civl and criminal laws to handle the issues.
What we don't need is Fatwa on one's faith. There should be no fatwa against what one believes and practices in Islam, every one is free to practice his religion. After all no one is accountable to any one but God in the matters of faith - there should not be any compulsion.
A fatwa amoutns to Shirk -it is meddling and taking over God's role in judging others - no one has a bloody right to judge how much of a Muslim I am...or you are. It is within one's soul.
Nations like India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Turkey have got a civil code of conduct and civil laws to serve justice. We don't need Fatwas.
Its only in Islam, catholicism and Judaism this non-sense about fatwa is prevalent excessively - it is a tool of oppression