[Ibn Ajibah]

http://haaretz.com/h...es/1143660.html

[DefendingIslam]

Salam Alaykum,

The following was really strange:

Quote

"If the Prophet Mohammed had asked me to deem Christians or Jews heretics, I would have deemed Mohammed himself a heretic," Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, the Mufti of Syria, was quoted as telling a delegation of American academics visiting Damascus.

Hassoun, the leader of Syria's majority Sunni Muslim community, also told the delegates that Islam was a religion of peace, adding: "If Mohammed had commanded us to kill people, I would have told him he was not a prophet."

We have to be sure of a number of things though:

1. Is this correctly reported? (It is an Israeli newspaper, yet it has also appeared in the Arab media, and from previous cases, Haaretz is somewhat objective in its reporting).

2. Are we sure he was not forced or threatened before saying this, with a threat that could result in the loss of his life, etc? As it is well-known, in this part of the world, almost every Imam of a Masjid is told what to recite in his sermons, which books to read and which ones not to read to the public, and so forth.

3. Did he say anything additional to this, that may help to clarify the above quote? (seems unlikely, but it should be checked).

[faqir]

The comments as they've been reported come across very disrespectful to the prophet saws in my opinion. Has any clarification been reported in the media?

[Hamoudeh]

I have to agree with the brothers. The way the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam is being addressed is bizarre, however, the authenticity of such statements has yet to be established. Haaretz is not a good starting point, their liberalism in presenting different views shouldn't be confused with objective journalism, and these statements are reported from the Army Radio belonging to the IDF and the Israeli Ministry of Defence. Legally speaking, the report is completely worthless. But there are other reports, and the actual source for these statements seems to be Al-Quds Al-Arabi. Here some further context is given to the same statements, who have been reported from the Mufti addressing the American delegation. This does not make the statements authentic, however, it makes them verifiable.

Verification is rather necessary, for we find nothing of the sort officially reported from the event. In fact, in the official report the Mufti speaks of Sayyiduna Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam not commanding us to reject [نكفر] Sayyidina `Isa or Sayyiduna Musa or any of the other Prophets `alayhim salam. This is how the term is used in the official report, which is completely opposite to the statement reported in Al-Quds Al-Arabi. So there is a fundamental contradiction and a general difference between the reports, and anyone interested in the truth of the matter should take that into consideration.

Wassalam

[Hamoudeh]

Another angle from which to approach these reports, is to question whether the alleged statements are a reflection of the Mufti's beliefs. From the first alleged statement, one can interpret a denial of the disbelief of Christians and Jews. This statement, however, is as mentioned contradictory to the statement from the official report, and there is no proof of its authenticity. Therefore, the same that applies to the offensive remarks towards our Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam, applies here as well. As for the statement that has been officially reported, then there is no contradiction between two Muslims whether we believe in Sayyiduna `Isa, Sayyiduna Musa and all other Prophets `alayhi salam.

The second statement that can be approached from that angle concerns whether our Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam was a Sunni or a Shi`i. Of course, this rhetoric is common and we find it being used in various contexts and forms. Other examples can be given where it was reported that he had stated to be Sunni, Shi`i, Salafi and Sufi all at once in different ways. The main question I think, is whether this rhetoric is religious or political. There is a difference, not everything is a creedal declaration. Take for example the statements of his predecessor, Mufti Ahmad Kuftaro, regarding all Syrians being Christian - something this Mufti has also stated [on video] - as related by Shaykh Gibril [ http://www.livingisl...rg/n/shk_e.html ]. It seems to me the same can be applied here, especially when the context of the visit is considered.

[Hamoudeh]

It is ironic that the Mufti speaks against political influences in religious discourse, and in fact makes such opposition the basis of his argument, when his own statements are highly rhetorical and political in nature. More importantly, they cannot but fulfil government expectations. Syria may be secular in many ways, but politics is not one of them. Not to dwell into details regarding Ba`athism and Arab Nationalism, it suffices to say their "secularism" doesn't resemble contemporary European and American secularism where "State" and "Church" are entities that operate independently in their respective domains. In Syria, as in a number of other countries, "Church" is a "State" institution that serves to express, affirm, defend and impose the state's religious views. It has therefore institutionalized religious authority, appoints it as it sees fit, and maintains its status in society. Dr. Hassoun, being Mufti al-Jumhuriyya, is the highest government sanctioned Islamic authority in the country. It is plainly obvious that there are boundaries which he cannot cross whether he desires to or not, and that the liberty to move within them is minimal, especially when it comes to topics [religious or otherwise] where the government's views are explicit. This is such a topic, and there are many others of various sorts. This background is to be considered in the context of every relevant statements the Mufti makes.

[faqir]

Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi refutes the Mufti of Syria:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=vBSw51aGu3A

[Ibn Ajibah]

Wallahi, Sh. Yaqubi's response cools the heart and pleases the ears. Let his response belie the Wahhabi claim that the "Sufis" are in cahoots with the government and/or government appointed scholars.

[Hamoudeh]

May Allah reward and preserve the Sayyid! The mere act of speak about this matter in public is not only courageous, but a great service to the progress this country desperately needs in order to rid itself from the culture of silence and fear. Rumour has it that the Shaykh has now been banned from teaching and public speaking, or so it is said in a response to the video on YouTube. I pray this isn’t the case, but whatever it may be, may it make others only more eager to speak their mind and break through this culture of no dissent; not only scholars should, but intellectuals, politicians, journalists and perhaps most of all, the people themselves. As for the Mufti, this position should be offered to the Sayyid if they would know what is best for them. His personal affair, however, I think is a different matter and one which for me at least has not been sufficiently clarified through this video. I’ll leave that to when the English translation has been provided as the brothers from SacredKnowledge promised insha’Allah.

Wassalam

[Hamoudeh]

The rumour appears to be true, in as far as the Shaykh having been dismissed from his job as Khatib at al-Hasan Mosque the day after the speech according to the brothers at SacredKnowledge. Such are the instruments of these politics of fear, serving to maintain the culture of self-censorship. May Allah protect the Sayyid from their orwellian fantasies.

[Zhulfiqar]

Quote

Commenting on the decision to ban him from public speaking, Shaykh Muhammad said, “This is nothing for the sake of the Beloved of Allah, our Master Muhammad. The problem now is not whether I should be back to my job, but how to stop the Mufti of Syria from deforming Islam.”

ما شاء الله may Allâh preserve the Shaykh (حفظه الله) and aid him in these tough times.

[faqir]

Absolute disgrace that he should be dismissed for speaking the truth! How ironic that the 'mufti' who allegedly made the insulting comments remains in place! May Allah preserve sh Muhammad.

[Sacred Knowledge]

As-salaamu 'alaykum

Jazaakumullah khayran to all the brothers on the forum and who have posted on this thread.

We have produced a statement which is on our homepage. This statement has been reproduced in various languages also. The respected and knowledgeable members of this forum are requested to spread these far and wide, particularly the arabic forums, and any other islamic forums of different languages. There are now groups of people trying to defend the "logic" of the Mufti. Please can you all make du'a for our Shaykh, Sayyid Abul Huda al-Ya'qubi, hafidhahullah t'ala.

If not already seen, here is Shaykh Gibril Haddad response:

Inna lillahi wa-inna ilayhi raji`un.

On Tuesday 19 January at the Ministry of Awqaf in Damascus, Syria, the Mufti of Syria Ahmad Hassoun in his eagerness to please a non-Muslim delegation visiting Syria from the "George Mason University Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution" pronounced horrific words that fit the act described in the following Prophetic hadith:

"Truly the servant of Allah may utter a word without first ascertaining what he says, and because of it will stumble into the Fire a distance greater than what lies between East and West." Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Hassoun reportedly said: "If our Prophet Muhammad had ordered me to disbelieve in Judaism and Christianity, I would have disbelieved in Muhammad" and "If Muhammad had ordered me to kill people, I would have told him: You are not a Prophet."

These words are proudly quoted in English in the following article (5th paragraph):

http://www.jpost.com....aspx?id=166295

and in the original Arabic in the following dismayed sites:

http://www.alweeam.o...how-id-8198.htm
http://mail.watan.co...9-17-03-18.html
http://www.aljazeera...ad.php?t=225997
http://www.alwatanvo...ent-145645.html
http://www.muslm.net...ad.php?t=375051
http://www.saudiyoon...how-id-9099.htm

etc.

Then, in some followup "rectification" of his intent printed in the newspaper _al-Quds_, the Mufti changed his wording to ""If our Prophet Muhammad had ordered me to disbelieve in Musa and `Isa" instead of what he had said earlier, but then he said other things and sank deeper into his misguidance instead of retracting it. In the words of the popular expression cited by Sayyid Abu al-Huda, "He wanted to put kohl on her eyes and he blinded her instead," like the proverbial imbecile who bought honey and spat in it. Among his excuses: "I only used 'if'"! and "I only meant that a criminal cannot be a Prophet"!!

Our beloved teacher Sayyid Muhammad Abu al-Huda al-Ya`qubi has responded to these grave offenses against the person of the Holy Prophet(upon him and his family blessings and peace) here:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=vBSw51aGu3A

He indicated in the above talk that the Mufti has, in one fell swoop, (i) made the Divine wahy the subject of a hypothetical confrontation in which the Prophet supposedly acts as erroneous and he, Hassoun, acts as the voice of truth and authority; (ii) described a hypothetical situation where he, Hassoun, would supposedly tell off the Prophet; and (iii) asserted the hegemony of Judaism and Christianity over Islam in explicit contradiction of the Qur'an and in the style of those who, historically, have disparaged Prophets. "What have you left to the rank enemies of Islam and Muslims?" one internet commentator asked, while another scoffed, "Hail, Pope Hassoun I!"

This from a man tasked above all others to uphold the sacred law (although his academic qualification is in Arabic literature, not Shari`a), and now slights the honor of the Prophet Muhammad from inside the sacred land in order to ingratiate himself with Rabbi X and Senator Y.

Sayyid Abu al-Huda addresses the Mufti (at 7'35") thus:

"What is it that makes you a judge over the Messenger of Allah, upon him blessings and peace, so that you can say: 'If the Messenger of Allah ordered me this or that, I would etc.?' The Messenger of Allah is the Lawgiver! The Messenger of Allah is the Conveyor! Allah Most High said of him: {Nor does he speak of his own desire; It is but a revelation revealed} (Q 53:3-4). This means that we know the Religion only by way the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace. I ask: And do we know of the respective Prophethoods of Musa and `Isa from any other source than because the Prophet informed us? Such can only be learned by hearing it from a Prophetic source, not through rational process.

"I do not believe there is any remedy other than for him to resign. It is more becoming of him, out of embarrassment and shame before his Lord Allah Most High, and before his Prophet upon him blessings and peace, that he should go home and submit his resignation; and that he should safeguard this Religion for this Community, and this authority and honor for al-Shaam and the Ulema of al-Shaam, and for the country, both its leadership and its people..."

Allah al-musta`an!

Was-Salam,
GF Haddad

[Sacred Knowledge]

Following the despicable comments made by the Mufti of Syria, Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qardawi has expressed his contention concerning the statements. In his appearance on the Al Jazeerah programme "Shariah wal haya" (shariah and life), he said the following:


"In these statements there are gross mistakes and it is not acceptable. It is not appropriate for us to mention the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, in this manner.

Despite the fact that we believe in the true message that was bestowed upon s.Isa and s.Musa, upon them be peace, we declare that the Christians existing today are heretics, as they declare us to be.

Indeed we believe in the entirety of what the Messenger, peace be upon him, has to say and we undertake any of his orders. We must conduct appropriate manners when concerning the Prophets"

[IrfanibnIsmail]

RABBI YESHAYAHU HOLLANDER says:

Quote

Today for instance an amazing thing happened to me. As I was preparing to come to here, I got a phone call from Israel and they sent me a statement made by the grand mufti of Syria. Just recently. The grand mufti Hassoun of Syria. And he said that –of course he did not say it in English, he probably said it in Arabic, but I don’t know Arabic, and this is what I have- he said, Prophet Muhammad (saas) did not ask me to deem Christians or Jews heretics. Prophet Muhammad (saas) did not say that the Jews and the Christians are heretics, kafir. Because that is not correct. Sheikh Ahmad Hussain said that Islam being a religion of peace, he added Prophet Muhammad (saas) did not command us to kill people. He continued; religious wars were not the result of religion but the result of politics, infiltrating systems of faith and he asked; was Moses (pbuh) a Middle Eastern or European descent, was Jesus (pbuh) a Palestinian or a Catholic, was Mohammed (saas) Shi’a or Sunni? According to the mufti the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbours has nothing to do with an Islamic war against Judaism. He added; before you got American citizenship and I received Syrian citizenship, he told we are all brothers under the dome of God. He also added; Jews once lived in Syria peacefully and with fair treatment, and his own grandfather, the grand mufti had a Jewish partner. Jews lived in Syria for years and they still have their own Syrian society which is for me a bit of fact, cause I don’t know how many they are in Syria.

Quote

AYOOB KARA: First of all I want to support and invite Mr. Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun from Syria. And what he said today about the Jews and Christians in the world, in Israel and I will invite him to visit Israel. I think this is the same way, the same the steps that Mr . Oktar also says in every corner, that it is important for people to understand that we in the Middle East could be together, we could support each other. We could do peace together... What could we do? What do we have to do again more than the steps we take? So we are sure that when we find religious people like Mr. Oktar, like Mr. Hassoun from Syria, there are other people who support the way that all the religions could live together. I think from the side of Israel there is no problem.
...

Quote

Mr. Ayoob Kara is the Deputy Minister of the Development of Negev and Galilee. He is the only non-Jewish member of the Israeli Cabinet. He is the closest non-Jewish person to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has the objective of establishing strong and warm relations among Jews, Muslims and Christians as well as all other religions and he is showing efforts to this end.

http://us2.harunyahy...productId/20517


PS: Harun Yahya seems to be very effective in the work he does.

This post has been edited by IrfanibnIsmail: 03 February 2010 - 11:09 AM