[Sacred Knowledge]

watch khutbah with english subtitles:

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

please forward.

jazakumullah khayran

[faqir]

And a trancript of the khutbah:

Refutation of the Mufti of Syria Ahmad Hassoun

by

Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi

The following are excerpts from the Friday sermon delivered at the Hassan Mosque in Damascus on the 14

th of Saffar 1431
Today‟ topic is one of the strangest things, I did not expect things to fall so low in our times, to the point that we would need to speak about the biggest symbol of religious authority among those who wear turbans in this country. I did not think that we would ever see the day when no less than the emblem of the office of fatwa and the flag bearer of religion in this country would actually attack the Messenger of Allah (upon him be blessings and peace) and disparage him.

The news report says, "The Mufti of Syria Shaykh Ahmad Hassoun met a delegation of American academics from George Mason University at Syria‟ Ministry of Religious Endowments. The delegation was headed by professor and activist so and so, in anticipation of the arrival of US Senator so and so to Damascus on his Middle East peace mission initiative". The rest of the report says that in amongst other things the Mufti said was the following, which I am merely quoting and relating - bearing in mind that the reporter of a statement entailing unbelief is himself not an unbeliever. He says, "If our Prophet Muhammad, upon him be blessings and peace, asked me to disbelieve in Moses or Jesus I would disbelieve in Muhammad" – I seek refuge in Allah! He further says, "If Muhammad ordered me to kill people, I would say to him you are not a Prophet".

Dear brethren! This news report and these declarations have caused uproar, revulsion and fury amongst Muslims. Thereafter his eminence the Mufti corrected himself and issued a follow up in the Al-Quds Newspaper after the first report had already been published, in which he corrected some of what was said, amended and clarified what he had meant. However, he committed a mistake and a mistake sometimes can do away with religion, it can do away with life, it can do away with property.

This particular mistake is a disastrous mistake; it is a grievous mistake that cannot be forgiven except by means of repentance and return to Allah Most High; some people will even demand that he renew his Islam. His similitude is like someone who collects honey and then spits in it; his similitude is like someone who churns milk and then urinates in it. A struggle of 40 years in calling to Allah, Most High, can be nullified by a single word, {And We brought all their good work and made it scattered motes}, we beseech Allah for safety.

"We truly regret oh Shaykh that you are a Mufti of an Islamic country such as Syria".

"Those expressions are symptomatic of a lack of respect toward our liege lord the Messenger of Allah upon him blessings and peace".

"If the Mufti himself is saying such things, what then would the enemies of Islam and Muslims say, one internet commentator asked; while another scoffed, "Hail, Pope Hassoun I!".

Another one says, "What kind of a Mufti are you when you disbelieve in Muhammad, upon him be blessings and peace, by trying to pander to Judaism and Christianity in order to please the American delegation?"

Another commentator gives him the benefit of the doubt saying, "Perhaps your intention was pure but your style, your eminence Mufti, is just rude. Consider that the one you are referring to is the Prophet of Allah, upon him be blessings and peace, not some shopkeeper or army officer. When you speak of the President you try to embellish your discourse as much as you possibly can; yet we did not see you doing this in your talk about the noblest of Messengers".

This country of ours dear brothers is staunch in the face of the Israeli ambitions and the American designs; and the political stance in this country from its President to its humblest employee is to reflect this staunchness and represent this honour and loftiness - but open treachery such as this, open treachery in front of foreigners, makes the issue of the religion in its entirety look like merchandise on sale at the cheapest price! These issues are all linked together. The Jews show enmity towards us because we are Muslims; and they show enmity towards us because we are in Palestine; and they show enmity towards us because we follow the Prophet; and they show enmity towards us for 1001 reasons. The first of all reasons is because that we are Muslims.

Now, what I mentioned was the corrected version of the statement. The published text reads, "If Muhammad ordered me to disbelieve in Christianity and Judaism".

This is the original text; however the text was corrected after that. His eminence the Mufti excused himself by saying that he used the word „if‟, He (Mufti) said "and „if‟is a preclusive particle denoting preclusion; i.e. it‟ an impossibility". His exact words in his excuse were that, "his intent was that belief in the heavenly revelations and all Prophets and scriptures is one of the pillars of Islam, and that it is impossible that the Prophet upon him be blessings and peace, would contradict the Quran. As for the issue of killing, i.e, if Muhammad (s) had ordered me to kill people, I would have said to him, you are not a Prophet, is there any disagreement between two rational people, believers or unbelievers, that whoever commands killing just for the sake of killing is a criminal? It stands to reason all the more that a criminal should not be a Prophet". That is his explanation.

Forgive me but let me say in colloquial Arabic the adage, „he came to put kohl in her eyes but blinded her instead‟. He used the word "criminal", and denied that it applied to the Prophet! Is it a compliment to say that the Prophet is not a criminal? Is it not rather dragging the name of the Prophet, upon him be blessings and peace, into slander?

This is why it is obligatory upon us to clarify, loud and clear that such hypothetical comments and rhetoric is totally impermissible. It is absolutely not acceptable to apply or to use such terminology when referring to our Prophet, upon him be blessings and peace. Indeed, if a school teacher or a novel writer said such things, we would make sure that such writings be blocked from publication and we would take serious steps to have that employee fired from his post and be disciplined. What then would our reaction be when a religious authority or the Mufti of Muslims is uttering such words? What do we expect from the cartoonist in Denmark and

columnist in London, and actors here and there and Islamophobes everywhere when we ourselves do not defend the Messenger of Allah, and we do not illustrate the greatness of the Messenger of Allah? Nay! Let me say, when we do not even show manners with the Messenger of Allah?

Would he dare to say that if the President ordered me to do such and such I would not do it, and I would say to him you are not a President? I swear by Allah he would not dare to make such a hypothetical statement – it is just rude. If your own son said, „if you become an apostate I would disown you as my father‟, you would become furious and you would say, „who are you to speak to me in that way? Are you supposing that I would become an apostate?‟You would not accept this style from your son towards you; how could it be accepted when the Prophet is addressed? These statements are grave; and the status of the Prophet is sacrosanct. Casting aspersions on the Prophets and Messengers has historically been the fashion of the Jews and Christians. Opening the door to insult the Prophet and display audacity towards him is a matter of the utmost gravity. What gives you an authority over the Messenger of Allah to say, „if the Messenger of Allah ordered me such and such...?‟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 of the Messenger of Allah. Let me even say, do we know the Prophethood of Isa (Jesus) and Musa (Moses) by any other way except through the Prophet upon him be blessings and peace informing us of it? Such knowledge is established through hearing it from the Prophet, not by reason.

I do not think that there is a remedy for such utterances except for him to resign. It is more fitting for him, out of embarrassment and shame before his Lord Allah Most High and before his Prophet, upon him blessings and peace. He should go home and submit his resignation to safeguard this religion for this community, to protect the honour of Syria and the integrity of its scholars; to maintain for the country's leadership and people, its resistance in front of Israel and the Israeli intimidation and American pressure.

[faqir]

Sh. Buti's response:

Attached File(s)

•  Dr+Bouti+on+Sryian+Mufti.pdf (123.82K)
  Number of downloads: 17

[faqir]

shaykh Ya'qoubi's second response to Dr. Hassoun