Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| When Is It O.K.? |
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| akbalkhan |
| 12/23/01 at 14:47:25 |
| As Salamu Alaykum, I am really confused about Yasser Arafat's actions this weekend, among other times. He has his heart so set on going to the Bethlehem Christmas Eve Church function, that he says, he's going to walk if he has to. I am not sure that he is so adamant about making sure Muslims can get to the Masjid for Eid, or Friday prayers. I guess that the Israeli cabinet is allowing a top PLO official to have a Christmas celebration in East Jerusalem. Wow, it seems that Israelis have no problem with the Phillistinian leaders corrupting themselves, but when it comes to establishing their sovereignity- Look Out! Very upsetting news, for me... Regards, QAK |
| Re: When Is It O.K.? |
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| Anik |
| 12/23/01 at 16:25:56 |
| asalamau alaikum, Well, i'm in a hurry so I'll make my response short... Him going to Christmas service is a display of solidarity, not a religious attendance. I think we are thinking too small-mindedly (is that a word) when we judge Arafat's actions to go to a church and implcate attendance to Eid prayers. Its not our job to worry about that or even talk about it. He is showing the Christians, the People of the Book as well as the only people who the Qu'ran as I know says can be trusted, that the occupation they are sufferring under is wrong. When Bethlehem was given back to Palastine I think 5 years back, a good muslim has a committment to making the Christians feel safe and respected, and I am sure Arafat doesn't go to the chruch to say "hail mary" (astag'ferlah) but rather to just stand to show unity and respect. The Israeli govt does not want him to attend. And it is not the Israeli govt's responsibility to watch over the religious actions of Arafat, so what do they care if he even goes to any religion, their land is their matter. I don't think attending another service is corruption, as long as no shirk takes place and it is merely symbolic. For some reason, when people of other faiths come to our masjid, it is a show of unity, BUT when a muslim attends a service (not praying) in a One-God worshipping place, we all question his/her imaan and say it is a show of disunity amongst muslims. We have to know that our idea is right, but not be egotistical and elitist. asalamu alaikum. abdullah,. qyestion: Are Philistinians the correct word? The Phillistines were a group of people in the Bible that, according to them, Goliath came from. Did you mean Phalastinians? |
| Re: When Is It O.K.? |
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| BroHanif |
| 12/23/01 at 19:23:12 |
| I think its all politics. nothing more than that. |
| Re: When Is It O.K.? |
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| akbalkhan |
| 12/23/01 at 20:12:57 |
| "Him going to Christmas service is a display of solidarity, not a religious attendance." Solidariy with Christians in the region is displayed adequately well by the fact Muslims and Christians are both discriminated against by the Israeli occupiers. Beyond that, my opinion of his attending services on that day, in that region, is shaped by these following hadith: ********************************** Volume 9, Book 85, Number 77: Narrated Abu Huraira: While we were in the mosque, Allah's Apostle came out to us and said, "Let us proceed to the Jews." So we went along with him till we reached Bait-al-Midras (a place where the Torah used to be recited and all the Jews of the town used to gather). The Prophet stood up and addressed them, "O Assembly of Jews! Embrace Islam and you will be safe!" The Jews replied, "O Aba-l-Qasim! You have conveyed Allah's message to us." The Prophet said, "That is what I want (from you)." He repeated his first statement for the second time, and they said, "You have conveyed Allah's message, O Aba-l-Qasim." Then he said it for the third time and added, "You should Know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to exile you fro,,, this land, so whoever among you owns some property, can sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle." (See Hadith No. 392, Vol. 4) Book 45, Number 45.5.18: Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Two deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian Peninsula." Malik said that Ibn Shihab said, ''Umar ibn al-Khattab searched for information about that until he was absolutely convinced that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had said, 'Two deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian Peninsula,' and he therefore expelled the jews from Khaybar." Book 45, Number 45.5.17: Yahya related to me from Malik from Ismail ibn Abi Hakim that he heard Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz say, "One of the last things that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said was, 'May Allah fight the jews and the christians. They took the graves of their Prophets as places of prostration . Two deens shall not co-exist in the land of the Arabs.' " *************************************************** What are churches for besides praying. A quote from a news source says: "Arafat has attended Christmas Eve services at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity since the town came under Palestinian rule in 1995." I am posting this thread based upon his attending 'services' or prayers at the Church. I have never heard of any Muslim leaders among the Companions, RA, or the Tabi'in, praying with any non-Muslims. If anyone has any information to the contrary, please let me know. Besides that, what is Arafat showing solidarity with? The fact that two deens should not co-exist in the Arabian Peninsula stresses to me the point that perhaps Arafat is solidifying the Phalastinians with other than the sunnah, and commands of the Rasulullah, SAWS, and actions of Umar ibn Khattab, RA. The title of 'People of the Book' has long since been stripped away from the Christians and Jews who, by their own actions, they took their preachers and the clergy as final authority, and gave Isa, alayhis salam, the role of 'Lord' and 'God.' Those Christians and Jews who do not do this, should have accepted al-Islam in the past 1400 years, in order to earn any favor with Allah SWT, or good company among Muslims. For truly the hadith says: **************************** Book 037, Number 6666: Abu Burda reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: No Muslim would die but Allah would admit in his stead a Jew or a Christian in Hell-Fire. 'Umar b. Abd al-'Aziz took an oath: By One besides Whom there is no god but He, thrice that his father had narrated that to him from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). ************************************************ I am really not certain about what your message meant, but I never judged Arafat to be corrupt, but that attending prayers and ceremonies of the kafr is corrupting. I base my opinion of his leadership upon what I have found in the ahadith and sunnah, and what scholars I respect, have to say about engaging in the 'symbolic' or otherwise ceremonies of Unbelievers. It is our job as Muslims to be concerned about those who hold leadership positions of the Ummah, and whether or not they establish the salaat, and enjoin the obligations and forbid the unlawful. A harmful criticism of Arafat would be if I said that I did not like his head covering, or that he made policy or administrative decisions I did not like. Those kinds of criticisms are matters of opinion and may have no bearing on how Islamically he is leading Palestine. However, questioning whether allegiances should be made with Christians in the form of attending their prayer ceremonies and services, on a day when they celebrate the birthday of a prophet, AS, but also during which ceremonies, is celebrated that prophets' attributes as a 'god', is a questioning that must be done. When people get together to do anything, whether it is worship, planning, or just socializing, it is responsible for a Muslim to ascertain the nature of such a gathering, so as to decide the benefits of continuing in the event or excusing his/herself. For the reason that if it be a righteous gathering of those who would please Allah SWT, and discuss the laws and deen that Allah SWT has set down, or worship in the way that the Prophet, SAWS, left us as the only way lawful for praying, then insha'Allah we reap the rewards of such a gathering, even if we are on the outskirts and barely participating. However, if the gathering be one in which there is gossip, slandering, useless talk of dunya affairs, or worship of other than Allah SWT, then surely shaytan is present is such gatherings, and any responsible Muslim with taqwa would leave or avoid such places and people. That is what I am basing my comments on, and that is what I am questioning about the responsibility that Arafat has to set and follow a better example. I look at Arafat going to Christmas Eve services the same as Bush holding an Eid dinner- hypocracy! Shukran for correcting me on the Phalastinian term. Regards, QAK |
| Re: When Is It O.K.? |
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| Rashid |
| 12/23/01 at 23:14:21 |
| [slm] First of all Arafat is not a Muslim leader. He is not a scholar, an imam, a mujahid, nothing of that sort. He is a secular nationalist political leader, so in my opinion him going to a church service is nothing but a political statement, we must remember that there are Palestinian Christians as well. [wlm] |
| Re: When Is It O.K.? |
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| akbalkhan |
| 12/24/01 at 00:06:11 |
| Thanks for your response. Does anyone support him or agree with his actions on attending the Christmas Eve services? *I edited my response because I thought it might sound sarcastic- I apologize if it was and you read it already. Regards, QAK |
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