Fatwa by Egyptian cleric permits Muslims to sell alcohol in Europe

[watchthevideo]

CAIRO (dpa) - Egypt's number two cleric has issued a fatwa permitting Muslims to sell alcohol in Europe, according to a report Monday in the independent newspaper al-Masry al-Yaum.

The paper said it had obtained a copy of the Islamic ruling by Ali Gomaa, mufti of the Republic, which he had issued after receiving a request from a family that owns a tourism business in an unnamed European country.

Gomaa, according to the report, based his advice on rulings from the Hanafy school of jurisprudence in Sunni Islam interpreted to mean that Muslims in non-Islamic countries could enter into contracts that don't follow the precepts of Islamic law.

The mufti ended his response saying that the "gateway to piety is always open."

However, several Egyptian clerics took issue with Gomaa's opinion, according to the paper.

Several members of the Academy of Muslim Scholars, a consultative body affiliated to al-Azhar, one of the oldest seats of Islamic studies in the Islamic world, said they believed that Prophet Mohammed had the definitive word on the matter when he said it was not permissible for Muslims to sell or give alcohol to Jews or Christians.

Last year, an 'enlightened' Egyptian Muslim thinker - not a cleric - advocated that Muslim men living in Europe be allowed to have premarital sexual relations under 'temporary marriages.'

http://www.brunet.bn/news/bb/tue/dec20w21.htm

[sunilight]

hoooo woooooo

thats great news.....

what about drugs

can we sell drugs too

can i reopen my crack dealing business?

[TheEH]

:rolleyes:

[dreams]

hmm...........

[Illuminate]

Today fatwa are issued for what ever want, there are to many so called scholars to ready to issue rulings with out giving devine law due consideration and it is not just restricted to the middle east but all over the world.

Shahabi's used to shun the responsibility of issuing fatwa's as you are ruling on behalf of Allah tala

This is a sign of a bad scholar, who issue fatwa's like there is no tomorrow, a genuine scholar will also be hesitant to issue any kind of fatwa..

[PhoeniX]

These 'scholars' do not realise that the enormity of what they say.

As people who are not knowledgeable in all aspects of Islamic knowledge, i.e. fiqh, shariah, the 4 schools of thought, we are advised to seek out people of knowledge, to ask them.

If people act upon his 'fatwa' their sins will rest on the shoulders of the accountable scholar.

This is the reason why the knowledgable men such as the Sahabah, (companions of the Prophet PBUH) shied away from responsibility.

[watchthevideo]

Are we saying this fatwa is not valid? if so who decides its not valid?

[Illuminate]

Are we saying this fatwa is not valid? if so who decides its not valid?
I don't want to go into fiqhi issue, but this fatwa is invalid. This based on IJMA (consensus) of the learned men, if one say OK but the rest say it is not right we have to go with the majority. Our prophet (saw) said the ummah would not agree with a wrong - this and other verse's of the quran make IJMA binding. In the article it hints at other mufti's disagreeing with the person who gave this fatwa.

There are some devious group who say otherwise (that IJMA is not binding), but they should be reminded of the importance of ijma and how it is the third source of sharia law.


People should also bear in mind, that scholars are human as well, so they do make errors of judgements as well. I would not be surprised if the sheikh later on retracts his statement or clarify's what he said..

[Ali(uclan)]

the question arises has the fatwa actually be seen or are we relying upon the media which is telling us that the fatwa exists??

before we actually begin to discuss the fatwa we need to be provided with the actual fatwa and the question asked. if someone can provide me with the full details i check it up with a number of pious scholars!

there is also a question of fatwa and taqwa (piety/Awareness of Allah) when such a fatwa is discussed! the higher of rightousness is to remain distant from such an act as selling Alcohol!

this thread reminds me of a time when a high calibre scholar and sufi shaykh was asked to make dua at the shop of a person! when the shaykh got to the premises he found him selling alcohol, at which he said Allah has removed the barkah (blessing) from the person who sells soething haram, so how can i go against him and make dua for barkah!

[barodate]

what a little uncle-tom!

may he get whats coming to him. stupid idiot. according to ibn kathir he has committed the kufr of making haram into halal.

[Bach2005]

Are we saying this fatwa is not valid? if so who decides its not valid?

consensus... I suppose

[PhoeniX]

I agree with *Rahim*. The majority supercedes.

This 'scholar' has made something halal, that has been forbidden according to Sahih Hadith. The selling, storing, transporting, sitting where its being consumed, are all forbidden.

So of course, he is wrong.

[Raashid]

I don't want to go into fiqhi issue, but this fatwa is invalid. This based on IJMA (consensus) of the learned men, if one say OK but the rest say it is not right we have to go with the majority. Our prophet (saw) said the ummah would not agree with a wrong - this and other verse's of the quran make IJMA binding. In the article it hints at other mufti's disagreeing with the person who gave this fatwa.

There are some devious group who say otherwise (that IJMA is not binding), but they should be reminded of the importance of ijma and how it is the third source of sharia law.

I though ijma of sahaba was a source, can you clarify how ijma of ulema becomes binding. Isn't the strength of evidence more important then the numbers who agree on a point? What is the source that states ijma of ulema is binding, as even who fits the criteria of alim differs wildly.
Apologies for going (slightly) off topic and poor English...

[Illuminate]

I though ijma of sahaba was a source, can you clarify how ijma of ulema becomes binding. Isn't the strength of evidence more important then the numbers who agree on a point? What is the source that states ijma of ulema is binding, as even who fits the criteria of alim differs wildly.
Apologies for going (slightly) off topic and poor English...

Ijma is a source of sharia after the Quran and Sunnah, when people talk about Ijma of Sahaba they are talking about beliefs. Sahaba are not here to do ijma for us are they.

It is the belief of Ahl Al-Sunnah that we stick to the largest congregation as stated in Imam Tahawi - Bayan Ahl-al-sunnah wal Jammah:

Imam al-Tahawi said in his `Aqida al-tahawiyya:

Wa la nukhalifu jama`at al-muslimin "We do not separate from the largest group of the Muslims."

The commentators have explained that the "largest group of the Muslims" here refers to the ijma` al-mujtahidin or consensus of major scholars. Whose foundations are based on two:

a) the consensus of Muslim scholars;

b) the consensus of Muslim scholars [I]at any given time in history.



Let me now quote what Ijma is according to the works from Risala off Imam Al-Shafi

Imam al Shafi defines the ijma thus in his Risala:

The adherence of the congregation (jama`a) of Muslims to the conclusions of a given ruling pertaining to what is permitted and what is forbidden after the passing of the Prophet, Peace be upon him.

By "congregation of Muslims" he actually means the experts of independent reasoning and legal answers in the obscure matters which require insight and investigation, as well as the agreement of the Community of Muslims concerning what is obligatorily known of the religion with its decisive proofs.

Shafi say's (Risala p. 253): "The Prophet's order that men should follow the Muslim community is a proof that the Ijma` of the Muslims is binding."

Later on (p. 286) he quotes the hadith whereby the Prophet said:

"Believe my Companions, then those who succeed them, and after that those who succeed the Successors. But after them falsehood will prevail when people will swear to the truth without having been asked to swear, and testify without having been asked to testify. Only those who seek the pleasures of Paradise will keep to the Congregation..."

Shafi comments: "He who holds what the Muslim Congregation (jama`a) holds shall be regarded as following the Congregation, and he who holds differently shall be regarded as opposing the Congregation he was ordered to follow. So the error comes from separation; but in the Congregation as a whole there is no error concerning the meaning of the Qur'an, the Sunna, and analogy (qiyas)."


Now if we take this alcohol issue, it is clearly apparent that the majority of the ulema and ummah at large will agree that this is an error on the part of the people who issued this fatwa, so as the followers of our prophet (saw) we must stick to the majority view as our prophet said the ummah will not agree on a error.

I hope this clarify's what I said earlier

ma sallam

[abdulmojid]

Haraam is Halaal?

:dunce:

I think the guy was drunk when he made the fatawa

[EmbraceHislamb]

There are many corner shops owned by Muslims selling alcohol . they must be happy someone cares about them :)

[TheEH]

Or sad that God is angry with them...

:)

[Ali(uclan)]

its a shame when those who are not scholars themselves are making acusations against scholar (eg of being drunk) and also considering them to be out of the fold of islam! one has to be very careful when making such acusations!

cumon people, lets fix up!

if you have the knowledge to the same level as this scholar then please contact him and discuss the matter, if you havnt please stop ur self from cussin him!

theres been a number of constructive posts, but my recomendations who r posting randoms cusses, save it!

[sunilight]

its a shame when those who are not scholars themselves are making acusations against scholar (eg of being drunk) and also considering them to be out of the fold of islam! one has to be very careful when making such acusations!

cumon people, lets fix up!

if you have the knowledge to the same level as this scholar then please contact him and discuss the matter, if you havnt please stop ur self from cussin him!

theres been a number of constructive posts, but my recomendations who r posting randoms cusses, save it!


arhhhh great news ..... does this mean i can open up my crack dealing business again
dont worry am only selling to non muslims

[Ali(uclan)]

the question arises has the fatwa actually be seen or are we relying upon the media which is telling us that the fatwa exists??

before we actually begin to discuss the fatwa we need to be provided with the actual fatwa and the question asked. if someone can provide me with the full details i check it up with a number of pious scholars!



if you actualy bothered to read my original post i asked some fundamental questions which have not been answered! :thinking: