THE TWO RIVALING FACES OF ISLAM

Traditional Al Azhar Vs Saudi Wahhabi Scholars

Question. Should a husband or wife stay in a marriage if their partner no longer prays? 

Wahhabi: Fatwa from Sheikh Ibn al-Uthaymin (a prominent 20th-century Saudi scholar) By abandoning his or her prayers, a person leaves Islam. It is forbidden, therefore, for a Muslim to remain with a husband or a wife who no longer prays. 

Al-Azhar: With a single stroke of the pen, this fatwa declares a vast number of Muslims to be unbelievers. In fact, it means that millions of people are now no longer Muslims. We do not know why the authors are so keen to exclude crowds of Muslims from God's religion.

Question. Is free thought and faith a positive attribute? 

Wahhabi: Sheikh Ibn al-Uthaymin Whoever argues that a person is entitled to complete freedom of faith is an unbeliever, guilty of the major sin of disbelief.

Al-Azhar: Allowing people freedom of faith does not mean that we consent to people forsaking their religion. However, we are dismayed by insistence on charging Muslims with acts of apostasy for the smallest of reasons. 

Question. Is it wrong to say the Earth moves around the Sun? 

Wahhabi: Sheikh Ibn Baaz (Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia 1993-99) "The person who maintains that the Sun does not move should be condemned to death after being called upon to repent, as his denials of the motion of the Sun constitute a denial of God's Word.

Al-Azhar: Matters which are not explicitly indicated in texts revealed by God should be referred to experts in these fields, such as astronomers. Such fatwas as this one sadly distorts the image of Islam worldwide. 

Question: Is it allowed for a Muslim to live in a non-Muslim country?

Wahhabi: Sheikh Ibn Baaz It is illegal to live in such countries for work, trade or even for study, except when engaged in proselytizing in the name of Islam. Islam must dominate the world. That is the will of Allah and infidels must be killed for they are a major threat to Islam. 

Al-Azhar: It is a Muslim's duty, whether living within Muslim or non-Muslim communities, to benefit other members of those communities through teaching religion, calling for the good and opposing the bad.

Question. Are Muslims allowed to study secular law?

Wahhabi: The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research (Saudi Arabia's most senior school of Islamic jurisprudence) It is not permitted to teach secular law as a general course in higher education. This subject should be limited to specialists, who are able to show how secular law deviates from the truth [of Muslim law]. 

Al-Azhar: There is nothing wrong with studying secular law providing that one's study is guided by a legitimate interest, such as co-operating for the general good of society and fighting legal oppression.

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