Atlas Shrugs Dec. 26, 2012 _Head Imam at Australia's biggest mosque declares fatwa against Christmas _ (http://p.feedblitz.com/r.asp?l=71302690&f=26412&u=13042656&c=4521113) "No merriness here: mosque puts fatwa on Christmas" _Sidney Morning Herald_ (http://p.feedblitz.com/t2.asp?/26412/13042656/4521113/www.smh.com.au/nsw/no-merriness-here-mosque-puts-fatwa-on-christmas-20121222-2bsk2.html#ixzz2G09 NkaDy) December 22, 2012 (thanks to Assad Elepty) THE Lakemba Mosque has issued a fatwa against Christmas, warning followers it is a ''sin'' to even wish people a Merry Christmas. The religious ruling, which followed a similar lecture during Friday prayers at Australia's biggest mosque, was posted on its Facebook site on Saturday morning. The head imam at Lakemba, Sheikh Yahya Safi, had told the congregation during prayers that they should not take part in anything to do with Christmas. Samir Dandan, the president of the Lebanese Muslim Association, which oversees the mosque, could not be reached for comment on Saturday.The fatwa, which has sparked widespread community debate and condemnation, warns that the "disbelievers are trying to draw Muslims away from the straight path" It also says that Christmas Day and associated celebrations are among the "falsehoods that a Muslim should avoid ... and therefore, a Muslim is neither allowed to celebrate the Christmas Day nor is he allowed to congratulate them". The posting of the fatwa has shocked many Muslim leaders. The Grand Mufti of Australia, Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, said the foundations of Islam were peace, co-operation, respect and holding others in esteem. [ Total falsehood; the Koran is specific about the "sin" of shirk, which means that the trinity is regarded as a "Pagan" concept and is a form of idolatry,and, further, that Pagans per se should be enslaved or killed. "Pagan" means Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, Confucians, Shintoists, etc, not just people in tribal parts of Africa or Central Asia. ] "Anyone who says otherwise is speaking irresponsibly," he said. "There is difference between showing respect for someone's belief and sharing those beliefs," Dr Ibrahim said. Dr Ibrahim said the views did not represent the majority of Muslims in Australia. "We are required to have good relations with all people, and to congratulate them on their joyous events is very important." [ They congratulate Jews on Rosh Hashanah ? Somehow I seriously doubt it. ] The fatwa quotes the teacher Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim as saying that congratulating disbelievers for their rituals is forbidden, and if a "Muslim who says this does not become a disbeliever himself, he at least commits a sin as this is the same as congratulating him for his belief in the trinity, which is a greater sin and much more disliked by Almighty Allaah than congratulating him for drinking alcohol or killing a soul or committing fornication or adultery." -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
