Post by Woodrow LI on Aug 29, 2013 16:46:26 GMT -6
This is a word often misunderstood by many non-Muslims.
To begin with it is different for Sunni and Shi'ite.
I will speak only of the Sunni meaning.
First a textbook definition:
SOURCE
Notice closely what it is:
Definition: A fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law.
It is not a command to kill or harm some one. It is an opinion. It is not an obligation to follow or agree with a fatwa. It is an opinion on a matter of law and how the Scholar has arrived at that opinion.
There are hundreds if not thousands of fatwas given daily. The only ones we need to be concerned about are those that affect us on a local level.
They generally relate to local questions and issues.
Such as "Is a Muslim living in New York obligated to obey US laws?"
A typical Fatwa addressing this question is:
SOURCE
Nearly all fawas are issued in answer to a specific question. Sometimes they are addressing an issue that a scholar is aware of.. Such as this one:
SOURCE
To begin with it is different for Sunni and Shi'ite.
I will speak only of the Sunni meaning.
First a textbook definition:
Definition: A fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law.
A fatwa is issued by a recognized religious authority in Islam. But since there is no hierarchical priesthood or anything of the sort in Islam, a fatwa is not necessarily "binding" on the faithful. The people who pronounce these rulings are supposed to be knowledgable, and base their rulings in knowledge and wisdom. They need to supply the evidence from Islamic sources for their opinions, and it is not uncommon for scholars to come to different conclusions regarding the same issue.
As Muslims, we look at the opinion, the reputation of the person giving it, the evidence given to support it, and then decide whether to follow it or not. When there are conflicting opinions issued by different scholars, we compare the evidence and then choose the opinion to which our God-given conscience guides
A fatwa is issued by a recognized religious authority in Islam. But since there is no hierarchical priesthood or anything of the sort in Islam, a fatwa is not necessarily "binding" on the faithful. The people who pronounce these rulings are supposed to be knowledgable, and base their rulings in knowledge and wisdom. They need to supply the evidence from Islamic sources for their opinions, and it is not uncommon for scholars to come to different conclusions regarding the same issue.
As Muslims, we look at the opinion, the reputation of the person giving it, the evidence given to support it, and then decide whether to follow it or not. When there are conflicting opinions issued by different scholars, we compare the evidence and then choose the opinion to which our God-given conscience guides
Notice closely what it is:
Definition: A fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law.
It is not a command to kill or harm some one. It is an opinion. It is not an obligation to follow or agree with a fatwa. It is an opinion on a matter of law and how the Scholar has arrived at that opinion.
There are hundreds if not thousands of fatwas given daily. The only ones we need to be concerned about are those that affect us on a local level.
They generally relate to local questions and issues.
Such as "Is a Muslim living in New York obligated to obey US laws?"
A typical Fatwa addressing this question is:
It was issued in Virginia late last month by the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), a group of Islamic scholars who meet several times a year to draft opinions on issues of concern to American Muslims.
"As a body of Islamic scholars, we the members of FCNA believe that it is false and misleading to suggest that there is a contradiction between being faithful Muslims committed to God (Allah) and being loyal American citizens," the fatwa declared.
"Islamic teachings require respect of the laws of the land where Muslims live as minorities, including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, so long as there is no conflict with Muslims’ obligation for obedience to God. We do not see any such conflict with the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The primacy of obedience to God is a commonly held position of many practicing Jews and Christians as well."
"As a body of Islamic scholars, we the members of FCNA believe that it is false and misleading to suggest that there is a contradiction between being faithful Muslims committed to God (Allah) and being loyal American citizens," the fatwa declared.
"Islamic teachings require respect of the laws of the land where Muslims live as minorities, including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, so long as there is no conflict with Muslims’ obligation for obedience to God. We do not see any such conflict with the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The primacy of obedience to God is a commonly held position of many practicing Jews and Christians as well."
Nearly all fawas are issued in answer to a specific question. Sometimes they are addressing an issue that a scholar is aware of.. Such as this one:
EXCERPT
20 North American Imams Issue Fatwa Against Terrorists
According to The National Post of Canada: “Syed Soharwardy, an imam at the Al-Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre, who organized the initiative, said yesterday that any attack by foreign elements should also be considered a direct affront to the 10 million Muslims who call either Canada or the United States home. “We want Muslims around the world who would dare to commit terrorism on our soil to know that we stand together with all Canadians and Americans. “We are asking Muslims here not only to condemn terrorism but to also see these events as attacks on themselves.”
FATWA:
“We, the undersigned Imams, are issuing the following Fatwa in order to guide the Muslims of North America regarding the attacks on Canada and the United States by the terrorists and the extremists,”
“In our view, these attacks are evil and Islam requires from Muslims to stand up against this evil. In the holy Qur’an Almighty Allah (God) orders Muslims:
“Let there among you be a group that summon to all that is beneficial commands what is proper and forbids what is improper; they are the ones who will prosper.” (3:104)
“Believing men and believing women are protecting friends of one another; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong; they perform salat and give zakat…” (9:71)
“Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in a Hadith;
“When people see a wrong-doer and do nothing to stop him, they may well be visited by God with a punishment.”
“Therefore, it is an obligation upon us (Imams) to inform all Muslims around the world that Muslims in Canada and the United States have complete freedom to practice Islam
20 North American Imams Issue Fatwa Against Terrorists
According to The National Post of Canada: “Syed Soharwardy, an imam at the Al-Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre, who organized the initiative, said yesterday that any attack by foreign elements should also be considered a direct affront to the 10 million Muslims who call either Canada or the United States home. “We want Muslims around the world who would dare to commit terrorism on our soil to know that we stand together with all Canadians and Americans. “We are asking Muslims here not only to condemn terrorism but to also see these events as attacks on themselves.”
FATWA:
“We, the undersigned Imams, are issuing the following Fatwa in order to guide the Muslims of North America regarding the attacks on Canada and the United States by the terrorists and the extremists,”
“In our view, these attacks are evil and Islam requires from Muslims to stand up against this evil. In the holy Qur’an Almighty Allah (God) orders Muslims:
“Let there among you be a group that summon to all that is beneficial commands what is proper and forbids what is improper; they are the ones who will prosper.” (3:104)
“Believing men and believing women are protecting friends of one another; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong; they perform salat and give zakat…” (9:71)
“Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in a Hadith;
“When people see a wrong-doer and do nothing to stop him, they may well be visited by God with a punishment.”
“Therefore, it is an obligation upon us (Imams) to inform all Muslims around the world that Muslims in Canada and the United States have complete freedom to practice Islam