Fatwa to Go

September 27, 2006 at 1:19 pm · Filed under Pigeon Hole

Yes, seriously, at least in India.
You can actually order your very own fatwa for as little as $22.
I can think of plenty ;)

+ Time.com
+ Moorish Girl


17 Comments »

  1. Iman

    September 27, 2006 @ 2:29 pm

    custom made … sadly funny!

    tab share some here :P

  2. Nas

    September 27, 2006 @ 4:15 pm

    look what they’ve reduced our religion to…

    i want a fatwa against stupidity

  3. bakkouz

    September 27, 2006 @ 9:04 pm

    I want a fatwa that makes drinking water in ramadan halal :D

  4. Roba

    September 27, 2006 @ 10:21 pm

    Iman, lol, how about, like Moorish Girl said, a fatwa against fatwas? That would be awesome.

    Nas, haha, hit the nail right on the head. Man… it’s horrible.

    Bakkouz, and gum!

  5. Qwaider قويدر

    September 27, 2006 @ 10:31 pm

    What’s the big deal here? I don’t get it.
    So you go, with a question and get the answer immediately. How is this different than going to the local mosque and consulting the Imam, or calling a live show and asking, or sending it by mail?

    Fatwa’s don’t mean they’re going to give you more rights in Islam but rather tell you the religious standing about something you didn’t know. Like lets say, is it OK to brush your teeth in Ramadan. Yes it is. This is a Fatwa!

  6. Nas

    September 27, 2006 @ 11:57 pm

    Qwaider, from what you just wrote I’m not so sure you know what a fatwa is exactly?

  7. Qwaider قويدر

    September 28, 2006 @ 1:18 am

    With all due respect Nas, allow me to explain what I view fatwa as, and please feel free to jump in and correct me if I’m wrong:
    Fatwa = تبيين المُشكل من الأحكام
    Or, clarifying what might be ambiguous. This goes to anything from how to comb your hair to who inherits you in the case of your death

    Fatwa is basically giving the religious position on a specific matter and has several levels from mandating an action, to considering it prohibited. And of course all the spectrum in between.

    Hope I made my self clear

  8. Nas

    September 28, 2006 @ 1:04 pm

    Q, you are right to an extent, but you stop where you should go further, in the sense that while a fatwa is giving a religious position therein lies the problem. a religious position is derived from scholarly study based on a selective interpretation. that position therefore becomes a fatwa and therefore a part of fiqh and/or jurisprudence. you can’t have a system where someone pays you money to enforce or influence their opinion, where does it end? “alcohol-halal-tuesdays”?

  9. Qwaider قويدر

    September 28, 2006 @ 11:01 pm

    I totally understand and agree with you most of what you said. Fatwas shouldn’t have a “selective” interpretation.
    Fatwa, also doesn’t require Scholarly study, it most of the time needs deep Islamic understanding and taking the religion and the welfare of the society in mind at the same time (possible without scholarly study)

    There is nothing wrong in being paid to give fatwas, But you see, The minute it becomes “For profit” or for any personal reasons (for the Mufti or the Mufta) it becomes null and void!
    The biggest issue and I keep saying this, is the disappearance of the Islamic Scholarly Sage. Someone who would understand and say and might do radical things sometimes but is loved and followed by the Majority of Muslims. We seem to end up with these extremist bastards, or some Stupid scholars who come up with even more stupid ideas, things a 6 year old wouldn’t say just with common sense

    And the rest are like the story says, “Will customise” a fatwa for you.

    So Fatwa = Positive
    Fatway-as-you-wish = Negative
    Being paid for Fatwa, is “fine” as long as the intentions remain pure

    I talked about this a little while ago… here: […]The absolute absence of the Muslim sages in the modern times is to blame to the conditions we’re in these days. We have these half educated scholars who are governing our life converting Islam to “listener’s choice” deciding to rule us into submission to 17th century Islamic dark ages. Without following the soul of the text or the real gems that exist deep within it’s teachings.[…] Wake up and smell the coffee

  10. Nas

    September 29, 2006 @ 10:07 pm

    “Fatwa, also doesn’t require Scholarly study, it most of the time needs deep Islamic understanding ”

    it requires scholarly study if you’re issuing one, otherwise your local grocer or baker can issue one.

    “There is nothing wrong in being paid to give fatwas, But you see, The minute it becomes “For profit” or for any personal reasons (for the Mufti or the Mufta) it becomes null and void!”

    lool man forget about profit, the very notion that you can pay someone to issue a fatwa that is deemed “legitimate” is in essence wrong and not to mention haram! imagine bribing a state official to mend the law for you, let alone make up one to your liking.

    “The biggest issue and I keep saying this, is the disappearance of the Islamic Scholarly Sage. Someone who would understand and say and might do radical things sometimes but is loved and followed by the Majority of Muslims. We seem to end up with these extremist bastards, or some Stupid scholars who come up with even more stupid ideas, things a 6 year old wouldn’t say just with common sense”

    the extremists have been around since the dawn of Islam and since the dawn of Christianity, Judaism and mankind as we know it. there just seems to be more of them now because the world is much more globalized than it was before, so we’ve become “aware” of them. that being said, there are tons of moderates and even liberal thinkers that balance out the equation and this is essentially why we dont have a central authority. if we did, then we’d be screwed, much moreso than we are now.

    “Fatway-as-you-wish = Negative
    Being paid for Fatwa, is “fine” as long as the intentions remain pure”

    the line between those two is too thin to scale, which is why both are rejected by religious standards all together.

  11. Qwaider قويدر

    September 29, 2006 @ 10:20 pm

    Nas, Apparently you just want to argue, with out having any reason to
    Fine,
    Being on the payroll of the state doesn’t mean that you will allow them what is Haram
    An example of being paid to do your Job

    Yes, Your baker and your taxicab driver MIGHT have enough understanding to give you a fatwa, The concept of right or wrong is not exclusive to “scholars” and most fatwas are just that, right or wrong!

    Yes, I agree with you on the Extremists part, they have existed all throughout history, most notable in the Islamic history were “Al Khawarij” with all they different sects.. Anyway, this is not the point, the point is an Islamic Sage need not be an extremist nor accepting bribes

    In the Islamic history we have many examples of people who were on the payroll of the Khalifa but Defied him, and refused to issue Fatwa as any one whims. And were of course subject to many things due to their stand.

    So you see history PROVES to you that, there were people being paid and still not issuing fatwas as people like

    So my statement still holds
    “Fatway-as-you-wish = Negative
    Being paid for Fatwa, is “fine” as long as the intentions remain pure”

    Wanna argue some more? although you really have no point

  12. Nas

    September 30, 2006 @ 5:49 am

    “Nas, Apparently you just want to argue, with out having any reason to
    Fine,

    …Wanna argue some more? although you really have no point”

    First of all, take it easy. I’m simply contesting what you’re saying through a debate. I’ve said nothing offensive or insulting. I recognise your arguement and you should recognise mine. So don’t brush me aside by saying i really have no point. If you’re not up to facing someone’s counter arguement then fine.

    I’m not going to agree with you just for the heck of it.

    it’s up to you

  13. Qwaider قويدر

    September 30, 2006 @ 7:11 am

    Well,
    First you condescendingly say that, I have no idea what a fatwa is, and I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and went along with it.
    Then I demonstrated to you that there is more to the matter than your single point of view which with all due respect is one possibility and is not inclusive of the essence of the matter.
    At any rate, your concern is warranted, and I stand corrected, you have a valid concern, and with the present exploitation of religion in such a despicable way by those who take it as profitable profession that becomes more of an issue.
    I’m not seeking your agreement or approval and certainly not my intention for force my point of view onto others.
    Cheers!

  14. Nas

    October 1, 2006 @ 12:25 am

    Q, if I wanted to be condescending i would’ve said “dude you have no idea what a fatwa is” instead i said “from what you just wrote I’m not so sure you know what a fatwa is exactly?”…note the question mark, a subtle reference to the possibility of me asking a question.

  15. Qwaider قويدر

    October 1, 2006 @ 1:59 am

    Nas,
    From what you wrote I’m not so sure you know what a “question mark” is exactly?

  16. Nas

    October 1, 2006 @ 2:46 am

    sigh, and here i was trying to sort things out. oh well.

  17. Qwaider قويدر

    October 1, 2006 @ 4:53 am

    And that was my frustration when I read your comment, got it? it IS condescending.

    Anyway, Nas, no harm done, I just wanted to get my point across, and I think I have.
    And next time you’re in Seattle, you’re coffee is on me ;)
    Cheers

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