INTERFAITH PERPLEXITY – THE KUFR SILHOUETTE
QUESTION
Please comment on the under mentioned scenarios which someone presents in justification of interfaith prayers. Is there any validity in terms of the Shariah for permitting participation?
The gentleman says:
“We need to introspect and reflect over the following scenarios:
Scenario 1
A public school has a component of approximately 20% Muslim students. The Muslims are influential in the area, which also extends to the school. The school administration accommodates Muslim needs by:-
1) Allowing Muslim girls to don the Hijaab
2) Allowing Muslim students to go and perform Jum’uah or allowing a class in the school for Jum’uah.
A non-Muslim student in the school meets up in an accident, and the school decides to have a prayer for his recovery. Muslims by the present mindset pushed by certain groups and mindsets, citing the Abrahamic accord, refuse to partake in the prayer.
The entire school community (governors, administration – fellow students) feel extremely disappointed that after accommodating Muslim needs, this is the Muslim response.
Attitudes harden, and all the previous privileges are revoked. What are Muslims supposed to do in this type of scenario?”
ANSWER
Firstly, the mention of the Abrahamic Accord here is incongruous. According to this kufr Accord, Muslims should participate in all interfaith and kufr gatherings, prayers and functions of non-Muslims. Those who cite the Abrahamic Accord will not refuse to participate in kufr prayers and satanic functions. Those who are opposed to the kufr Abrahamic Accord are Muslims of true Imaan who refuse to participate in any interfaith function.
Secondly, it is haraam for Muslims to attend kuffaar schools, and it is aggravated haraam for Muslim girls in particular.
Thirdly, allowing Muslims to don hijaab and perform Salaat are not favours and privileges bestowed by the school management. They claim that South Africa is a democracy – whatever this concept may mean. If it is a democracy in which the constitution provides for freedom of religion, then practicing Islam is the constitutional right of Muslims. It is not any favour conferred by the school authorities. Thus, the school is in scandalous violation of denying the constitutional right of the Muslim pupils.
Thirdly, the disappointment of the ‘school community’ is unjustified, stupid and an expression of hatred for Muslims. In a democracy it should be understood and accepted that all citizens have the right of thought, expression and religious freedom. Hence, the disappointment is irrational and the effect of enmity for Muslims.
Fourthly, modernist ‘muslims’, lacking in true Imaan, suffer from slave-mentality which is the consequence of an inferiority complex acquired from western culture which has colonized the brains of all non-westerners be they Muslims, Arab, African, Asian and of whatever hue and ideology.
The Muslim who has presented his portrait of scenarios did so in the silhouette of Kufr. Lacking in Imaan, but professing to be a Muslim, he believes that bootlicking the kuffaar even to the extent of perpetrating kufr is incumbent.
The aforementioned scenario can exist for those Muslim students who have violated the Shariah of Allah Ta’ala by attending kuffaar schools. They will be stampeded into bootlicking kufr and losing their Imaan.
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Scenario 2
Muslims in a multi-national accounting company have proven themselves in the company by their diligent work, honesty, and integrity. The company allows Muslim staff:-
1) time off for Jum’uah
2) a separate prayer accommodation
3) special privileges for Ramadhaan – Eid
The company has a crisis and calls on prominent staff from different faith groups to say a few words of motivation from their religious tradition. All faith groups attend. Muslims citing the above mindset refuse to participate. The company feels betrayed and reverses all the previous privileges
Answer
If the Muslim employees believe that their employer is their raaziq, they will obviously abandon their Imaan to bootlick the kuffaar. Those who have true Imaan will, without batting an eyelid, refuse to join the kufr interfaith prayer. They will not be concerned of the displeasure of the employer since they believe that only Allah Ta’ala is the Raaziq.
The Mu’min is concerned with his betrayal of Allah Ta’ala. He is firstly and foremost concerned with the Pleasure and Displeasure of Allah Ta’ala regardless of the stupid emotions of the enemies of Allah Ta’ala.
On the basis of the Qur’aan, the Fuqaha have ruled that it is not permissible for Muslims to work under non-Muslims. Working for the kuffaar incumbently compromises the Deen. Many haraam acts are committed and tolerated when working under kuffaar bosses.
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Scenario 3
A community meeting is called due to rampant crime in the area. Religious leaders are asked by the local SAPS to each say a small prayer at the start of the meeting. What should be the community’s response to a common concern?
Answer
If the SAPS asks all to drink wine, eat pork and denude themselves of their garments, and if all comply, does it follow that Muslims too should abide by such satanism? The job of SAPS is to protect the citizens, not to prescribe prayers and the like. They are supposed to be versed with the constitution and the rights of the citizens. Never should Muslims participate in interfaith prayers. Never should they acquiesce to the request of the SAPS thereby indulging in kufr.
Our Protector is only Allah Azza Wa Jal, not the SAPS.
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Scenario 4
The President is being inaugurated or at the opening of parliament. Religious leaders are called to say prayers at the event. Because of the mindset, Ulama shun the event.
A minority group (Shia / Qadiyani) representative offers the prayer. The community then objects as to why the majority group is not represented. Will this objection be justified?
Answer
Most certainly they will not be justified. Only Munaafiqeen will join in the kufr interfaith prayer service. The inauguration of the president does not justify kufr. The inauguration does not compel Muslims to participate. There is absolutely no constitutional incumbency for Muslims to participate in an event which cancels their Imaan. Never should Muslims participate.
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Scenario 5
Your non-Muslim neighbour, who has always been a good neighbour, of 30 or 40 years dies. You refuse to offer any sympathy, condolences to the family (which is permitted – unlike attending the funeral services). The neighbourly relations become strained.
Hence, in conclusion, this is the reality of the situation on the ground, which many Muslims have to face. We need to be tolerant and compassionate, and not seen as selfish and inconsiderate.
Answer
Offering condolence is permissible. However, the Muslim should not become a party to a function. After the funeral when everything has become quiet, then the Muslim neighbour may offer condolence provided that he does not have to violate any Shar’i command, e.g. going to the neighbour’s house at a time when there is a mixed gathering of men and women or if music is being played or if pictures are displayed on the walls.
14 Safar 1445 – 31 August 2023