THE QUASIMODO QARADAWI

A decade ago, nobody could have imagined Gulf countries would finance a miniseries based upon the life of Prophet Muhammad's immediate successors in which actual people would be allowed to play the characters of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali and Khalid b. Walid (may God be pleased with them). When Omar Series was made public, people were more interested in learning the religious orientation of the guy who plays Sayyiduna Umar b. al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him), a piece of information the actor preferred to keep private. In the '90s, an Iranian director started creating series about the Seven Sleepers (Ashab-e-Kahf) or the Men of Angelos, which was a critical hit and the director returned in the next century with his Prophet Joseph, a series so lengthy you need to spare two days to watch it continuously in its entirety. Meanwhile, Iranians were producing movies about Prophet Moses, Prophet Solomon, Prophet Jesus, Caliph Ali and Mukhtar al-Thaqafi. Mokhtarnameh is still considered to be the most beloved Iranian series among Pakistani Shiite Muslims. These series were abhorred among Sunni Muslims because of the depiction of the faces of prophets and their companions. But the 21st century brought a lot of reforms among Salafi ideologues. Omar Series was backed by several esteemed scholars such as Dr. Yasir Qadhi and Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi. It seems likely that one day even the depiction of prophets will be green-lighted by these fundamentalists. Among Wahhabi Muslims, we see different kinds of clerics; some are violent and deem it permissible to kill civilians while some are decent and promote peace among Muslims. The example of Qaradawi (not a Wahhabi) is quite unique and interesting as he is one of those people who issue verdicts that seem to offend both the extremist and the tolerant. Thereby, I have compared him to Victor Hugo's Quasimodo, an individual whom the people see as a deformed monstrosity of nature's creation but deep down he has a kind heart that knows how to love and care for someone. I still haven't found an Esmeralda for Qaradawi but he seems like a nice guy entrapped in the clutch of his violent maslak.

All hail the Egyptian mullah!

This Egyptian-Qatari Sunni Muslim cleric with Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan al-Muslimin) background will turn 94 this September (may God bless his life with longevity). Born and raised in Egypt, he's spent his days in Egypt (the country of his birth) and Qatar (the country where he lives now). His father died when he was just 2 years old. He memorized the entire Quran when he was 9. Young Yusuf graduated from, received his Masters degree from and ultimately was awarded PhD by Cairo's prestigious al-Azhar University. He had been living in a self-imposed semi-exile in Qatar since 1961 when Nasser was the President. This banishment came to an end in 2011 when Hosni Mubarak was deposed. As a student, he had grown special fondness for Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood founder who was assassinated in 1949. Qaradawi was in his '20s back then. But I am not interested in tracing Qaradawi's sources of inspiration. He did a lot of things in his life, ever spent some time in jail, had to leave the country, was banned from entering several American countries, caused some bitter controversies with his verdicts and gained popularity among non-Salafi extremists. Here are a few verdicts of this amazing cleric that show the contradictory nature of his personality. He strikes me as a confused fellow who can't decide whether he wants to become a non-takfiri fundamentalist or a modernist liberal. I would like to compare Qaradawi with his Salafi counterparts such as Jeddah-based fundamentalist Assim al-Hakeem. I have written an article refuting Hakeem's assertion that Shiite Muslims disrespect the sahabah. I have also written an article against a Pakistani mullah (who is rather ignorant when compared to the likes to Qaradawi and Hakeem) who believed that Shiite Muslims permitted homosexuality. There is also a Pakistani scholar named Mufti Taqi Usmani who is considered to be the most influential Muslim on the face of earth. He was the guy who authored a book against Maududi in which he defended Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah's innovations and even justified the killing of Hujr b. Adi (may God be pleased with him) in the King's monkey court. Well, here are some anecdotes by our dear little Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

Hajj or no hajj?

Qaradawi made headlines a few years ago when he suggested that Muslims better use their money for humanitarian causes instead of spending it all on pilgrimages to Mecca. People called him a hypocrite for urging people to replace an important Islamic practice - one of the arkan (pillars) of our religion - for non-obligatory action. But I believe that Qaradawi was addressing those Muslims who have performed obligatory hajj once in their lifetime and - as Islam doesn't require you to make your pilgrimage again - it's better to give money to the Muslim brethren in need. Feeding hungry families is lot better than visiting Mecca back to back. 

Terrorism allowed for Palestinians

Qaradawi is against Salafi Islam and all forms of terrorism. He doesn't consider suicide bombings to be permitted for Muslims anywhere on earth except Israel. He allows Palestinians to use the tactic of suicide bombings against Israeli people. According to him, a Palestinian suicide bomber isn't a terrorist because he doesn't have any other technique to defend himself against Israeli invasion. But non-Palestinian Muslims can't kill themselves to blow their enemies into bits and pieces because that would be terrorism. I think this logic is flawed because there are many other places on earth where Muslims don't have any measure to fight their oppressors except for suicide bombings (China, for instance). Can we change the rulings of shari'ah to accommodate modern problems faced by Muslims? Doesn't it give non-Muslims the idea that our shari'ah isn't divine or infallible? Fuqaha can allow our soldiers to suicide bomb the rival army but civilians cannot be harmed. Also, if Palestinians start killing civilians then what is the difference between them and the Jewish regime?

Civilians aren't non-combatants?

Qaradawi also permitted Palestinians to murder Israeli civilians, even pregnant women and newborn children, on the basis that these children will grow up to become Israeli fighters (as if every newborn is destined to adopt a military profession!). This fatwa by Qaradawi was highly condemned by people who lean towards rationality. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his descendants) forbade killing of women and children. He only allowed the killing of women and children when they attacked the Muslim army. Non-combatants are immune from execution; women and children are normally non-combatants. Qaradawi also believes that the Syrians who don't fight Assad and still live under his authority are combatants and can be killed by rebels. I need to remind you of the fact that he gave the fatwa to assassinate Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi (Gaddafi). Aren't you a Sunni whose maslak forbids people to assassinate rulers if they keep letting you offer prayers? Assim al-Hakeem even said that protesting is haram in Islam. Maybe that's why Qaradawi hates Wahhabi Muslims.

Antisemitism to democracy

He hates not just Assad, his loyal citizens or the Syrian people but he also hates the entire Alawite sect. He thinks Alawites (Nusayris) are worse infidels than Jews or Christians. Why? How can you denounce an entire faction of Muslims for the crimes committed by their leaders? If we accept this logic than the actions of takfiri terrorists must be the responsibility of all Muslims. Qaradawi also shows ideological devolution regarding the status of Jews. In 2008, he regarded them as friends and declared that there was no enmity between Muslims and Jews. Then, in 2013, he vilified them when he was asked to participate in an interfaith dialogue by stating: If you invite the Jews, I will not participate. Yet he's a modernist who believes in democracy. While there are Muslims who think jamhuriyat (democracy) is kufr (disbelief) and any Muslim who takes part in democracy by even casting his vote is a kafir (nonbeliever). Egyptian terrorists (al-Takfir wa al-Hijrah) used this logic to spill the blood of civilians. Qaradawi is against the kind of dictatorship we see in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or the kind of theocracy we see in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Apostasy and its punishment

Regarding apostasy, he believes there are two kinds i.e. major apostasy and minor apostasy. He regards major apostasy as the one which threatens the stability of Islam and peace among Muslims. But he was condemned for saying something quite disturbing regarding apostasy. His words were: If they'd gotten rid of the apostasy punishment, Islam wouldn't exist today. It seems he's enunciating that killing apostates is necessary for the survival of Islam and most people are Muslims only because they're afraid to lose their heads if they change their religion. This kind of motive regarding apostasy is not only disturbing but also allows critics to present Islam as a violent faith. I believe that apostasy is only punished when the revert rebels against the ruler and starts a violent campaign to undermine the stability of the government. Read this amazing piece.

Hezbollah or Hizb al-Shaytan?

He didn't just change his views regarding Jews. In 2006, he was pro-Hezbollah and was pleased with their activities to weaken Israel. Then, in 2013, he apologized for his previous stance, repented for supporting Hezbollah and condemned this Iran-backed Lebanese organization for killing Sunni Muslims. I believe that Hezbollah can be a terrorist organization. They haven't ever taken responsibility for any terror attack. But there are strong speculations that Imad Mughniyeh (عماد مغنیہ) planned the 1983 Beirut bombings. In my opinion, any group recognized as a terrorist one by United Nations must be condemned and fought against. My stance is like that of Switzerland. Hezbollah has not been recognized as a terrorist organization by UN. I neither support nor condemn Hezbollah but I do condemn Iranian regime for its crimes against humanity. Ayatollah Khamenei should check his son Mojtaba for his corruption scandals.

Dual Nature Arab Spring

Qaradawi proved to have hypocritical stance on the Arab Spring (2011). He supported the Libyan rebels and even issues a fatwa to behead Gaddafi. But he didn't support Shiite rebels in Bahrain who were demanding their rights. Both countries are controlled by dictators. Both countries witnessed a sense of political awakening among their citizens. But Qaradawi failed to endorse the protests by Bahrain's Shiite rebels. He suggested that Shiite rebels must have a dialogue with Sunni rulers. Bahrain is a Shiite-majority country ruled by a Sunni king. The protesters called for an end to the dynasty and equal rights for Shiite Muslims. I am not an extremist. I don't dislike being ruled by a Sunni king if my people are the dominant religious group in the country. But, at least, give me equal rights or something. Imagine being discriminated against for being Muslim by your Hindu rulers in Pakistan. If Assad can be condemned for his crimes against Sunni citizens, why silent about the King of Bahrain and his crimes against Bahrain's Shiite citizens?

Miscellaneous Issues

He thinks wife beating is highly undesirable, FGM is forbidden, stoning (رجم) is not an Islamic practice, honor killing has nothing to do with Mohammedanism, celebrating mawlid is permissible and women's faces aren't awrah. In the last issue, he agrees with Shiite Muslims who believe that a woman isn't obligated to hide her face, hands and feet from strangers because these body-parts don't constitute what is awrah (place we need to hide). He thinks homosexuality is like fornication and has the same kind of punishment. So, he is against executing gay people. I strongly agree with him on this matter. I too think that homosexuality is a sin but an Islamic government can only punish a gay couple if a person can bring four eye-witnesses to testify against them. If testified, the couple will be flogged (if unmarried) or executed (if married). Qaradawi was one of those clerics who signed the Amman Message. In Amman Message, they recognized Shiite Islam as an acceptable branch of Islam. He thinks 0.5% alcohol in a drink is allowed. It reminds me of a stupid Pakistani mullah who claims that 40% alcohol in a drink is permitted. What a lame-o! May Allah bless Qaradawi for his good beliefs and forgive him for his mistaken ideas!