SHAFAQNA Exclusive: Wahhabi cleric called for murder of Shia women and children
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Mohammad bin Saud form Saudi Sharia University in his page in a social site called ‘Saad Aldarihem’ and on the twitter invited the Iraqi insurgents to murder Shia women and children in order to cause more fear in Iraqi society. Aldarihem wrote if the Iraqi insurgents could have increased the murders of women and children surely the Iraqi Shias would have been more scared of them. Following the publication of these writings by the Saudi Arabian Wahhabi cleric in Twitter, the flood of criticism followed and some even called him a criminal.
In a response to Aldarihem, Saud Kateb from Almadina Newspaper wrote, I take Allah as witness that those who insult Islam more than Jews, Christians and other groups are these extremists who invite to murder and bloodsheds. Abdullah bin Bakhit from Akkaz Newspaer wrote, will this person go free without a trial? Should we not be aware that these terrorists live in our country? Khalimeh Mozzafar from Alwatan Newspaper asked for the expulsion of this Wahhabi from university and his trial. He also asked the Saudi Interior Ministry to put Aldarihem on trial and said these thoughts lead to terrorism and murders in the name of Islam. He also wrote that Mohammad bin Saud is a criminal and must be expled from the Sharia University.
Top Lebanese Shia Cleric: Takfiri Fatwas are Divorced from Islamic Teachings
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –Sheikh Afif Nablesi, the renowned religious scholar of Lebanon cut any tie between the divine religion of Islam and the excommunicator (Takfiri) fatwas (religious decree) issued by some Wahhabi extremist scholars.
Some of Wahhabis scholars through issuing some Fatwas are bent on blemishing the name of Islam; given that the revered Lebanese religious cleric, Sheikh Afif Nablesi chastised the so-called clerics for such moves.
He underscored the very measures are detached from Islamic teachings and instructions “Such recurrent moves are by far the worst way of exploiting the religion,” said Sheikh Nablesi nudging Muslims stand against such Anti-Islamic waves.
The religious cleric blamed most of Muslims' woes on such baneful orders and said those of scholars who lean on Al-Qaida and fallen under the spell of similar extremist groups are actually the cause of many blood has been shed in Islamic countries of Iraq, Syrian and Pakistan. -www.shafaqna.com/English
Source:abna
SHAFAQNA Exclusive: Save Tunis from chaos of Fatwas, Says the senior cleric
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Sheikh Othman Batikh, the Tunisian Mufti asked the Tunis media to arrange a weekly television programme to review all Fatwas (religious decrees) which are broadcasted by Arab satellite channels in order to save the society from the chaos. The Tunis Mufti suggested starting these programmes from the two official channels in the country. In a radio talk, Sheikh Batikh said we want the society to be immune from the chaos of Fatwas till common points of view can be reached on religious issues.
Batikh pointed to the exaggerated Fatwas which is full of enmity towards women and said surely these useless Fatwas cannot be issued by wise people or those who are familiar with Islam. He added these will lead to serious problems in social manners and thoughts. Tunis Mufti also criticised the Islamic societies for inviting foreigners with strange thoughts. Sheikh Batikh accused Tunis Islamic societies for receiving help from Arab countries of Persian Gulf in order to replace Maliki religion with Wahhabism.
Why don't Shia scholars and intellectuals embark on reciprocating Wahabi assaults on Shia?
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) -- No Muslim intellectual entertains any doubt about the importance of unity in Islamic society because discord and disunity lead to disintegration of the very basis of the religion of Islam. Unity means strengthening and stressing on the commonalities among various sects and religions, meanwhile preserving the respect of the principles and fundamentals of every religion and sect.
Wahabism is a set of radical beliefs which was first created by Ibn Taymiyah and then propagated by Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab through extensive misinterpretation and misuse of Qur'anic verses and prophetic traditions. Unfortunately, they have, with their extensive propagation, succeeded in their attempts to attract some Muslims and lead them away from the right path. However, we should note that:
A) To explain the intellectual foundations of the religions that have nothing to do with Islam is not opposed to the efforts made for the Islamic unity.
B) Given that Wahabism is a new sect and that because of its radical approaches and extremist behaviors it is causing degradation of Islam in the world and it is in no way compatible with our religious foundations, therefore studying and criticizing its thoughts would be in line with strengthening the Islamic unity.
As for why Shia is abstaining from explaining its religious principles under the pretext of unity and proximity among religions, the answer is that Shiite principles are explained and propagated to some extent by Iranian TV and radio. Thanks are due to Allah, there are different TV and radio channels especially Radio Ma'aref that are somehow busy discussing and spreading Shia beliefs. These TV and radio networks are based in Iran and Lebanon. In addition, ever since the emergence of Wahabism our responsible and committed scholars have been confronting Wahabi thoughts by writing books and articles and conducting debates.
Also, there are many active Shia websites that are preaching and propagating Shia beliefs and confronting Wahabi assaults. Our institute is one of those centers which aim to explain Shia religious concepts and doctrines.
Detailed Answer
Before discussing the main subject answering the question in full detail, it is necessary to make mention of a few points:
1. No Muslim intellectual entertains any doubt about the importance of unity in Islamic society because discord and disunity lead to disintegration of the very basis of the religion. (For further information in this regard, see "Islamic Unity" No. 4917 on our website.)
2. Unity does not mean uniformity or sameness; it means strengthening and stressing on the commonalities among various sects and religions, meanwhile preserving the respect of the principles and fundamentals of every religion and sect.
Perhaps, some may assume that raising inter-religious issues and discussing the ideological principles of any religions or sects would cause disunity and divergence among the Islamic sects and denominations and such an approach is not consistent with the efforts made to unite not only the Islamic sects but all the Abrahamic religions. The answer is that: Human beings should avoid going to extremes in all personal, social, economic and ideological matters; they should adopt a moderate approach in every aspect of their lives. When it comes to religious issues, a moderate approach is a must. That is to say, we should neither be so much strict as to attach no importance to the unity and solidarity of Muslims nor should we be so open as to ignore all the principles and sub-principles of our faith in the name of Islamic unity. In fact, preserving unity means to avoid all provocative measures by maintaining mutual respect and observing moral rules in our comments and expressions concerning other religions. Defending and explaining the beliefs of one's religion are not in any way inconsistent with Islamic unity because in nine out of ten cases the discussions and the answers are aimed at removing the doubts and dealing with the accusations put forth by some people and which, if not dealt with, will give rise to another accusation in the name of "lacking an answer". [1]
3. Wahabism is not an Islamic jurisprudential and theological sect. It is a set of radical beliefs which was first created by Ibn Taymiyah and then propagated by Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab through extensive misinterpretation and misuse of Qur'anic verses and prophetic traditions. Unfortunately, they have, with their extensive propagation, succeeded in their attempts to attract a great many Muslims and lead them away from the right path. Ever since this fundamentalist group has been established, Muslims from Shia and Sunni religions have criticized it and it is interesting to know that the first person to criticize Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab's thought was his brother Sulayman bin Abdul Wahhab who wrote a book entitled "Al-Sawa'eq al-Elahiyah Alaa Za'im al-Wahabiyah". [2]
Considering the above points, we come to the conclusion that:
A) To explain the intellectual foundations of the religions that have nothing to do with Islam is not opposed to the efforts made for the Islamic unity.
B) Given that Wahabism is a new sect and that because of its radical approaches and extremist behaviors it is damaging the reputation of Islam and is responsible for its degradation in the world and it is in no way compatible with our religious foundations, therefore studying and criticizing its thoughts would be in line with strengthening the Islamic unity.
As for the question why Shia is abstaining from explaining its religious principles in the name of unity and proximity among religions, the answer is that:
Firstly, given the foregoing explanations, it has been made clear that if there is any shortcoming in this regard, it is not because of the reasons mentioned in the question.
Secondly, you are well aware that the people who are running these TV channels are those who have huge oil wealth and are also backed by the world arrogant powers and their followers.
Thirdly, although there is not an independent TV network to propagate Shi teachings, thanks are due to Allah, there are different TV and radio channels especially Radio Ma'aref that are somehow busy discussing and spreading Shia beliefs. These TV and radio networks are based in Iran and Lebanon. In addition, ever since the emergence of Wahabism our responsible and committed scholars have been confronting Wahabi thoughts by writing books and articles and conducting debates.
Let's hope that a TV channel to promote the goals of Shiite Islam is launched in the near future.
[1] - Rezapoor, Abdul Rahim, Reviewing Sayyid Qutb and Rashid Reza's Opinions in "Fi Zelal al-Qur'an"and "Al-Manar" about Shia. (M.A. Thesis in Islamic Denominations), University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, 2009.
[2] - Vide answers provided in this regard on the website. See: Index: "Wahabi Beliefs" No. 16559 (16320) ; Index: "The Origin and Views of Wahabism" No.1547 and index: "Beliefs of Wahabism" No.978.
SHAFAQNA Exclusive: The Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi says Shia Muslims are not permitted to retaliate against the terrorist groups
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – To confront the plans and actions of enemies especially the Wahhabis, educational projects particularly for the youth has the priority, said the Grand Ayatollah Makarem on Thursday 7 March in the holy city of Qom. He added that to confront the Islamic culture the enemies are seeking to form false sects and groups. Wahhabis and Baha’is have been created by the US and Britain to gradually infiltrate amongst Muslims. The Sufis also are trying to make people pay less attention to the Islamic values.
The distinguished scholar pointed out that the Christians who do not practice their own religion want to convert Muslims and use this way to hit the Islamic culture. He said that we should not be frightened of the false sects and groups and should teach the youth to confront them in proper manner. This is important as these groups want to create doubts amongst the young generation in order to corrupt them. They are targeting youth at a time when the Ahlul Bait school of thought is progressing well in the world. Ayatollah Makarem said the Wahhabis use the malicious ways to kill but the Shia scholars do not allow Shias to retaliate because the Shia Islam is the truth and must confront the enemies with inspiring hope.
Militants can marry Syrian women: Wahhabi cleric in Saudi Arabia
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) -- A hard-line Wahhabi cleric in Saudi Arabia has recently issued a special religious decree that permits the militants in Syria to engage in short-term marriages with Syrian women. Sheikh Mohammed al-Arifi said that the marriages between the foreign-backed militants and Syrian women will satisfy the militants’ sexual desires and boost their determination in killing Syrians. He added that the marriages, dubbed by him as “intercourse marriages,” can be with Syrian females as young as 14 years old.
He also promised “paradise” for those who marry the militants. Arifi has issued similar decrees in the past in support of the violence in Syria. He has also been organizing a fundraiser for the militant groups fighting Syrian government forces. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil. The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country as there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.
Source : PressTV
End
Thousands line up for winter coat distribution in Detroit
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Thousands of workers and unemployed people from Detroit and surrounding suburbs lined up Saturday for free winter coats for children. More than 4,000 coats were distributed at the event in northwest Detroit, which was sponsored by a local pizza company.
The large turnout is indication of the dire conditions facing working class families in the area and puts the lie to the Obama administration’s claims about an economic recovery. A new US Census report shows that over 49.7 million Americans were living below the poverty line in 2010.
After decades of industrial downsizing, the official household poverty rate in Detroit—the poorest big city in America—is 41 percent, with more than 57 percent of children living in poverty. Overall poverty in the state of Michigan has increased by 66 percent since 2001, the largest increase of any state in the US.
Hundreds of thousands of auto and other manufacturing jobs have been wiped out in Michigan over the last decade. The “turnaround” of the auto industry hailed by the Obama administration is chiefly a rebound in profits. Those workers who have been hired are largely laboring for poverty level wages.
In the metropolitan Detroit area the percentage of families whose incomes dropped below the poverty line rose in 45 of 52 communities with populations of 20,000 or more. Meanwhile, the percentage of families receiving food assistance through the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) rose in every metropolitan Detroit community.
The WSWS spoke with a number of those attending the event. Robin, a young working mother, was one of those lined up to receive coats for her children. She remarked on the large turnout for the coat distribution, calling it “shocking.” She continued, “It shows how much people are in need. There are a lot of people here who need help. I think it is horrible. I think it is a broken city.”
“I am working part time and trying to support a family. It is hard, especially with the bills from DTE Energy. The bills are impossible.”
Another young mother said, “I was in an accident about two months ago and I can’t work. It is very hard. I am trying to apply for assistance and I still haven’t heard anything yet. Thank God I have relatives and friends to help out with the children.
“It shows how many people are struggling and don’t have jobs. I think the government should be doing something to help.”
Azarria, another of those waiting in line, said, “A friend of mine told me about this event. You can see that the line is long, but people are patient and waiting. It is getting cold and it is important that children are warm.
“There is a great need. There is a statement being made just by the number of people that are here about the condition of the city. It shows there is a great demand for help. My church ran out of vouchers and Happy Pizza ran out of vouchers.
“I can speak, being one of those affected. I worked for 25 years and got laid off and now my unemployment benefits have expired. I worked in management, marketing and customer service. I am trying to re-educate myself and get in a college program.”
The WSWS also spoke with workers about the outcome of the recent US presidential elections. During the presidential campaign neither President Obama nor Republican challenger Mitt Romney raised the issue of poverty. Since the election the Republican and Democrats have entered negotiations over massive cuts to social programs, which will throw millions more into destitution.
Dashirah, a single mother of two children, remarked that she was glad Romney didn’t win the presidential election. But, after WSWS reporter told her about Obama’s plans to cut Medicare, Social Security and other programs to deal with the government’s deficit, Dashirah said, “Well, that is very disappointing to hear. What it means is that his campaign deceived working people in a way. While campaigning Obama made it seem that he stood with the working people but now that he’s back in office, he stands for the wealthy.
“If they let extended unemployment benefits run out at the end of this year, it will be disastrous for a lot of people. It is very hard to find a job these days. The crime rate is already pretty bad and it is because of the conditions of poverty. With further cuts in programs, crime will get even worse. We definitely need to consider some alternatives.”
A worker from the Detroit suburb of Redford said, “If Obama took a 10 percent pay cut maybe we wouldn’t be in this trouble. I took a 20 percent pay cut to keep my job. It is not easy. I have a daughter and a lot of grand kids.”
Her daughter added, “I was unemployed for five years and couldn’t find work. I work at a market and it is hard work. I have to stand up for 12 hours a day. I have to work Christmas and Thanksgiving and I don’t get holiday pay. I work 5am to 5pm.”
Her mother spoke about the conditions in Redford. “There are a lot of foreclosures in my neighborhood. Houses were selling for $140,000 and they dropped all the way to $29,000. Now they are back up to $40,000.”
Alesa Reed said, “I am a nurses aide. I need to finish school so I can make more money. I make just a little above minimum wage, $10.50 an hour. It is not really enough to live on.
“We are here today to get help for my kids with coats. I have five grandchildren. It is hard trying to support them. Especially for the coats and the shoes. Basic things. It seems like the lights and gas are getting higher and higher. And I really don’t use that much electricity and I have a $300 light bill now.
“There is a lot of poverty out here. There are a lot of people who are in need. It is sad because it is not just the grown-ups that are affected but the kids as well.
“I think the cutbacks they are talking about in Medicare and Medicaid are horrible, because everyone needs their money. Everyone needs insurance like for eye care and dental care. And they have cut all that out and it is hard. A toothache can get poisoned and get inside your body and can kill you if you don’t have the proper medical care. I think that is ugly.”
“Conditions for working families like myself are very tight. I am a single parent and over the years the cost of living keeps going up but wages remain the same. How do they expect people to survive?”
Some of the beliefs and legal opinions of Wahhabis!
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — What are the beliefs and legal opinions of Wahhabis?
Answer: Wahhabis consider many of Muslim’s beliefs to be prohibited and have issued legal opinions against their beliefs some examples of which are as follows:
1- Prohibition on going to the pilgrimage of divine saints’ graves.
2- Prohibition on building on the graves of prophets and saints, for considering this action to be polytheism.
3- Prohibition on building mosque on the graves of saints.
4- Prohibition on saying prayer and praying beside the graves of saints.
5- Prohibition on seeking blessing from the remains of prophets and saints and considering it to be polytheism.
6- Prohibition on calling prophets and saints after their death and considering it to be polytheism.
7- Prohibition on seeking help from divine saints after their death and considering it to be polytheism.
8- Prohibition on seeking intercession from saints after their death and considering it to be polytheism.
9- Prohibition on swearing by except Allah; for example, the Prophet, the guardian or the house of Ka’bah and considering it to be polytheism.
10- Prohibition on asking Allah for something by the right of the Prophet or the guardian.
11- Prohibition on giving an offering to the Prophet or the guardian.
12- Prohibition on celebrating in the feasts and birthdays of prophets and saints.
13- Prohibition on grieving in the mourning ceremonies of saints.
14- Prohibition on turning on the light on the graves.
15- Prohibition on repairing the graves of saints and adorning them.
16- Prohibition on observing mourning ceremonies and praying for the dead.
17- Prohibition on seeking blessing from prophets and saints, and considering it to be polytheism.[1]
References
[1] - Ali Asghar Rizwani, Salafism and Answering to the Doubts, p. 191.
Shia towns under months-long blockade by Wahhabi insurgents
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — More than 80,000 Shia Muslim in the northwestern Syrian towns of Nebbol and Az-Zahra’ are suffering from starvation under a siege imposed by Wahhabi terrorists.
The extremists are reportedly affiliated with the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA), which has been fighting against the government forces over the past year.
The blockade has caused grave food and medical shortage in the towns, some 20 km away from the flashpoint city of Aleppo.
The towns had a population of 60,000 Shia Muslims but have been hosting an additional 15,000 displaced Shias taking refuge in there.
Thousands of others including families of the opposition escaping conflicts and Sunni Muslims refusing to join the anti-government camp have also fled to the towns.
In late June, insurgents practically cut off roads to Nebbol and Az-Zahra’ after clashes spilled over to Aleppo, accusing the residents of supporting Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
The armed gangs have threatened to kill the people who tried to directly or indirectly enter basic needs for the people in the besieged towns.
Bread is a rarity due to lack of flour and patients are in dire need of medicine, while the residents live under constant threats of massive cleansing operations by the insurgents.
Syria has been the scene of deadly unrest since mid-March, 2011, and many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.
Damascus blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists and says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside. It accuses certain Western and regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, of arming and funding the insurgents.—www.shafaqna.com/English
Source: Press TV
Destruction and digging of graves in Libya, a Wahhabi tradition that continues (Pictures)
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Destruction and digging of Muslim graves by Wahhabis in Lybia. Pictures are best story-tellers.
