MEMRI: Permissibility of Praying for Mercy for Non-Muslim Victims at VTech
The MEMRI Blog details a debate over an email sent by a Muslim Virginia Tech student asking members of the school's Muslim student association to "pray that Allah have mercy on those killed and wounded in the shooting attack at the university".
|
According to Aafaq, the dean of student affairs at American International University, Abu Hamza Hijji, responded, writing that Allah the Most Merciful forbids praying for mercy for the non-Muslim dead, or even for the non-Muslim living, and that it is only permitted to pray that they be rightly guided. He added that what happened was a sad occurrence, but that does not give Muslims the right to transgress the laws of Allah the Most Merciful. |
According to the entry, a student replied that he would pray for everyone explaining that "religion must bring people together, and not drive them apart, and that the brotherhood of humanity takes precedence over brotherhood of religion or of state".
Comments
Hey Ed Z - I could see the same argument going the other way concerning Christians praying for dead Muslums.
- Once a person is dead they are in God's hands alone and nothing we can say or do will affect the person's final destination. -
While I believe this is true (others might not believe it) I would still feel better by asking God for mercy on their souls. I don't believe in getting legalistic concerning it either.
This Abu Hamza Hijji character reminds me of a legalistic preacher I knew that forbid wearing of jewelry (except wedding bands) colorful clothes and beards. - I was outside of God's will by disobeying the preachers rules....
Posted by: prying1![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thebrokenchair.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 29, 2007 10:32 AM
WTF do you care whether this student prayed for the wounded or that some A-hole dean said he couldn't? Aren't we praying for the deaths of all the islamofascists who are trying to destroy our way of life and our freedoms?
Posted by: Grue![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thebrokenchair.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
May 4, 2007 02:08 PM
I care about the concept. The basic theme that chooses to divide rather than unite.
Posted by: Ed Z | May 4, 2007 02:13 PM
Could you spell out this theme to me, I just dont see it. You said, "According to the entry, a student replied that he would pray for everyone explaining that "religion must bring people together, and not drive them apart, and that the brotherhood of humanity takes precedence over brotherhood of religion or of state". How is this a Theme of Division, it actually sounds like the opposite?
Posted by: Grue![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thebrokenchair.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
May 4, 2007 03:57 PM
My intention was to commend the student on the reply for going against what the religious authority was saying. The theme of division applies to the dean of student affairs.
Posted by: Ed Z | May 4, 2007 04:09 PM