We shouldn’t hate on Shaykh al-Azhar Tantawi on his opinion, instead Protest against the Egyptian Universities ban on Niqab
Update: I am not defending Sh. Tantawi. All I am saying that it serves not purpose to hate on him, calling him various derogatory names. It won’t help to remove the ban on the niqab from the universities. We have to make dua and protest against the universities and government of Egypt to remove the ban inshaAllah.
Once I get this translated, you will see why.
Translation of this article:
Shaykh Tantanwi said he respects the niqab and that there’s no harm for niqaabis to come to his office in order to end this issue. He also confirmed that the niqab is a custom and not from worship (عبادة) and at the same time he stated he has no objection to it.
He denied what was published in some newspapers which quoted him saying to a pupil in an azhari school “if you were even a little beautiful you wouldn’t be wearing this”. He also denied saying that he knows the religion better than you and your family to the pupil.
He also made clear in a special statement, which he stated on the Egyptian program “The House is Your House” (a very famous talk show in Egyptian fyi) When I went to inspect one of the azhari schools (“Ahmad Libi” <- name of the school where the incident occurred, located in Nasr city behind the international park) at the beginning of the new school year, I entered the school accompanied by members of the school board (of that school) and came across approximately 15 students (all girls). One of the girls was wearing the niqab, so I said to her raise your niqab. Not only did she not responsed but she just stood there stunned. So then I requested the teacher to remove the niqab in order so that I can talk to her. The niqab was then removed by force.
He then said to her, why do you wear the niqab when you’re with other female students? Then he stated there is no need for the niqab in this case. He also added there’s no stopping a female student from wearing the niqab while attending the morning assembly, but when she enters the classroom she must take the niqab off.
Side note from translator: The third paragraph I changed a few pronouns from the original text fyi just so that the text would flow better< Just in case an Arab reads this translation mention this..
70 Responses for "We shouldn’t hate on Shaykh al-Azhar Tantawi on his opinion, instead Protest against the Egyptian Universities ban on Niqab"
But none of this fitna would have started without Tantawi’s actions…I mean once the head of al-Azhar says something, people in Egypt would be sure to follow
I agree with the previous comment that Tantawi is the instigator and should take full responsibility for this outrageous insult to Muslimahs everywhere who choose to wear niqab modeling after the wives of our beloved Prophet (SAWS)
Ok, this is what I think. Based on the Arabic article and comments left by people.
A) He believes Niqab is not fardh. Agreed, it isn’t.
But there is a difference of opinion, those who say it is fardh are a minority in fact, by him saying that it has NO relation to Islam, he his reducing the other opinion to nothing. Thus opening the door for people and governments to take his words and take away a basic human right. Indirectly declaring the niqab un-Islamic in its entirety.
B) He believes women have the right to wear it, yet he tells a girl to take it off and then insults her in the most vile way. So where did her right to wear niqab go?
He has been interviewed countless times by tons of hijab-less TV hostesses and interviewers yet not once did he scold them for not wearing Hijab? Would have have spoken to any of them in the same manner he did with the girl?
C) He believes that niqab shouldnt be worn in an all-girl environment. Agreed.
But when he arrived, with his entourage of men, she did what any niqabi would do, put her niqab on (and she doesn’t otherwise wear it). And then guess what he did? He insulted her and made her take it off and then insulted her again.
Tantawi, did not apologise to the girl, nor clarify his position on niqab fully. He may not have ‘banned’ the niqab, nor said it is ‘haram’, but he has declared it as something not of the deen. Thus, his choice of poor words and gutter language, is one not befitting a scholar and secondly that places in the hands of the secularists and kuffar another mighty weapon to use against our sisters.
Tantawi is guilty and his poor over reaction has caused a fitna. The ban on niqab only applies to azhar schools – they are segregated anyway – so it doesn’t really matter. What may be scary though is niqab being banned in educational institutes all over.
@Jameel – He said he never said anything mean to the girl or insulted her in the article.
I read that Tantawi told the girl she was not pretty and so should not feel the need to wear niqab…So that is insulting to the girl
@MR – you say he didn’t insult the girl, then watch this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs1koXs1gNg&feature=player_embedded
and this is the journalist who was with Tantawi when he said this to the girl calling in and confirming what he said word by word. If you know Egyptian dialect, then you would know that they are some very rude insults.
Here’s what it boils down to – did he say that he was considering/going to impose a ban on Niqab in al-Azhar? There’s a world of difference between saying “Niqab is not needed in Al Azhar and it is not fardh”, and saying “Niqab is not allowed in Al Azhar”
You need to define what these protests are for:
Are they against the decision to ban the niqaab in the universities b/c they are allowed in Islam (which is debatable)?
Or are the protests for the human rights entailed in the Egyptian Constitution (ironically flouted by Hosni Mubarak)?
I dont think this clears his named even a little bit. I have great disdain for this man.
A couple of issues:
1) Where is the proof that a ‘minority’ of scholars only say it is wajib? If one were to open up the books of fiqh and look into the them he/she would find that there is a serious difference of opinion i.e. a huge group saying it is wajib and another saying it is mustahabb (and not merely mubah)
2)Tantawi doesn’t even recognize it is mubah let alone mustahabb and claims it is a custom?!
3)Tantawis words are nothing but fitnah even if azhar schools are segregated. He has given the nations of Kuffar fuel to ban it for example the Munafiq Congress of Canada is proposing a ban..
May Allah allow the scholars to release serious refutations on this man who permits riba based transactions and now this…Ameen
Salaams,
I have a few technical translation issues:
-In the first paragraph, instead of
” that there’s no harm for niqaabis to come to his office in order to end this issue.”
I would translate وما أكثر السيدات اللائي يذهبن إلى مكتبه سعياً لقضاء حوائجهن
as: and how many, or indeed many (niqabi) women come to his office in order to take of their issues/needs.
Instead of translating ساكناً، as the very dramatic “stunned”, I would translate it as stood motionless.
the translation also misses that the Tantawi said in the last paragraph in addition to “why do you wear the niqab when you’re with other female students?” that and your teacher is female
also I would revise the last paragraph:
“He also added there’s no stopping a female student from wearing the niqab while attending the morning assembly, but when she enters the classroom she must take the niqab off.”
to:
“He also added there’s no stopping a female student from wearing the niqab when she comes out/goes from her home and attends the morning assembly, but when she enters the classroom she takes off this niqab.”
sorry for being so picky
I still refuse to believe he didnt insult her. There has been a word to word statement that he said that was released.
Secondly, HE is still a Man and therefore that girl is required to cover infront of him. He had no right, absolutely no right to ask her to remove it.
I agree with the others. He should have ended the issue after being told she didn’t wear it in the class amongst her classmates. Just in front of strange men. Even if he did not insult the girl it has still caused so much of uproar all over. Niqabis are being banned from accommodation (as shown in the previous vid you posted), Some other org in Ottawa wants to ban niqabs and so many disagreements, debates and disunity among Muslims.
Basically, this guy has lied multiple times:
a) saying the niqaab is not from the deen
b) saying he did not say what everyone witnessed him say to the young woman
I say ban Tantawi, hit his pictures with shoes – after all he needs to feel the anger in the “arab” way, replace him with someone who knows the very basics of deen and has picked up a standard work of tafsir that quotes the sahabah on 33:59.
“He also confirmed that the niqab is a custom and not from worship (عبادة) and at the same time he stated he has no objection to it.”
Okay, that’s still a problem.
And MR, Tantawi has a Tafseer from before, in which he says that Niqab is either mandatory or at least a good thing. But clearly he’s taken a turn for the worse since then.
Everyone, I’m not defending Tantawi, I’m just reporting what he said.
Salaam All,
Sh. Tantawi is backing down on what he said. Even if he said something wrong, he is obviously denying it and this shows his good intentions.
Our Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said to give a Muslim the benefit of the doubt many, many times over before accusing him of doing something wrong.
If a Muslim has done something wrong, and especially if he is trying to distance himself from what he said, then help him and forgive him.
Don’t trash his entire character, call him “evil”, “taghut”, etc.
Yasir Qadhi and all those who jumped on his bandwagon of sarcasm and mockery of Sh. Tantawi should repent and ask Allah for forgiveness. None of you gave Sh. Tatawi a chance to explain himself or to back off from his words. Surely all of you have accumulated lots of son — especially Qadhi.
Now get over it and exert your energy on more important things. Sarcasm was never a priority as Qadhi makes it to be. Don’t waste your time listening to him.
Muhammad
Sorry, I meant:
“None of you gave Sh. Tatawi a chance to explain himself or to back off from his words. Surely all of you have accumulated lots of sin — especially Qadhi.”
Assalaam Alykum,
Who said that Niqab is minority opinion? Have you even opened a book on fiqh?
According to a huge group of scholars it is obligatory while another group of scholars don’t consider it obligatory but recommended i.e. mustahab. So saying that it is a minority opinion is totally false and misleading.
Brother PakistanMD why are you saying that Niqab is allowed in Islam is debatable. Have you looked into the book of fiqh or you just gave us your opinion because that holds no weight unless supported by evidence.
No scholar except the people of desires have said that it is tradition.
Regarding waiting on Tantawi to give explanation. Why should we wait for him to give an explanation. He said what he said and that is being already confirmed by other people who were there. If he later on comes and deny it than it does not release him from what he has done.
He has also come up with a odd view that Niqab is a tradition not from Islam. Which scholar from the past supports him in this opinion?
Qadhi or any other scholar condemning him is right in what they did because this guy (Tantawi) is opening the door for kuffar government to impose much stricter ban on niqab.
suhail, relax.
You’re giving way too much weight to Tantawi’s words. There are many other scholars and shyoukh around the world that can easily outrank his words any day, especially when it comes to what governments may or may not consider when deciding on public policy.
This is a small snippet of Tantawi’s history.
- He himself said ‘Ana ragel fi dawla muwadhaf’ (I am an employee of this country). Meaning he is not independent and simply works for the state. He is typically and comically referred to by most Egyptians as ‘Sayyid Beh Okay’ – someone who says okay to everything (the government wants).
- Agreed with Women’s conference in Beijin conference, with point number 7, which was about same-sex marriage. He said: “what’s wrong with that, its sexual health”. Approving of same-sex marriage.
- He said: ‘Applying the rules of shariah will take a long time until everyone is convinced, contentment and satisfied’ – implying that people need to be satisfied (or are comfortable) with shariah before it can be applied fully.
- He agreed with Mubarak’s decision to send members of the Muslim Brotherhood political party to military courts for trials.
- He is known to frequent the ‘Loins/Rotary Clubs’ a Jewish Masonic social club network in Egypt (there is a fatwa from al-Azhar in May 1985 banning Muslims from joining these Loins and Rotary clubs)
- He made riba/interest ‘halal’ (when he was told that hundreds of scholars disagree with him, he responded ‘they are nothing’)
- He declared suicide bombers in Palestine as not being Shuhada (martyrs) while the Azhari scholars league responded by saying they are martyrs, the people are ahl al-harb and they are in a state of war.
- He agreed with the decision by the minister of Education to ban Hijabi’s from entering schools, until they get their guardian’s consent. This is a stupid law, since many girls wear hijabs and come from non-practising families (even secular ones) or may be converts.
- Shaykh Nabawi el-’Ish, who was the head of Fatwa committee in Al-Azhar, gave a fatwa banning relations with the current Iraqi ruling system, due to it being imposed by an occupied force. He also said that anyone dealing with them is going against the laws of Allah. Then David Welsh, the American ambassador in Cairo, visited Tantawi objecting with the Shaykh’s fatwa. So in 2003 Tantawi made a decision to remove Shaykh el-’ish from his position and transfer him to a rural outpost. He also said that al-Azhar is an Egyptian organisation and is not qualified to give fatawa (he was the grand Mufti at the time).
- He fired Shaykh abul-Hasan the former head of Fatwa committee at al-Azhar, because he made a statement declaring that it is haram to aid the American occupation of Iraq and he called for jihad against this occupation.
- One time Mubarak was ill and some journalists wrote about a change of leadership and Tantawi declared that hadd al-Qadhf (80 lashes) should be applied on them.
- Tantawi convinced the governor of Cairo to dismantle the Azhari Scholars League and assign set up a new establishment that are advocates of himself.
- Under the guise of developing al-Azhar, he agreed with the law that makes the Azhari secondary school three years instead of four (i.e. reducing the education and learning).
- He forwarded, for internal review/investigation, the following professors Dr Ibrahim al-Khouli, Dr Mahmoud Himaya and Dr Yahya Ismail (who left Egypt subsequently) because they disagreed with his fatawa.
- He said women are allowed to be president and that they are qualified for the position.
- He said that France has the right to ban hijab.
- He was once asked if it was halal or haram to go to beaches where women dress in bikini etc, he retorted: ‘did the state ask you to go?’. Again avoiding the crux of the matter and not dealing with the issue.
- He was once asked about running Miss Egypt beauty pageant where women wear swim suits etc, if it was halal or haram – he responded ‘we advise the government not to run such competitions’. Again he avoided giving a fatwa or making a clear definition.
- At the UN conference he shook Shimon Perez’s hand with both his hands (sign of admiration and respect)
- (from the interview, according to Shaykh Wajdi) He once chased a journalist beating him with a shoe and calling him ‘Son of a Dog’ amongst other insults.
- He agreed to allow foreign forces/troops to be stationed in the country (Egypt) – even though they may be using it to attack neighbouring states.
(Above is based on this clip with Shaykh Wajdi Ghunaim:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sU9ihpUZZk&feature=player_embedded#
and a post with a list of things in Arabic
http://www.paldf.net/forum/showpost.php?s=cc1ddc86612b8b7b8144414f1b45bae2&p=7252617&postcount=2)
Asalamo Alaykum – In light of what Jameel posted I am embarrased that such a “scholar’ is allowed to run an Islamic college…Can he be impeached?
Jameel,
doesn’t it say in the Quran that a Muslim is not allowed to intentionally take his/her own life? (I am paraphrasing)
Suicide bombers fall under that category.
MR: Learn to take a stand. Allah doesn’t want you to be an news reporter, rather to be accountable for yourself.
I don’t believe what he said, nor will others. There is absolutely no hikmah in his actions, which alone is enough for him to be condemned.
Tauntawi is like a Firawn in the robes of Moses…its quite sad to see.
@Dawud – Learn to take a stand? As a person who reads my blog you should know I always take stands. Reporting what Tantawi said is fair and balanced. I posted both sides. I think Tantawi is wrong, but he said it should be removed in the class. Unfortunately the schools didn’t even let them in the physical buildings with niqab which is against what Tantawi said. That’s what I am against. I made it clear in the title of the post.
“Even if he said something wrong, he is obviously denying it and this shows his good intentions. ”
Uhh, if he had good intentions, he would accept what he said and correct himself, since that is the way of scholars.
@MuslimGirl – there is a difference of opinion on this. Some scholars declare that it is allowed in circumstances such as Palestine (continuous and desperate state of war) and other scholars do not allow it. Personally, I have reservations about suicide bombing.
Tantawi has rarely had credibility and with this incident he has fallen further. As long as the Egyptian state is run by the Mubarak family (or those like them), they will always have a Tantawi to do their bidding,
May Allah guide him and relieve us of these so called ‘leaders’ and ’scholars’.
We need to “hate on” Tantawi because he is contradicting the Religion (if he actually made those remarks).
I’d also like to point out while wearing the Niqab is mandub (recommended) it is not an obligation. Some scholars mentioned some details regarding the woman who is ordered by the Khalifah to cover her face but other than that there is a consensus that the women are not obligated to cover their faces. Regardless of what some later Shafi’i and Hanafi scholars said – they made a mistake in this issue. In fact Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami in his books Al-Fatawa Al-Kubraa and Hashiyah Sharh Al-Idaah Fi Manasik Al-Hajj as well as Zakariyya Al-Ansari in Sharh Rawd At-Talib copied the consensus from the likes of Imam Al-Haramayn and Al-Qadi Iyad that a woman is not obligated to cover her face.
My point is that people should not go to one extreme as it is being reported about Tantawi nor should they go to the other extreme and deem obligatory (wajib) that which is not.
Asmarani, there is a valid difference of opinion as to whether the niqab is fardh or mandub, both are valid opinions.
Otherwise you wouldn’t have the Ansari women all come out covered head to toe when the ayaat about hijab were revealed, and you wouldn’t have Ali cover all of himself except his eye, when he was asked how hijab is worn.
I hate it how Shaykh Yasir Qadhi relys on Egyptian news reports and dosn’t trust our own scholars (Shaykh Al-Azhar Tantawi).
I also hate how Shaykh Yasir Qadhi talks in such a sarcastic fashion, I could not imagine the Prophet Muhammad (saw) speak his mind like this.
I have respect for Shaykh Yasir Qadhi because he is a Shaykh, but I hate how he behaves sometimes. May Allah forgive me.
The women of Al-Ansari did not cover in the manner that they did because they understood it to be an obligation, rather they did it because it is better for the women to exaggerate in covering. If one looks thoroughly into this matter they will not find a single mujtahid saying that the women are obligated to cover their faces. In fact Ibn Jarir At-Tabari who was a mujtahid is among those who copied the consensus of the permissibility of women uncovering their faces. In addition to that, those scholars who said that the woman has to cover her face, some of them were talking in reference to the Khalifah ordering her to do it while others simply made a mistake. In addition to all of that, the saying of the Mujtahid has more weight over the saying of the mujtahid within the madhhab (Ashabul-Wujuh) and he has more weight over those from Ahlut-Tarjeeh and they have weight over Ahlun-Naqal. If you look at those Shafi’i scholars who said the woman has to cover her face, you will not find a single one of them to be among Ashabul-Wujuh and I personally haven’t heard of any person from Ahlut-Tarjeeh saying that the women have to cover their faces. Najmud-Din Al-Ghazzi was from Ahlun-Naql as well as Khatib Ash-Sharbini.
By no means am I suggesting any of those scholars were misguided, I am just stating that the religious evidence shows that they made mistakes in this issue. May Allah have mercy on them.
Shoaib Bobat, you need to keep in mind that Tantawi and Yasir Qadi are not on the same team. Yasir Qadi is a wahhabi why Tantawi claims to be an Ash’ari. Although, if you actually said what is being reported (I don’t believe simply based upon internet and TV reports), he is not really an Ash’ari but a “scholar for a dollar”.
Asmarani-
1. Shaykh Yasir Qadhi is not a wahabi, although the only place he studied Islam was Saudi Arabia.
2. How dare you call Shaykh Al Azhar Tantawi a “scholar for a dollar”, on what basis do you make this claim? I hate it how Muslims ignorantly backbite about their own scholars….
اولا أنا ضد تقليعة النقاب خاصة لبس القفاز وذلك لاعتبارات كثيرة ويكفى ان ترى العديد من المنقبات يتركن العربات المخصصة للحريم فى مترو الانفاق ويفضلن التلصق بالرجال فى عرباتهم المزدحمة. كما اننى امقت لابسى الحجاب المدنشنات اللاتى فى ظاهرهن عوالم وفى باطنهن اخفاء شعر مجعد لا تصلح له قصة وتوفير غسل الشعر وووووووو
ثانيا لقد اختلط الحابل بالنابل فى هذا العصر. المسجد الأقصى اصبح مسجدا فلسطينبا ولا يمت من بعيد أو قريب للاسلام والمسلمين.
ضحكوا على حكامنا واستهزؤا بمن عينوهم مشايخ الاسلام بحضور ماسموهم حوار الحضارات والاديان فى ندوات عقيمة تدار من ممثلى كل ديانة الا الاسلام! ألم يكن لأمريكا حق الفيتو على تعيين فضيلة الامام الاكبر شيخ الأزهر وكذلك مفتى الديار المصرية؟
ضغطوا على حكامنا بتغيير المناهج الدراسية الدينية وعدم تلاوة وتعليم ايات معينة! والعجيب ان كلمة مثل “الجهاد” يشرحها مشايخنا الكرام بمعنى اخر تماما. واصبح كبار أأمتنا جهلة لا يستطيعون الافتاء ولا اعطاء خطبة الجمعة الا من ورقة ويكفى ان ترثى حال المسلمين عندما ترى خطيب المسجد الحرام يوم الجمعة يقرأ من ورقة خطبته من السلام عليكم حتى أقم الصلاة. وان السعودية لا تقر ولا تعترف بأى مسلم لم يأتى الا من منطقة مسيلمة الكذاب. وعليه فتمنع السعودية اية امامة لصلاة, مثلا, لاى شخص غير سعودى ومن غير منطقة القصيم!
يحاول موظفى الحكومات العربية ممن عينوهم مفتيين ومشايخ الاسلام بأن علينا طاعة من لا يصلى الا فى مناسبات معينة وارتموا فى احضان اليهود والكفرة واصيبوا بالبلاههوالخرس عند الحملات المسعورة بسب الرسول وسموهم بأولى الامر. تخيل بورقيبة وزين البدين وحسنى مبارك والملك عبد الله ومحمود عباس وغيرهم أولى الأمر ووشجب علينا طاعتهم العمياء!
ماذا فعل زعماء العرب عندما اعاد النازى بابا الفاتيكان مقولة فى منتهى السفاهه عن نبى الله. اصيب أولياء امورنا بالطرش والخرس وأسرع ملك الاردن وطاقمه بتقديم ولاءات الاعتذار والطاعة لهذا البابا النازى عدو الاسلام.
خرائط اسرائيل ومناهجها الدراسية تشير الى ان يثرب اسرائيلية فلو احتلت اسرائيل المدينة المنورة فهل سيقال انها قضية اسرائيلية/سعودية؟
ثالثا مالفرق بين سفاهة فضيلة الامام الأكبر الشيخ الطظاوى وادعاءه أنه أعلم من دارسة بالأزهر ومن أللى خلفوها وما كان يقوم به الحبيب بورقيبة الذى كان يمد يده النجسة لنزع غطاء الرأس من على عجائز تونس؟
رابعا وراء صوت الشيخ الطظاوى الخادع بأنه متزن ورزين شخصية كلها نفاق وكذب وخداع! هل تذكرون سلامه الحار لشمعون بيريز وبعد مهاجمته ادعى كذبا انه لم يكن يعرف من صافحهه! يامولانا اللى اختشوا ماتواز والكذب ليس من صفات رجال الدين!
خامسا وأخيرا ستذاع يوم الخميس القادم برنامج “واحد من الناس” على قناة دريم الثانية فى العاشرة مساءا بتوقيت القاهرة مقابلة مع نور الشريف والذى يظهر فيها رباط جأشه وعدم مبالاته باتهامه بالشذوذ الجنسى
. أغرب وأجرأ ما فى المقابلة هو تصريح الحاج متولى عفوا نور الشريف بان “من حق الانسان ان يكون شاذا”. هل سيتشنج الشيخ الطظاوى لذلك التصريح العام الشاذ ونراه المناداة بمعاقبة المفسدين فى الارض أم سيكون من أهل لوط يؤيد الشذوذ ويمنع النقاب!
Shoaib Bobat, I suggest you take a closer look at Yasir Qadi. Just read these: http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=sunnianswers.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmuslimmatters.org%2F2008%2F04%2F09%2Fthe-role-of-atomism-on-groups-of-kalam%2F
and
http://muslimmatters.org/2009/07/27/the-theological-implications-of-the-story-of-ibrahim-the-stars-between-ibn-taymiyyah-the-mutakallimun-yasir-qadhi/
You should read what I wrote again. I didn’t say that Tantawi was a “scholar for a dollar” because I didn’t not the words that he is accused of come out of his mouth nor did I hear from two trustworthy male muslim witnesses that he really said those statements. For that reason I do not affirm that Tantawi is a “scholar for a dollar” which is why I said “IF HE ACTUALLY SAID….”
My apologies for not being clear.
it is an insult in and of itself to force the girl remove her niqab and then look at her face….something she wanted to remain hidden from the opposite gender. and Allah knows best.
Another example of a baseless comment from a ’so called’ scholar who people incorrectly attribute to being from ahl al-’ilm. To say that the niqaab is only from habits or customs is a clear lie. Any person with an elementary reading in fiqh would know that there is legitimate difference of opinion on the issue. To force a women to remove it shows an ignorant shameless disgraceful way of handling differences of opinion. Definately not what one would expect from shaykh al Azhar??? or any person of ‘ilm. Seeing that he has never once asked an hijabless women to cover (an issue of which their is no difference of opinion) we can see he’s not even fair on the issue. But considering his track record, it’s not surprising. It’s time for Muslims to put people in their proper positions and not raise them to or give them a status they don’t deserve. At Tantawi doesn’t deseve to be called a person of ‘ilm, based upon his past fatwas and his behaviour.
Tantawi should be forced to strip naked for his perverted offense. I swear if i see him I’ll force him to strip naked just like he forced this girl to unveil. This guy has serious sexuality issues. Freaking pedophile.
MR, you said ‘I’m not defending Tantawi’
The title of this blog suggests otherwise, saying we shouldn’t hate on him is indeed defending him.
Make up your mind
@asim, I don’t think MR himself is saying that we shouldn’t hate on Tantawi’.. he’s reiterating Tantawi’s opinion that we shouldn’t hate on him.
Yes, we should not ‘HATE’ on Tantawi, as this is not the way of Muslims. Rather we should tackle his opinion in an educated manner or atleast allow scholars to do it. Refuting with patience, references and true sources in a balanced and fair manner will win over Tantawi’s appalling opinions.
Tantawi, as he himself claims, is a scholar working for the government. NO respected ‘alim can ever be independent of thought and practice if he is on the payroll of the state. A scholar must always be independent and openly oppose that which he sees as un-Islamic even if that is the ruler.
However Tantawi’s history, as you can all read above, is tainted with many countless, verifiable instances of severe defects in academic rigour and manner/adab.
I love it how WE JUDGE the Ulama of Al-Azhar, who dedicated their entire lives to the study of Islam and not allow them to defend themselves!
Our hearts are full of diseases.
Al-Azhar has it’s faults BUT DON’T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH-WATER, otherwise we will end up having a Wahabi ideology at the center of Islamic learning (if it isn’t already is).
Asmarani: What exactly do you want me to look at? How does those articles make Shaykh Yasir Qadhi a Wahabi?
Uh nobody is dismissing Al-Azhar simply because of Tantawi.
Tantawi may be a man of knowledge, but he is nothing more than a state scholar, and this has ruined him. When you’re a scholar and the government is putting food on your table, then there is no way you’re going to say anything against them. And keep in mind that recently, it is the government being “alarmed” by the growing number of niqabis.
Sufijee- I hope your 100% correct in labeling Shaykh Al-Azhar Tantawi a “ruined state scholar” because you’ll have to testify to that when you die.
haha, I got that from another scholar from Al Azhar I know, who literally said “politics ruins people” when speaking about this issue
Sufijee- Poltiics doesn’t ruin people, SHAYTAN does.
shaytan doesn’t use magic, he can use worldly means as well…
also please spell my kunya right
Sorry Suyu- We need the Ulema to guide our politicians.
Honestly, people need to stop talking about this already. Stuff like this is going to continue to happen, so start lowering your expectations and step into the real world.
@ Shoaib, wake up please. We don’t live in a utopia. The biggest driver in politics is personal motivations [i.e. the nafs] and nothing else. Its a dirty job, and filth is inherent in its nature. The ulama arent going to guide our politicians. Not now, not ever. Whether spiritual guidance, professional guidance, or any other type. Its not going to happen.
And people need to cool it down with hyperbolic rhetoric. People talking big smack – SWEARING about how they’re going to strip Tantawi naked if they ever meet him, or about impeaching him, etc etc. Like serious, think before you talk and don’t bite off more than you can chew.
it’s cool,
Imaam Ibn Rajab (rahimahullah) said: “Many of the salaf used to forbid from going to the kings even for the one who wished to order them to do good and prohibit them from doing evil. Amongst those who forbade this were ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul-Azeez, Ibn Mubaarak, ath-Thawri, and others from amonst the Imaams.
Ibn Mubaarak said: “In our opinion, it is not enjoining good and prohibiting evil for one to go to them and order and prohibit them, rather enjoining good and prohibiting evil is related to avoiding them.” The reason for this is what is feared in regards to the fitnah by going to them, for when he is far from them, the soul suggests to the man that he should order and prohibit them, and be stern with him; when he is near to them, the soul inclines to them since the love of nobility is hidden in the soul, and therefore he flatters them, is friendly towards them, he may even be biased towards them and love them – especially if they act friendly towards him and are generous to him and he accepts that from them.”
Maverick- The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said that the greatest Jihad is to speak a word of truth to an unjust tyrant. Is that not our Ulama guiding the politicians? THIS IS PART OF OUR HISTORY FOR GOD SAKES! READ THE BOOKS OF TAARIKH! God….
Shoaib,
Calm down. You sound like you’re about to go all frothy at the mouth. Trust me, I’m extremely familiar with all the usual old arguments you can dish out to support the idea of scholars advising rulers.But al-Suyuufi beat me to the punch, so make sure you read what he put up.
I’m not sure if you’ve actually ever been involved with politics, but its notoriously corruptive. The scholars should, at best, keep an arm’s-length distance from those who are advising the rulers and politicians. Otherwise they risk falling into the same cesspool that Tantawi has now found himself wallowing in.
And for the record – no, the hadith of nabeyuna Muhammad [saws] that you paraphrased does NOT indicate that it can only be an aalim or a scholar of any sort who should speak up in front of an unjust ruler. It can be anyone who has a moral conscience.
So are you saying people with moral consciences should keep an arm’s distance from advising rulers and politicians?
How do you expect one to voice his/her opinions without becoming “corrupt”?
This is pathetic.
Just look at how Moses (as) advised Pharaoh in the Quran.. an example for us all.
Shoaib,
Either you don’t speak English as your native language and thus you have lack comprehension skills, or you;re just being intentionally stubborn.
As I said, the scholars – if they wish to advise the rulers – should keep an arms length from them. In other words, you outsource actual F2F delivery of the advice to third parties, avatars, agents, etc.
Furthermore, I said that one doesn’t have to be a scholar to advise a corrupt ruler. It can be anyone with a moral conscience; anyone who can differentiate right from wrong and doesn’t want to stay silent in the face of the same.
And I totally disagree on your suggestion of using Musa [as] as an example. If you are familiar with the status of the Prophets, and you go back and read what al-suyuufi posted, then it should become clear to you why I disagree with using Musa [as] as an example. If it’s not so apparent to you, please let me know and I will elaborate.
Maverick- so you do agree with scholars advising rulers?
So we cannot use Prophet Musa as an example even though Allah does? lol
@Shoaib – please go have a read on the links I posted earlier, if you can read or understand Arabic, you will understand Tantawi’s history. Also google him in Arabic and you find countless Arabic journals, Islamic and news sites that tackle his strange opinions.
Everyone here by default should believe Tantawi, if he claims that he did not do as has been reported (as is the Islamic practice), however when multiple sources claim that he did so – then the position is either to stand back and remove oneself from the topic OR take a position that has the most weight and evidence. In this case it seems that the majority of sources claim he spoke in the a manner not befitting a scholar. This is aside from the fact that his opinion on niqab is questionable (and refutable) and the ban on niqab is a human rights violation. As someone else said on another site “If Tantawi banned the bikini, the human rights groups of the world would have a field day with Islam”
The position he holds is one of the highest, Shaykh ul-Azhar, but in Islam we have no Pope nor single authority when it comes to Islamic law or Fiqh. He is known, look at his past fatawa and practice, to be someone of questionable conduct. In fact many other Al-Azhar scholars have refuted him and have gone against his opinions (many who did so had then been sacked, surprisingly).
Tantawi is on the government payroll and therefore is compromised. But even if he wasn’t, many of his fatawa have been tackled, discredited and refuted by tons of great ulema across the world from Britain, US, to India, Pakistan, Saudi and Malaysia – from all backgrounds from Salafi’s, Ikhwani’s to Deobandi’s and Sufi’s.
You must know that the corrupt governments will NEVER follow ulema, this is their own purpose. You control people by controlling the ulema and that is exactly what is happening.
Why do you think the Egyptians call Tantawi “Sayyid Beh Okay’”??
@everyone else: please keep your adab and do not insult or be rude. At the end of the day, we are all held accountable for the things we say. May Allah forgive us and guide us.
Ameen.
Jameel you make sense my brother. Finally someone makes sense.
So do we have a problem with any of the other scholars of Al Azhar or just Tantawi?
[...] leading Islamic University had with a high school aged girl. You can read about it here and here. What it boils down to in the simplest of terms is he asked a young high school aged girl to [...]
well sticking to the issue with politics aside for a moment… I find it troubling that not every single person here, whether they believe niqab is a fard or not, isn’t appalled by the fact that he had the audacity to tell a woman to remove her niqab. How humiliating. That’s like forcing a woman to take off her hijab. Maybe men don’t realize but when a woman covers it becomes so apart of her that literally remvoing a niqab/hijab in the presence of a non-Mahram is like feeling naked, and the fact that people are defending him while seeing the obvious misguidance in what he did is very sad.
If he felt niqab isn’t a fard he simply should’ve told her and walked away. No matter what kind of scholar someone is they have no right playing the prophet and acting like they have the authority to undress a woman like that. I pray that everyone, including myself, be guided on the right path.
Had this been a girl with no hijab being forced to wear it the response would’ve been very different. “Oh no one has the right to force her to wear it!” blah blah blah
Assalamu alaykum
The real Issue is This is Tassawuff, this is Sufism, Tanatawi and the rest of sufi in Egypt, which I live and studied there. And I was in Egypt when Tanatawa make this statement. Is just the proof how Sufi are against Ahul Sunnah.
Sufis of Egypt hold that, niqab is not fard.
In fiqh there are different opinion. Some say its not some say it fard.
In Egypt dawatu salafiya mashallah is growing, and many of the women in Egypt , in the past did not even wear Hijab. Mini skirts, the half naked.
Alhamdulillah because many of the Shayook in Egypt who upon dawatu salafiyah giving dawah call the people to what is correct many of the women start wearing Hijab, then many of them starting wearing Niqqab.
Tons of Women in Egypt for big city, to village areas women wear Niqqab alhamdulillah. This is a sign that people are very much aware of Islam and are coming to the correct understanding of Islam.
Sufism is like Christianity for a government, it help control the people to keep them ignorant of religious matters or other affairs and of knowledge. Makes the government easy to control them. That why you find the goverment that are not on Islam they are Sufism, Aqeedah Asharia Sufis is the goverment relgion. Because it base upon falsehood and the relgion of the Countries are sufis.
Country like Morocco, Egypt, Tunisa, Pakistan Afganstan etc.
You find most Muslim country goverment opress the people they are under Sufism, Aqeedah Ashari.
Just like America you find the people mostly Christians and you see the falsehood of their beliefs produce, people who no morals, no understand of God, killers, Murders, rappest etc.
You find most of the Muslims Sufi countries in too political problems. Backwards, oppressing each other. This is the effect of their false beliefs in Sufism which lead them away from the Truth. Like the Issue in Sudan.
You notice how all the Sufis in this Site are all quiet, except for trying cover up the dirt for his sufi brother Tantawi. For those Sufi scholars of the past like Imam Gazali rahimallah who when he died, he rejected sufism in their aqeedah. Sufis of the past who were upon the sunnah had the best of manner Tantawi have the worst may Allah guide him Ameen.
@ Muhammad Amreeki
Jazakallhu jhayr for the decent post and naseeha.
A few questions bro.
1.) You said Tantawi is a Sufi and that they dont hold niqab to be fard. Can you please clarify your statements? I know sufi women who wear niqab – and I’m sure others here do also – and Tantawi didnt just say “niqab isnt fard” he outright said niqab has no part in our Deen altogether. So how do you reconcile these two points with what you said?
2.) You opined that more and more women wearing niqab means more people are coming to a correct understanding of Islam. I presume, based on this opinion, as well as what I mentioned in point No.#1 about your thoughts on niqab being fard [or not, that you hold that niqab is completely fard on any woman past the age of puberty and in her child-bearing years who steps outside of her house, and that you do not accept the hijab-and-abaaya outfit which leaves the face exposed? Did I understand you correctly?
Jazakallahu khayran
Yes brothers I say it again THE SUFIS OF EGYPT HOLD THE NIQAB IS NOT FARD!
This is why Tantawi made his statement. Ask ANY SUFI SHAYKH IN EGYPT IS NIQAB FARD THEY WILL ALL SAY NO!
ASK THE DIFFERENT SUFI SCHOLARS OF AZHAR IF NIQAB FARD THEY WILL SAY NO!
For Egypt the Sufi women wear does not even Niqab they wear head scarf, or hijab, those in Egypt who are sufi who cover their face, that is a few its because Arab Culture, because she married or of Azhar shaykh say if she ugle she should wear it vise versa also.
And for the record all the scholars in AZHAR ARE NOT SUFI SOME ARE FROM AHUL SUNNAH SOME ARE SALAFI. Some are on other crazy stuff also. But the Creed of Azhar is Creed Ashair Sufi
In the post i wrote read it again I talking about Egypt.
Matter in fact the sufis of Egypt so lost, I used to live and study in Egypt, Many private schools in Egypt that are not religious sufis of azhar hold that muslims children can celebrate xmas, easter and non relgious schools in Egypt hold them celebration , x mas and christmas trees, easter and these holidays from Sufis of azhar saying they can have these holidays because they not worshiping them, they make fatwaa for this.
Audubillahi min shaytan fee Azhaar.
Brother about Niqab there it difference of opinion that fall all the way back to the four Imams of fiqh.
They differ in this some say its not fard some say its fard. I follow the opinion it is fard. When there fall a difference of opinion in a issue of ahul sunnah I do not make big arguement because the salaf differ on this issue. So if a women just wore hijab, I do not scold her or make fun of her etc.
Tantawi hold its not part of the deen, Tantawi is a lair, when you read the tafisr about Hijab, the Ansari Women not just cover their faces they cover the face and left one eye out. Read reference
Tafseer – Ibn Katheer
“Allah commanded the muslim women to cover this sheet on top of them to cover their bodies except one eye, when it is necessary for them to come out of their homes.”
Tafseer – Commentary by Ibn Jarir and Ahkam-ul-Quran, Vol.III, p.457
Imam Muhammad bin Sirin said: “When I asked Ubaida bin Sufyan bin al-Harith (ra) the meaning of this verse and how the jalbaab was to worn, he demonstrated it to me by pulling a sheet of cloth over his head to cover his entire body, leaving the left eye uncovered. This was also the explanation of the word ‘Alaihinna in this verse”
Tafseer – Alu’si, Rul-ul-Ma’ani, Vol. 22, p. 89
“Ibn Jarir Tabari and Ibn Al-Mundhir described the method of wearing the jalbaab according to Ibn Abbas (ra) and Qatadah (ra). The sheet should be wrapped around from the top, covering the forehead, then bringing one side of the sheet to cover the face below the eyes so that most of the face and the upper body is covered. This will leave both eyes uncovered (which is allowed in necessity).
Tantawi the lair when he say its not part of the deen.
Its reported
Hadith – Bukhari 6:282
‘Aisha used to say: “When (the Verse): ‘They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,’ was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.”
Tantawi and the rest of the lairs in Egypt, People who are not Mutazim of Egypt think that Islam and the Sunnah are keeping the Muslims from Progressing. This is the understanding of People of Egypt that are not Mutazim [ not on deen]. They want to be more like the West in thinking, believing that this will advance them. Tantawi and the rest of the lairs like him in Egypt are against ahul sunnah and think Niqab is not from Islam, they are thinking in the small brains that, its part of the Arab Culture of the past, the backwards Arabs before Islam.
Because of Dawatu Salafiyah in Egypt is growing and more and more women are Muntaqiba [ s wear Niqab] starting to come to the sunnah they fear this and see it as become Backwards and not progressing.
In Egypt, I live there and Study there and my family from there, I have traveled and studies there for two years. Every Town, there a salafi shaykh, even village that a salafi shaykh, Egypt have many villages and salafi scholars. You will find these places people hold on to the Islam are busying them self with knowledge. You will find majority of the people in these salafi community who are women Muntaqiba. Women in Niqab and men with their Thoub, Many men with their Lihya [ beard].
You go to the places of the Sufis in Egypt what you will find – nothing, but thousands of sufis from all over the world going make pilgrmag to place like sufi grave of Badwi in city call Tanta in Egypt. And Masjid Husain while the sufi lie and claim Husain radi allahu anhu grave is there. You will find the sufis not busy them self with knowledge but you find thousand of sufis from all over brake their necks to visit these grave sites. The government love the way of life because it leave the People Blind.
When you go to the Area of Sufis water down scholars you will find their cities and villages the people hearts of empty not upon relgion find the men smoking Shisha. Not just for Egypt for all country the people of Mostly Sufi and Shia like North African, Yemen, Countries of Sufis you find Majority of the Muslims WEAK in Faith into to Haraam. Alowing the Muslims to follow their desires.
When Shaytan trap of the Muslims with this Sufism, in the Creed and beliefs, every thing else after in Deen felled because they deviated from the most import Pillar. Who is Allah in Tawheed and Creed. When they deviated from Creed, every thing Else felled easy . Just like in Egypt the Sufi beliefs was what got the women out of hijab in the fist place.
When the Colonist took over most of the Arabic Speaking Country, those inside of the Courtries who accepted the colonist were from the Sufis, this is part of history like in Morocco the sufis accept the French rule. In India when the British took over, they used a divent sufi to make a other sufi order to stop muslims from finding Jihad.
Just like after 911 in US sufi Daee by the name of Hamzah Yusuf said no ayah in Quran talks about Jihad. All the firemen who died in Trade Center was Shaheed. Lie on Allah to please the nafs of the kufur.
http://umarlee.com/2009/11/30/hamza-yusuf-pre-911-radical/
In Egypt the sufis beliefs what go the women out of hijab. When you deviated for the Main beliefs every thing else in deen fall easy.
Scholars on the sunnah salafi shayook who many years in Egypt give dawah got the women back into Hijab, and Niqab. The divents are angry and making their attack in Egypt upon Ahul Sunnah wa Jammat.
Most of you who defend it have no proof they talk from pure desires.
Ahl us-Sunnah has two views of Niqab: 1) fardh, 2) mustahabb.
Even Tantawi mentioned this fact in his Tafsir of the ayaat of Hijab. And even if one doesn’t take it to be fardh, then that doesn’t automatically remove it from the religion.
al suuyuufi
I get in more detail, Tantawi and the Egyptian government claim its for the protection of the women in their all girl schools and female dorms. Because groups of thieves break inside. And in Egypt this is so in Cairo many type of thieves and liars amongst the people.
So they banding the Niqab from the women wearing it. First in their all women schools they have male workers and teachers. Professors education the women this why some women wear Niqab.
Tell me those from the US, Canada, UK, Australia etc. When I travel with the women in my family who wear Niqab or even Hijab, and there is some type of security. What dot hey do, they have a women guard or police take the women in Private and search them or allow the woman to lift their veil to look at her face. in NY they screen every child that walk through their door.
Even the non Muslim women in US Air port is search by a woman. If Tantawa was really for their safety they would practice this. You tell me the Kufur have more brain and compassionate for women then the believers. Even in the Air port of Egypt women in Niqab and hijab are search by women.
No his statement and their actions is against the Islam and the dawatu salafiya to weaken their women. Education is dear to all Egyptian. Egypt is a poor country a lot of people study in Azhar if they are not rich to get a basic education. So this action is attack upon the people of the sunnah there. Because if their women want this education come out of niqab.
For the record in Egypt when a women wear hijab in 60 percent of the time its not Proper hijab. Its head scarf and jeans dont believe me look it up on google video see how most hijab women dress not in Egypt in most Muslim country. That is not hijab. So most hijabi wear in Egypt jeans or what they call a jeep [jean skir] and head scarf. Most of the salafi sisters are Muntiqba. [ cover the face].
They attack the women I tell you one, Once there was a shaykh by the name of Muhammad Abdul Whabb al Bann al Misre he died last month in Saudi rahimallah, he gave a dars about women he said ” when I teach a man I teach that one person. But when I teach a woman I teach a whole nation.” the wisdom behind that is women she have children and raise children, so for a lot of muslims the mother is their first teacher so education of women is very important for all nations. Imam Bukharee mother who took him to seek ilm when he was young, he was from the yateeem.
Ibn Tamiyyah from his teachers 8 of them were women, and some of these women where from his own family.
The first to accept Islam from the Prophet sallahu wa alahe wa sallam was his wife Khadija who surported him in this.
So these attacks are against ahul sunnah wa jammat.
@Muhammad:
Bro, my questions were really simple. They do not require such lengthy tracts of information, most of which I did not read. I would appreciate it if you could help me out by giving short, simple answers to the questions above.
Jazakallahu khayran
Maverick go back and read! both of my postings.
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