Egyptian writer Bisnat Rashad has become the target of a fatwa and death threats after publishing her book "Sex in the Life of the Prophet Mohammed". Rashad wants to debunk the myth of Mohammed's extraordinary sexual powers, which she considers offensive to the Prophet and a bad example for Muslims.
Rashad, who calls herself a devout Muslim, faced harsh criticism from elders on a religious satellite television channel. They issued a fatwa declaring her an infidel and calling on the faithful to spill her blood, even if she were to recant her position. Rashad told Al Arabiya news channel that elders see her book as "a severe insult to the Prophet Mohammed and his wives". She claims to have received serious threats.
Obsession
Religious leaders are infuriated by her criticism of Bukhari, a 9th century Islamic scholar and writer of the Islamic Hadith (pictured above) or oral tradition. Hadith, the second holiest Islamic scripture after the Qur'an, refers to the words and deeds of Mohammed. According to Rashad, Bukhari referred in his Hadith to the extraordinary sexual powers of the Prophet. However, Rashad believes this is a myth and says she wants to dispel Bukhari's suggestion that Mohammed was obsessed with sex and women:
"One of my goals was to motivate scholars to restudy the common myth of Mohammed's unusual sex life. From the example of Prophet Mohammed and his marital life, we are taught how men and women can have healthy sexual relationships."
Purging the scriptures
This is not the first time that scholars are challenged to revise the Hadith on sexual grounds. Islamic scholar Jamal Al Banna commented to Al Arabiya saying:
"I am appalled by some of Bukhari's Hadith, and I don't even believe some of them. In one Hadith the Prophet talks about kissing his wife Aisha and sucking her tongue ... another Hadith suggests that the Prophet Mohammed was gifted with the sexual stamina of 30 men."
According to Al Banna, Islamic scholars are already removing such unnecessary passages from the Hadith. A strong opponent of the fatwas issued against Rashad, Al Banna has called on governments to prohibit satellite television stations from providing extremists with a platform. However, Rashad and her book are facing serious and powerful detractors.
Islamic values
Al Azhar, the highest-ranking religious body in Sunni Islam, has called on the Egyptian authorities to ban the book and prosecute its author. Sheik Ali Abdel Baki, Secretary General of the Islamic Studies Council of Al Azhar, said that the book misrepresents the Prophet's sex life.
Shortly after the book was launched at the Cairo Book Fair last month, Egyptian MP Mustafa Al Jundi slammed the minister of culture for neglecting to safeguard Islamic values. Al Jundi said the book
"contains chapters on sex, desire, and mating that should not published in association with the name of the great Prophet Mohammed."
In her book's defence, Rashad issued a statement
"My book talks about sexual knowledge and education, issues that Islam considers important, to preserve the human race ... but they are also issues wrongfully handled by our culture ... and there are no correct and sound explanations available, which turns the topic of sex and women into a taboo".
According to Rashad, women's disadvantageous position in Arab society stems from a sick mentality that "kills women in public, while it desires them in secret".
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Sandra,
25-02-2008
- Nederlands
Thank you Hiram and H. Dermish for the information. I learn something new everyday from many of you on here.
H.Dermish,
23-02-2008
- Mexico
Put it this way, unlike Excommunication Fatwa (religious opinion) is between the Seeker (individual or group) and the Giver (learned or Informed) and should not affect any one-else.
Also in basic "true" Islam there is no one between a person and God, no Prophets, no Temple, Church, Mosque or Priests. So to say Fatwa is peaceful is like saying milk is colorful, Fatwa can be Asked and Given but also can be Rejected.
Example:
Q. can a Woman Fast-Ramadan during menstrual cycle?
A. No.
Fatwa #1, because her is in a weak state and fasting will harm her.
Conclusion: Logical and Considerate Religion (Islam as was meant to be) I accept.
Fatwa #2, women are filthy during this time and God will not accept their Fasting, blah blah ....
Conclusion: Horse-Manure (Islam that is becoming) and I reject.
Hiram,
23-02-2008
- USA
"They issued a fatwa declaring her an infidel and calling on the faithful to spill her blood, even if she were to recant her position."...An infidel is someone who is "a disbeliever in something specified or understood." If one is a disbeliever of Islam, one is an infidel and the faithful are to spill their blood. This woman, Rashad, who calls herself a devout Muslim, knew the consequences of speaking out against Mohammed but she did it anyway. Why would a devout Muslim speak out like she did and not expect the worst?Rashad, if devout Muslims fly airplanes into buildings and murder thousands of infidels because they are different and do not believe the same, don't you think something is wrong and needs to be changed? If devout Muslims will murder other Muslims because they belong to a different sect, don't you think something is wrong and needs to be changed? Rashad, I think there might be some hope for Islam but it is highly unlikely. Why? Because some leaders of Islam do speak out publicly against the crimes committed in Islam's name but do nothing else because they are devout Muslims who know the consequences of speaking out for infidels. It doesn't take much effort from being classified as infidel. May G-d bless you for speaking out for a wrong.
Sandra,
21-02-2008
- Nederlands
Thank you for clearing fatwa up, I was a bit confused with it. It seems peaceful then.
H.Dermish,
21-02-2008
- Mexico
Fatwa signify Opinion, the way it is used now days is a depart from Islam that was and a confirmation of a Christianized-Islam that 'now' is.
Excommunication in times past and because how (Christian) were Christians is the root of today's Islamic Fatwa.
instead of being a Religion that was to correct the wrongs
practiced by Jews and Christians, Islam became more Christian and less Divine.
Sandra,
21-02-2008
- Nederlands
In other types of religions, if one does something against the church or religion, they are excommunicated from the church, shamed and shunned by all their peers, family and friends in the congregation until the person shows remorse and repents. Rather than get all bent out of shape making death threats and fatwa to this woman, wouldn't it be better to simply publicly excommunicate her from all mosques to get your message across? Excommunication is more affective, humane and gets the message across that what the person did was immoral and unexeptable to Islam. This would also save face for the country and Islam to use a more humane approach.
