It must be difficult being a modern, moderate Muslim - living and working in North american urban society. You get up every day, ride the bus to work and do your best to contribute to the general community. Your kids know they are american or Canadian. Maybe Old Glory or The Maple Leaf is mounted over the garage door.
You remember those difficult days after 9/11 when just walking into the lunch room at work would stop conversation cold. Still, you try to be a good citizen and to lead by example: working hard every day to present a positive image of your religion to your non-Muslim co-workers and friends. In effect, saying, "Hey, I'm a Muslim, but we're really just like everyone else..."
...and then some Neanderthal - who happens to be a highly respected Muslim religious leader - issues a Fatwa that Muslim married couples should keep their clothes on during sex or the marriage will be invalid.
according to the religious edict issued by Rashad Hassan Khalil, a former dean of al-azhar University's faculty of Sharia (or Islamic law), "being completely naked during the act of coitus annuls the marriage".
The religious decree sparked a hot debate on the private satellite network Dream's popular religious talk show and on the front page of today's al-Masri al-Yom, Egypt's leading independent daily newspaper.
The most telling part of this story is that the fatwa caused "hot debate" in Egypt. Yes - "Debate". Obviously, some people heard the fatwa and actually thought "Hey, that Immam has a point. Yes, my wife and I should keep our clothes on during sex..."
No applause allowed
So what is a moderate urban Muslim to do when confronted with yet another weird pronouncement from Muslim leadership?
Well, they can applaud... or maybe not...
The recent "Reviving The Islamic Spirit" convention held in Toronto saw 15,000 young urban Muslims gather to hear words of wisdom from a number of speakers - some of whom were not allowed to travel to the USa because of terrorist connections.
One speaker, Sheikh Riyad ul Haq, pronounced that clapping (applause) was not Islamic.
Our Muslim friend Safiyyah from SaFspace Blog tells us what happened next...
On the first day of the RIS Conference, Sheikh Riyad ul Haq expressed disapproval for clapping, firm in his belief that it was a pagan practice not fitting for a Muslim gathering. at the end of his talk on the last day of the conference, the Sheikh said he'd be remiss if he'd come all the way to Toronto without offering any advice to the organizers and the gathering. He then very gently requested that participants ensure they behave in a way that is fitting for Muslims and in accordance with the sunnah. This included, among other things, the way in which participants choose to applaud.
The Sheikh looked utterly bewildered when the audience of 15,000 responded with spontaneous clapping after he had completed his little spiel.
There might be hope yet for our urban Muslim friends.
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