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Egypt's religious advisor says Muslims can choose own religion
Posted 1 hour 47 minutes ago
Egypt's official religious advisor has ruled that Muslims are free to change their faith as it is a matter between an individual and God, in a move which could have far-reaching implications for the country's Christians.
"The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can," Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said in a posting on a Washington Post-Newsweek forum picked up by the Egyptian press.
"The act of abandoning one's religion is a sin punishable by God on the Day of Judgement. If the case in question is one of merely rejecting faith, then there is no worldly punishment," he wrote.
In most Muslim countries, Muslims who convert to another religion are considered apostates and can be subject to capital punishment.
Mr Gomaa warned however that if the conversions undermine the "foundations of society" then it must be dealt with by the judicial system, without elaborating.
Attempts by Muslims in Egypt to convert to other religions have been hindered by the state's refusal to recognise the change in official documents and in some cases have led to arrests and imprisonment.
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Why not i would if i could but then im not ready to die just yet .
humanist Member # 12798
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Now that is progress.
I wonder if the masses will be able to tolerate or embrace such a novel idea.
when I read the Quran, I never got anything that suggested changing one's religon is a death penalty.
Faith is so personal and truly is between a person and the Creator.
Batman, non-stop, righteous machine Member # 11915
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I think , out of 100000000000000 Muslims, one can find 1 person who thinks of leaving Islam.
It wont affect any thing that islam is the most increasing religion in the world.
Who cares about that 1 out of 10000000000000000 who convert to any religion?
humanist Member # 12798
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If someone talks to you and listens to your twisted ideas they might want to leave Islam if they don't have grounded faith.
Sobriquet Member # 13217
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Ali Gomaa irrespective of his fatwas and irrespective of what he says is first and foremost a Hosni boy. He does not have credibility with the masses in Egypt. He doesn’t have the appeal of the Amr Khalids and the Omar Abdel Kafys.
I would like to hear Egyptians opinion of him because this is what I made out from Egyptian society. He is the dictator's Mufti.
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We know about other religion mission? They have many programs to get poor moslems with poor faiths to exchange their religion with some programs, such as: - Education funding - Housing facilities - Influence Orphans/homeless children - Medicine funding - Marrying (first a husband pretended to be moslem by converting but after getting children, he backs to the previous religion, and threat the wife if she will not follow him, he will not finance the life of hers and children's). It is our work together to prevent our Moslem bro and sis from this mission. Don't follow any fatwa from any faith Mufti or whosoever, please hold on 2 things only, those are Al Quran and Hadist.
hibbah Member # 12156
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yeah, "fatwas" can be lame some times. Imaams or Sheikhs can have agendas. Some "imaam" in Afghanistan has told all "muslims" that its their obligation to kill Pakistani soldiers (um...also muslims) but who have now been classified by the imaam as non-believers. lame.
Sobriquet Member # 13217
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quote:Originally posted by Sobriquet: Ali Gomaa irrespective of his fatwas and irrespective of what he says is first and foremost a Hosni boy. He does not have credibility with the masses in Egypt. He doesn’t have the appeal of the Amr Khalids and the Omar Abdel Kafys.
I would like to hear Egyptians opinion of him because this is what I made out from Egyptian society. He is the dictator's Mufti.
I would really appreciate it if muslims (all) shared what they think of Ali-Gomaa. Egyptians i know generally say he is 'wahish' (bad)
There's also a joke that Tantawi and Ali-gomma are basically relegated to the sighting of the moon during Ramadan.
newcomer Member # 1056
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quote:Originally posted by Sobriquet: [QUOTE] There's also a joke that Tantawi and Ali-gomma are basically relegated to the sighting of the moon during Ramadan.
That may be a joke, but apparently it is based on the fact that the mufti can no longer make independent fatawa; they all have to go through a fatwa committee now before they can have any weight here in Egypt. The only decision I hear that he is allowed to make independently now is regarding the Ramadan moon-sightings. Gone are the days of scholars who could make wise decisions independent of government control or without fearing for their own positions.
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