Fatwa Bans Saudis From Traveling Abroad To "The Land Of Infidelity"

"God does not love" Muslims living alongside "infidels", so Saudi preacher Sheikh Abdullah al-Suwailem has issued a fatwa banning Saudis from travelling outside the country, unless they really, really have to.

“Travelling abroad is forbidden in Sharia except in cases of necessity and with conditions."  

because

 "..whoever dies in the land of infidelity could go to hell."

Muslim countries are "less undesirable."

Those conditions he talks about?

The traveler must be "a strong believer" with religious "immunity", so they don't give in to "desires", like alcohol.

“Whoever fears for himself falling for what is forbidden, such as drinking alcohol, should not travel except in the case of necessity,” he added.

And studying or doing business abroad in "the land of infidelity" is also a no-no unless "in extreme necessity."

Apparently Al-Suwailem helps rehabilitate al-Qaeda prisoners held In Saudi jails. Maybe some of that extremism is rubbing off on him. In fact, Saudi columnist Badria al-Bishr called al-Suwailem's fatwa "extremist bacteria." And former head of the religious police Sheikh Ahmed Bin Qassim al-Ghamdi, quoting from the Quran,  believes that "travel broadens one's mind"  and has "many advantages for all."

Actually, this might be a Godsend for the West, after all the majority of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudi.

By all means, stay at home.

Source: Al Arabiya

Russell Crowe's "Noah" Is Haram According to Some Muslims

The latest Russell Crowe film "Noah" is haram (forbidden) according to one niqab-clad British woman on YouTube, because as a prophet of Islam he should not be portrayed in an shape or form. Guess no-one informed her that Noah's time predates Islam, so they don't have dibs on him.

In her video, she explains why Muslims should not watch the movie:

This is a Response to Hollywood who are releasing a Film this week about Noah (as) claiming that he was an animal rights activist and environmentalist. BUT Who is the REAL Noah? What was his REAL Message? Why were the People Destroyed?

Answers you need to find out the Truth to save yourself from the Storm.

All but one commenter agrees.

Emad Adel:

don't worry.. I'll watch it because I'm Tunisian, and it's Halal for us

Watch if you can bear to just look at her eyes.

This guy has three reasons why he refuses to watch the movie, and urges other Muslims to follow his lead.

Fatwa Against Moving To Mars

UPDATE: Here's Mars One's response to the UAE fatwa.

According to the Brit tabloid Daily Star, some Muslim leaders have issued a fatwa against packing your things and moving to mars. Yes, the planet. The Star is a little like our National Enquirer, although the story sounds more like something you'd find on those satire sites like The Onion or the Daily Currant. Or maybe not, since there have been a plethora of fatwas that sound ludicrous but are all too true.

The latest came after the Mars One organisation claimed it would settle on the planet’s surface by 2023.

It prompted the religion’s leaders to point out that living on the planet would be a potentially suicidal move as there is no way back to Earth. Islam does not allow suicide.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment, based in the United Arab Emirates, said: “Such a one-way journey poses a real risk to life, and that can never be justified in Islam.”

Potential astronauts would end up dying for no “righteous reason” and would face the same punishment in the after-life as someone who had committed suicide.

Over 200,000 people, including 500 Saudis and Arabs, have applied to take part in the Mars One quest.

Only Gay Men Play Instruments and Sing, Claims Imam

Here's a good one. Not sure where this young Imam is from, though he looks somewhat familiar, but he explains that the only time music is allowed, per Islam, is during a wedding and EID celebrations. And only young girls (not professional singers) are allowed to play the daff (hand drum). Men are not allowed because the only kind of man that plays an instrument or sings is gay.

3G Mobile Technology Will Lead To Deviance- Iran Mullahs Issue Fatwa Ban

3G Mobile Technology is out for Iran after a bunch of ayatollahs issued a fatwa banning it  because they believe it will increase deviancy in an already deviant society.  Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said,

“It will cause new deviances in our society, which is unfortunately already plagued with deviances.” 

Three other ayatollahs and the Iranian government have said Rightel's use of 3G technology is corrupting Iranians, so they're actually looking to shut the service down.

Ayatollah Alavi Gorghani said providing this technology to the public would inflict damages on the country’s political and religion systems. [snip]

Residents of Qom, a religious city in Iran, signed a petition against Rightel on Feb. 10, the 34th anniversary of the Islamic Republic accusing the phone company of facilitating “access to sin and decadence”.

Despite what the Iranian government labels Rightel’s 3G service, citizens in Iran are delighted to experience the speedy internet.

Anything to keep the populace under control.

Iran Bans Buddhas, Confiscates Statues From Tehran Stores

The "Buddha" has become persona non grata in Tehran after "he" became the latest target of stupid Iranian government fatwas. Iran has previously banned Barbie and Ken and Homer Simpson dolls for promoting that evil Western culture, so what's up with Buddha statues? They're not Western at all. It seems in this case it's viewed as a "cultural invasion", at least so says Saeed Jaberu Ansari, an official with the protection of Iran's cultural heritage. Maybe someone should inform him that Buddhism isn't a culture, it's a religion, and even so, most people who buy Buddha statues do so because they are an exotic decorative item for home and garden (and in Iran, their cars), not because they are adherents of the religion. But since the only minority religions allowed in that country are Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism, as per Article 13 of their Constitution, the Buddhists are out of luck.

So, in order to stop the spreading of Buddhism through the purchase of those insidious statues, Tehran police have been "cleansing" Iran by confiscating Buddhas from stores located in the capital city.

According to one store owner who carries the mostly China-made statues:

“As I understand, none of customers cared about Buddhism, they only bought it for decoration,” said Reza Sanaei, a shopkeeper who sells the statues.

And a comment from a customer:

Marjan Arbabi, said she personally did not like the statues. “But my parents have set of five Buddah’s statues at their home simply because they think the statues are beautiful,” she said.

I wonder if they'll start raiding people's houses and cars?

"Valentine, Infidel Culture" - Some Muslim Killjoys Claim

Protest in Karachi, 2012

The 'day of love' is celebrated around the world on February 14th, not for its Christian religious roots, but because it's a great way to let those you love- family, friends, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends- know how much you appreciate them. People traditionally exchange Valentine cards, flowers, chocolate, with the predominant color being red. But not in Saudi Arabia, where the ever- present, ever ready to rain on any parade religious police are on the look out for anything of that color, or anything else for that matter, that could potentially be given as a gift. Apparently they're okay at any other time of the year, not just around February 14th.

Why?

Because Valentine's Day is banned in Saudi Arabia.

Why?

Because it is viewed as a Christian religious holiday, and as we all know the oh-so tolerant Saudi Kingdom doesn't allow anyone to publicly celebrate any religious holiday other than Islamic ones. The bizarre thing is no-one, anywhere, attributes any religious connotation to the holiday, these days. I actually forgot it was also called Saint Valentine's Day because it's a term that is rarely used, opting for the more secular term Valentine's Day. Although it's probably consumerism at its worst, it's a relatively harmless holiday, and certainly not religious.

But it's not just the Saudis that ban V Day. While most of the world enjoys participating in a pretty innocuous celebration of love, the usual kill joys have, as expected, popped up in places like Pakistan, where some believe it's un-Islamic. Right, because Mohammed told his followers not to send someone some roses and chocolates to demonstrate their undying love for that person.

During the week, Some Pakistanis celebrated Valentine’s Day with balloons and flowers, but others denounced the holiday as an insult to Islam.

In the port city of Karachi, home to 18 million people, billboards decorated with a black heart urged citizens to “SAY NO TO VALENTINE'S DAY,” Reuters reported.

“This tradition reflects insensitivity, indignity and ignorance of Islam,” the signs read. They were put up by a group affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, a religious political party that holds six of 342 legislative seats told Reuters.

“Teenagers see it as a time to express love and affection and they often end up in sex parties, like in the West.”

According to Syed Askari, a spokesman for Jamaat-e-Islami, “Valentine’s is against Islamic culture. In our view, relationships are sacred. We have arranged marriages in this culture and people don’t get married for love.”

“This is imposing Western values and cultures on an Islamic society,” he added.

The spokesman derided the West, warning that Muslim countries shouldn’t turn like them.

“Look at the West - people love their dogs but throw their parents out when they get old. We don't want to be like that.”

And to show just how insulted they were, women in Peshawar burned Valentine's cards, because burning things is fun, and being hateful is far more appealing to them than embracing love.

Indonesian conservatives believe the same thing, that celebrating Valentine's Day leads to premarital sex and "sex parties". I don't ever recall sex parties after receiving V Day cards in my youth. But conservative Indonesians are convinced, so Valentine's Day was banned in the conservative regions.

The Head of the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in Depok, Habib Idrus Al Gadhri, declared the day “haram” (forbidden) for Muslims, claiming it is part of the culture of “infidels.”

“It’s Western culture and immoral so it's ironic Muslims celebrate it,” he said.

That didn't stop hotels and businesses in Indonesia from participating in the festivities.

In Eastern Java, young girls decided to change February 14 to "headscarf day", and while carrying banners with “Valentine, Infidel Culture”, they handed out information on why both sexes should dress modestly.

In other places, including the more cultured and moderate Islamabad, business was booming.

“Valentine’s Day is good for business,” said grinning Mohammed Ajmar to Reuters as he handed a customer a huge heart made of red roses and glitter.

Even in Iran, where the holiday is banned because of its Western roots, people were celebrating, in spite of the threat of sanctions and shops being shut down for selling red roses.

It's an international day of love, which this world needs more of.

IB Times discusses the countries which frown upon or outright ban the holiday.

Plucking Eyebrows Is Forbidden For Muslim Women

Plucking eyebrows is haram (forbidden) for Muslim women, but it's all kind of complicated. Between the eyebrows is cool, so you don't have to look like Frida Khalo, because it's not actually part of the eyebrow. Go figure.

This website for Muslim converts has a list of what is and isn't allowed as far as removal of body hair.

Oh, but bleaching is okay.

Who knew.

Girls Should Sing At Home, Responsible For Rape- Says Kashmir Grand Mufti

The Mufti who issued the fatwa demanding the Kashmir girl band 'Pragaash' disband, Maulana Bashir-ud-Din, tells women they should only sing at home, because by performing in public they are giving "bad signals" to men. He also tells girls they should always wear the veil, and that they are ultimately responsible for rape.

Saudi Clerics To Pray Labor Minister Gets Cancer If He Doesn't Ban Females Working In Lingerie Shops

Saudi Arabian clerics apparently have supernatural powers, they can pray for people they disagree with and they get cancer and die. That's what a bunch of religious clerics in the Kingdom told the current labor minister Adel Fakeih they would do if he doesn't stop trying to Westernize the Kingdom by hiring women to work at lingerie shops. After all, the previous labor minister Ghazi al-Gosaibi was their last target of "deadly prayers" and he up and died of cancer in 2010.

During a meeting at the labor ministry on Tuesday, about 200 religious figures accused Minister Adel Fakeih of executing a “Westernization” plan and asked him to ban women from working in lingerie shops within a month or he will face their dangerous prayers.

The ministry began in 2011 enforcing a decision to replace salesmen with Saudi women at lingerie shops in a bid to create jobs for women and meet the demands of female customers embarrassed to buy lingerie from salesman.

During the meeting, various religious figures successively attacked the minister and gave him little time to explain his decision and its benefit for the Saudi economy and for Saudi women.

One religious man told the minister, “I supplicated against a senior official at the ministry and he received the (cancer) disease and he died; this was because he began implementing the feminization decision,” according to al-Eqtisadiah newspaper. The man reportedly referred to previous Labor Minister Gosaibi.

Another religious figure told the minister that the government’s job is to employ women and not to decide where they should be employed.

Addressing the minister, another man said, “I am warning you, do not ignite sedition; we only came here to provide advice; your ministry has thrown our daughters in places that don’t suit their values.”

After a wave of attacks the minister finally snatched an opportunity to respond to the bearded men in front of him. He defended the decision to employ women, saying that women occupied jobs during the era of the Prophet Muhammad, adding that it made more sense if women rather than men are in charge of selling women’s lingerie.

The minister further told the congregation that they should take their case to court if they saw that his ministry is violating the law.

Truly pathetic.

Iran Bans Air Traffic During Islamic Call To Prayer

Iran's latest lunacy. No air traffic during the Islamic call to prayer, because God forbid someone should miss one of  the  five required daily prayers- occasionally.

"According to the new directive, airplanes are banned from flying during Azan, especially during the call to morning prayers," Mehr quoted the spokesman for parliament's cultural committee Ali Taheri as saying.

The head of the Aviation Organization, Hamid Reza Pahlevani, said aircrafts will be allowed to take off 30 minutes after the call to the morning prayer so that passengers have the time "to carry out their religious duties", the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.

Iran has practiced Shariah law since its 1979 Islamic revolution. Hardliners have pressed for stricter enforcement of religious measures since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won office in 2005 promising a return to the revolution's values.

Taheri also said serious attention will be given to observing the strict Islamic dress code for women working at airports or airline companies.

What next?  Doctors will have to stop mid-operation during emergency surgery for Azan?