Australia's biggest mosque has
sparked outrage with a 'fatwa' post on its Facebook page warning Muslims it is
a 'sin' to wish people a merry Christmas.
The message has been removed from
the Lakemba Mosque page of the social networking website after being condemned
by Muslim leaders.
It followed a controversial lecture
at the Sydney mosque at Friday prayer, when head imam Sheikh Yahya Safi
reportedly told worshipers not to have anything to do with Christmas.
Officials at the mosque said the online
post was put up by a youth worker who had copied the text of a fatwa - a
religious ruling - from another Islamic website.
It read: 'Many times Allaah has mentioned
the details of the birth of 'Eesaa (Jesus) in the Qur'an but He did not mention
any celebration to be done on their occasion.
'Therefore a Muslim is neither
allowed to celebrate the Christmas Day nor is he allowed to congratulate
them.'.
It described Christmas Day as a 'falsehood that Muslims should avoid' and warned that 'disbelievers' were trying to draw Muslims away from the 'straight path'.
The Lebanese Muslim Association,
which manages the mosque, said the message did not represent the views of the
organisation.
Muslim leader, the Grand Mufti of
Australia, Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, stressed the foundations of Islam are peace,
co-operation, respect and holding others in esteem.
'We are required to have good relations with all people, and to congratulate them on their joyous events is very important.'
Community leader Dr Jamal Rifi, who joined priests at a Christmas celebration in the capital last night, said: 'We can share the festivities with friends and families and neighbours – I don't think there is any civil, religious or ethical reason not to.'
Muslim convert Rebecca Kay added: 'It's sad to see the Lebanese Muslim Association, which considers itself the peak body representing Australian Muslims, with comments like these. It goes to show how far they are from representing the community.'
dailymail.co.uk
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