http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=3&id=19976


Look at the Quran Ringtones Fatwa


23/02/2010 
By Mohammed Khalil

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat- A new fatwa issued by the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr. Ali 
Gomaa, has fuelled controversy among Muslim scholars, dividing them into 
supporters and opponents of this religious ruling. The Fatwa calls for Muslims 
not to use Quranic verses or the call to prayer as mobile phone ringtones. 

Dr. Ali Gomaa stated that "it is highly inappropriate to use Quranic verses as 
mobile phone ringtones because the sanctity and glorification of the Holy Quran 
is far away from such a use, which ought to be forbidden." Gomaa however 
indicated that it was permissible for Muslims to substitute Quranic mobile 
phone ringtones or the call to prayer with Islamic songs or praise of the 
Prophet that suit the length of the ringtone. 

Dr. Gomaa said that he considered the use of Quranic verses or the call to 
prayer as mobile phone ringtones to be a violation of the sanctity of the Holy 
Quran revealed by God Almighty. Egypt's Grand Mufti said "We are ordered to 
reflect on the verses of the Holy Quran and understand their meanings.such use 
trivializes the sanctity of the verses, which are for prayer, invocation and 
recitation and are not to be used illegitimately." 

Dr. Gomaa argues that recitations of the Holy Quran are abruptly ended when a 
telephone call is answered, and this could lead to the distortion of Quranic 
verses meaning and could misinform the listener. Dr. Gomaa maintained that this 
also applies to the call to prayer. 

The Egyptian Grand Mufti said that it is unsuitable for the call to prayer to 
be used as a mobile phone ringtone because this indicates prayer times, and my 
cause confusion regarding the actual time for prayer. Gomaa stressed that the 
Word of God should be treated with the respect that it deserves. 

In response to the fatwa, Dr. Moahmmed al Dessouki, Professor of Islamic 
Shariaa at Cairo University and a member of the Supreme Council for Islamic 
Affairs, argued against the belief that using short Quranic verses or the call 
for prayer as mobile phone ringtones violates and demeans the sanctity of the 
Holy Quran. He said that this use of religious material can act as a reminder, 
or advocate Islam, particularly now when Islam is facing attack and censure. 
Dr. al Dessouki used the following Quranic verse to stress his point: "And 
continue to remind, for surely the reminder profits the believers," [Surat 
Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 55]. 

Dr. al Dessouki further stated: "Saying that answering a call might lead to 
interrupting the verses or distortion of their meaning or even cutting off the 
recitation in order to answer the telephone call is not a strong enough 
justification against the use of Quranic verses or the call to prayer as mobile 
phone ringtones simply because the verses that are used as ringtones are 
usually short ones. Moreover, we should not preoccupy people with such trivial 
issues. Instead, we should focus on issuing fatwas that tackle more important 
matters that require the concerted efforts of Muslim scholars. Scholars should 
not disagree over secondary issues. It would be more beneficial to concentrate 
on more important matters like reminding people of religious fundamentals so 
that they try to adhere to them in a practical and faithful manner. Scholars 
should also encourage people to try and face serious problems like family 
breakdown, unemployment, extremism and militancy and other important matters." 

However, Sheikh Youssef el Badri, an Islamic preacher and a member of the 
Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, supports the fatwa issued by Egypt's Grand 
Mufti. Sheikh el Badri said, "The Holy Quran was not revealed to serve as a 
decoration on a wall or a mobile phone ring tone. The sanctity and glory of the 
Holy Quran must be protected against misuse. Therefore, it is prohibited to use 
Quranic verses or the call to prayer as mobile phone ringtones because 
answering a call could lead to an abrupt end to the recitation of the Holy 
verses and distortion of their meaning or even to their alteration once someone 
presses the button to answer a call. For instance, look at a Quranic verse like 
'Ta Ha. We have not sent down the Quran to thee to be an occasion for thy 
distress. [Surat Ta-Ha; verse 1-2].' If we cut off right after 'Ta Ha, We have 
not sent down the Quran to thee.' the whole meaning is altered to convey a 
misleading message that the Holy Quran was not revealed." 

Sheikh el Badri pointed out that the same rule also applies to the call to 
prayer. If a mobile phone ring tone is set as the call to prayer, some might 
think that it is actually time to pray and this could create confusion. 

It is worth mentioning that during a meeting last month the Islamic Research 
Academy that is led by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Mohammed Sayyid 
Tantawi, issued a fatwa prohibiting the use of Quranic verses as mobile phone 
ringtones as a result of a request by Mustafa al Shakaa - also a member of the 
Islamic Research Academy - to Tantawi for a fatwa forbidding this. Al Shakaa 
argued that using Quranic verses as mobile phone ringtones violates the 
sanctity of the Holy Quran and interrupts Quranic verses before they end.

Kirim email ke