Shaykh Qaradawi
Allegation: Many Muslim leaders still refer to Shaykh Qaradawi and do not completely distance themselves from him. Qaradawi has approved of suicide bombings in Israel, and has expressed obviously anti-Semitic views. Why do Muslims not distant themselves completely from Qaradawi?
Answer: Shaykh Yusuf Qaradawi is one of the most renowned scholars in the Muslim world. Recently he had issued legal opinions that allow for resistance to Israeli occupation through suicide attacks. This opinion is deemed wrong and is rejected by American Muslim organizations. Additionally, during the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza, he gave a sermon containing harsh anti-semitic comments that is rejected by American Muslim. While rejecting these opinions of Qaradawi, many western Muslims continue to find many other edicts of Qaradawi very useful for life as a minority in the West. For example his edicts on gender interaction, dietary regulations, financial regulations, and democracy are progressive and useful for life as a Muslim minority in the West.. For instance,
- He deems permissible eating meat which is not slaughtered by Muslims (non-Zabiha) – from the supermarket.
- He deems it permissible for Muslims to buy homes using interest-based loans (from banks).
- He approves of women taking all sorts of leadership roles in society and deems permissible men and women shaking hands in a business context if there is a risk of either party becoming offended.
- He approves of Muslims fighting for their country – including Muslims in the US Army. He approved of Muslims fighting in the US army against Taliban.
- Qaradawi praises and accepts democracy as a legitimate form of Govt.
- He condemns terrorist attacks around the world (in Europe, America, Egypt, Saudi, etc.). He (wrongly in our view) makes an exception for suicide bombings in Israel as he views HAMAS as a resistance movement.
Qaradawi is internationally known and is the most popular scholar in the Middle East. Yet Muslim organizations in America unequivocally reject any edict of his or of others that condone suicide bombings anywhere around the world, or calls for anti-Semitism (see next item on anti-Semitism and Israel).
Scholarship in Islam
It is important to note that authority in Islamic scholarship is distributed, and people do not follow individuals, rather they follow particular religious/legal opinions. And if they do follow a particular legal opinion of an individual, this certainly does not mean they accept that individuals as their leader or as someone from whom they must accept everything. Religious authority is distributed and Muslims quite commonly take some religious edicts from a particular scholar while leaving the rest of his edicts if they do not apply, or are deemed wrong
It is interesting to note that while Qaradawi certainly has a few unjustifiable opinions, his other works have caused him to be included in some noteworthy forums. For instance, in 2004, he shared a platform with Bill Clinton at the US-Islamic World Forum. Also, the mayor of London prepared a Dossier on Qaradawi, to justify why he invited Qaradawi to be his guest in London.
Below are some Interviews with Qaradawi, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/29/religion.uk1
http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2008/issue1/pdf/5.pdf
American Muslims have (and should) clearly and strongly reject and criticize any edicts of Qaradawi or any scholar or leader that are anti-semitic, intolerant, or give rise to violence against civilians. American Muslims are starting to develop a tradition of American Muslim scholarship where scholars are raised in America, deeply familiar with its context, needs, circumstances and culture so that American Muslims do not need to rely so heavily on scholarship that is out of touch with the Western context. This tradition of indigenous scholarship has always been a hallmark of Islam as it spread to different parts of the world and we look forward to the time it happens in America.
Scholars such as Ingrid Mattson, Zaid Shakir, Hamza Yusuf, and Suhaib Webb are examples of American born scholars who are starting to fulfill this role.