Scholars Frequenting Churches – Abodes Of Pure Kufr And Shirk!
Question: Recently, in South Africa, the MJC shaykhs attended a candle-lighting church event, obviously, inside a church, in the Cape. While I expect such misbehaviour from MJC and other uucsa moalanas, what is really shocking is the facts surfacing of good ulema, ulema who we look up to, who are relating to the masses their visits to the churches. This is absolutely shocking for me and I am unable to digest such statements forthcoming from good maulanas. Please offer solace in this regard as any Muslim will feel depressed from hearing such narrations coming from the mouths of good maulanas. Shukran
Answer: Firstly, the South African scholars who enter and pray and light candles surrounded by dozens of crosses at cathedrals in churches are of a fringe minority group of modernists, not Ulama. They are not Moulanas, nor Shaykhs! Yes, call them ‘scholars’, because their church-going habit behoves scholars, not Moulanas. A MOULANA, is actually a ‘Mawlaa-Waalaa’. Mawlaa means ALLAH. And Waalaa means someone belonging to Allah. Hence, a Moulana is a Mawlaa-Waalaa, one who is an Allah Waalaa. This is explained by Hakeemul Ummah, Moulana Thanwi (Rahmatullahi alaih).
How can a person frequenting the abodes of Allah’s Wrath, darkness, Kufr and Shirk ever be an ‘Allah-Waalaa’ – one who is linked to Allah and His Deen? Rather, a person who frequents the churches is a ‘Kaneesah-Waalaa’ – man of the church. What Deen can be expected from such a person? Hence, the Ahle-Kaneesah, such as the MJC in this context, should not be taken as credible in the matters of Deenul-Islaam. We cannot comment on their credibility in Christianity.
Secondly, it is incorrect for even good Ulama to visit churches. Their practice of visiting churches is not Daleel, nor is it the Shari’ah. Their visiting churches is Haraam. They will be well aware of the fact that the verdict of the Fuqahaa regarding a lost Christian seeking the direction to the church from a Muslim who points out to him the way to the church, is that of Kufr. How then can it ever be allowed to visit churches when the Fuqahaa’s Fatwa is so clear?
In conclusion, Muslims should take note of the following points:
- It is Haraam to enter churches or any place of worship of any other religion.
- Those are places and abodes of Allah’s permanent Wrath and Anger.
- All places wherein Allah’s Punishment struck, cannot be a venue for visiting, holidaying, sightseeing, etc. What then can be said about churches wherein Allah is challenged with pure Kufr and Shirk?
- From the Golden Ta’leem of Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) it is learnt that when he and his Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu anhum) during the expedition of Tabook, passed the ruins of the people of Thamood who were annihilated by Allah Ta’ala, Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) covered his Mubaarak head and hastened pass that place.
- Any child, who was brought up correctly, Islamically, will feel totally restless to even be under the shade of a church’s roof outside, forget entering a church.
- Our Ulama-e-Haq have offered Naseehat that when passing churches and any other places of worship wherein Kufr and Shirk is committed, one should recite the Kalimah, recite Surah Kaafiroon and seek protection in Allah Ta’ala from Kufr and Shirk.
- In every Rak’aat of Salaah we perform, in Surah Faatiha, we seek Allah’s Protection from following in the paths of the Maghdhoob and Dhaalleen (i.e. Jews and Christians – the accursed and deviated). How then can we take a path leading into the doors of their churches and synagogues?
- Excuses such as ‘visiting’ churches hold no Shar’i weight. Shaitaan starts slowly. He will first make one enter a church with the excuse of ‘visiting’. The Ahle-Kanaais – scholars who frequent churches – perhaps began in the similar manner. Today, they are lighting candles in churches which is a Christian Symbolic – Kufr – act.
- Once a person answers this call of Shaitaan, soon he will find himself under a dozen crosses, ‘praying’ to Allah Rabbul Izzat for non-Muslims at the podium of a church – like how JUSA’s secretary general did!
- If today Muslim scholars frequent churches, then tomorrow priests, rabbis, pundits and gurus will want to ‘visit’ our Masaajid. Will we allow for this to happen?