Islamic Fatwa Culture Has a Much Bigger Ambit and Deeper Negative Influence

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 2 July 2024 This pertains to the brief passage, “Gandhiji had opposed smallpox vaccination on the ground that it involved cells harvested from the cow's udders. The Jehovah's Witness, a religious community, does not allow their children blood transfusion for religious reasons" (Baby Milk Bank of Karachi and Islamic Bioethics). Very true. But the two aforementioned examples cannot be equated with the blanket Fatwa Culture of Islam. Let's begin with Gandhi. For all his greatness, M K Gandhi had certain idiosyncrasies. On a few counts, he was a trifle eccentric (Khabti/Sanki) as well. But Gandhi's eccentricity or even the so-called primitivism was his personal idiosyncrasy. It didn't harm others. Nor did it create fear and apprehension in the hearts of those who followed him. For example, when Gandhi ji was 'incarcerated' at Aga Khan Palace in Poona immediately after the Quit India Movement in 1942, Kasturba followed him. She fell seriously ill. But Gandhiji refused allopathic medicines for her. He was also against Penicillin and antibiotics. Instead, he resorted to home remedies like mud-pack and applying cow dung! Flabbergasted, English doctors Doug Willis, Neil Maynard and an Indian doctor Sudesh Veerkar wrote to the then Viceroy of India Lord Wavell that Gandhiji was not cooperating and refusing 'English' medicines for KasturBa. Lord Wavell wrote back, “Please don't interfere. This gentleman likes to make a fetish for his idiosyncrasies. But his intentions are never harmful. “Needless to say, KasturBa died on Feb 22, 1944. Gandhiji's old 'medicines' didn't help her recover. But his (M K Gandhi) idiosyncrasy didn't harm anyone. It was a case of individual idiocy. Jehovah's Witness is also an eccentric cult of Christianity known for its idiosyncrasies just like Lingayats (now a separate faith; earlier a part of Hinduism) have certain antediluvian customs and mild edicts (Printham in archaic Kannada). But in Jehovah's Witness, even if one breaks the rules, he or she is not punished, persecuted or physically harmed. That person is excommunicated or ostracized. But Islam's Fatwa Culture is binding, mandatory and also intimidating: One who defies, will have to face the music. Moreover, Islamic Fatwa has a far bigger ambit and fatwas are issued at the drop of a hat on issues as trivial and ridiculous as passing wind during Namaz and should one remember Allah while making love to his wife? My dear friend, focus on your wife and forget your Allah for a while. You cannot eat the cake and have it too. It's, therefore, time for clerics, belonging to Deoband, Ahle-Hadees, Barelvi sects, among others, to show restraint in issuing decrees that can thwart individual and collective progress. Hadees (Muhammad's plagiarised and borrowed teachings) must never be referenced when it comes to issuing a fatwa. A modern society has no place for such asinine edicts inspired by dubious verses. Muslims must develop scientific temperament to collectively discard all fatwas issued by Madrasa-educated clerics. ------- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/islamic-fatwa-culture-negative-influence/d/132618 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism