[A-List] Kissing in Public Is Not a Sin, Says Jamal Al Banna, the Younger Brother of the Muslim Brotherhood Founder

["Yoshie Furuhashi" <critical.montages@xxxxxxxxx>]

In many a nation, the cultural elite got the ruling classes to allow a
little social and cultural liberalization to go with economic
liberalization.  That's what reformists did in Iran and the AKP is
doing in Turkey.  Arab rulers, in contrast, are finding it difficult
to give the masses either bread or roses. -- Yoshie

See, also,
مصر: فتوى تبيح القبلات بين غير المتزوجين
<http://www.watan.com/Article7647.html>

<http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Egypt/10197461.html>
Kissing in public is not a sin, says Muslim writer

By Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent
Published: March 15, 2008, 00:10

Cairo: A Muslim writer, known for his unorthodox opinions, has raised
the ire of Islamic scholars by declaring it is non-sinful for young
people to exchange kisses and hugs in greetings.

"Let us admit it: we are weak creatures and when we hug or kiss in
public, we do not commit a sin," Jamal Al Banna, 84, told the
privately owned Egyptian TV Al Saa (Hour) last week.

Al Banna is the younger brother of the founder of the Muslim
Brotherhood, Egypt's banned but still the strongest opposition group.

Al Banna said he based his opinion on Islamic teachings, "which affirm
that human beings are not angels, but they are human and can make
mistakes".

He cited a Hadith that all humans err and the best of them are those
who seek God's forgiveness.

"Now there are many youths who cannot afford to get married. Also, we
must not disregard the fact that sexual desire is the strongest human
instinct, and Islam cannot ignore such facts," Al Banna argued.

His view has drawn condemnation from Muslim scholars who accused him
of promoting adultery.

"This is nonsense. Al Banna is not qualified to pass fatwas [religious
edicts]," said Manae Mahmoud, a professor of Islamic jurisprudence at
Al Azhar University.

"Prophet Mohammad [Peace Be Upon Him] has told our youths to get
married if then can afford it. If not, they have to observe fasting,
which protects the Muslim from sinning," he told Gulf News.

Promoting 'adultery'

"If Al Banna's view were adopted, adultery would spread," said Mahmoud.

Denying his view was tantamount to a fatwa, Al Banna said his opinion
was based on some findings he gathered from research in Islam.

About two years ago, Al Banna raised eyebrows of many fellow Muslims
by saying that smoking does not spoil fasting in the lunar month of
Ramadan when Muslims abstain from food and drinking from dawn to
sunset.


-- 
Yoshie
<http://montages.blogspot.com/>