{"id":17511,"date":"2025-12-25T10:10:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-25T06:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511"},"modified":"2025-12-25T10:10:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T06:40:32","slug":"a-fatwa-that-matters-the-bahai-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"A Fatwa That Matters: The Baha\u2019i Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_71 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">\u0622\u0646\u0686\u0647 \u062f\u0631 \u0627\u062f\u0627\u0645\u0647 \u0645\u06cc \u062e\u0648\u0627\u0646\u06cc\u062f<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#_Part_A_From_Cairo_to_the_Ummah_%E2%80%93_Why_Al-Azhars_Fatwas_Matter\" title=\"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Part A: From Cairo to the Ummah \u2013 Why Al-Azhar\u2019s Fatwas Matter\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Part A: From Cairo to the Ummah \u2013 Why Al-Azhar\u2019s Fatwas Matter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#_Introduction\" title=\"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Introduction\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#The_Authority_of_Al-Azhar\" title=\"The Authority of Al-Azhar\">The Authority of Al-Azhar<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#Global_Influence\" title=\"Global Influence\">Global Influence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#Fatwas_That_Made_a_Real_Difference\" title=\"Fatwas That Made a Real Difference\">Fatwas That Made a Real Difference<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#I_Condemning_Terrorism\" title=\"I) Condemning Terrorism\">I) Condemning Terrorism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#II_Permitting_Organ_Donation\" title=\"II) Permitting Organ Donation\">II) Permitting Organ Donation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#III_Supporting_Women_in_Leadership\" title=\"III) Supporting Women in Leadership\">III) Supporting Women in Leadership<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#IV_Standing_for_Jerusalem\" title=\"IV) Standing for Jerusalem\">IV) Standing for Jerusalem<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#Part_B_Al-Azhar_and_the_Bahai_Movement\" title=\"Part B: Al-Azhar and the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed Movement\">Part B: Al-Azhar and the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed Movement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#A_Fatwa_That_Matters\" title=\"A Fatwa That Matters\">A Fatwa That Matters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#Core_Issues_Examined\" title=\"Core Issues Examined\">Core Issues Examined<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#Global_Relevance\" title=\"Global Relevance\">Global Relevance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#Prayers_for_Guidance\" title=\"Prayers for Guidance\">Prayers for Guidance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=17511&#038;lang=en\/#References\" title=\"References\">References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Part_A_From_Cairo_to_the_Ummah_%E2%80%93_Why_Al-Azhars_Fatwas_Matter\"><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Part A: From Cairo to the Ummah \u2013 Why Al-Azhar\u2019s Fatwas Matter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Introduction\"><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Muslims today are confronted with an abundance of intricate questions related to faith, ethics, society, and modern life. Many Muslims look to scholars for guidance. However, not all scholars\u2019 voices are equal, and there are significant differences based on the institutional weight of each scholar\u2019s voice. Most scholars that have emerged as reliable, reputable, and prestigious voices in Sunni Islam come from\u00a0<strong>Al-Azhar University in Cairo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Authority_of_Al-Azhar\"><\/span>The Authority of Al-Azhar<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">Al-Azhar University has been central to Muslim intellectual thought for over 1,000 years. When the scholars from Al-Azhar provide\u00a0<em>fatwas<\/em>\u00a0(legal opinions issued by an Islamic scholar), the rulings offered are not merely answers to questions. They often serve as reference points for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Religious leaders<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Governments<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Courts<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Communities worldwide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">These institutions seek religious legitimacy over questions related to Islamic practice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">Founded in\u00a0<strong>\u06f9\u06f7\u06f0 CE<\/strong>, Al-Azhar has been an authority over the majority of Muslims for more than a millennium. It is known for its rational, moderate interpretation of the legal tradition that integrates the four main schools of Islamic law. What makes Al-Azhar distinctive is that it\u00a0<strong>does not speak from the margins<\/strong>; it speaks from the center, representing the Muslim community with balanced religious positions that avoid extremes or political manipulation of religious authority.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Global_Influence\"><\/span>Global Influence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">Due to this trust, Al-Azhar\u2019s rulings extend well beyond Egypt. Its influence can be found across:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Africa<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Southeast Asia<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Muslim communities in European countries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">Countless scholars, imams, and judges have studied at Al-Azhar and continue to consider its fatwas as central to their duties.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fatwas_That_Made_a_Real_Difference\"><\/span>Fatwas That Made a Real Difference<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">Throughout its long history, Al-Azhar has issued numerous critical fatwas that engaged modern issues while remaining firmly rooted in Islamic tradition. These rulings played a pivotal role in defending Islam and Muslims across the world.<\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">Some notable examples include:<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"I_Condemning_Terrorism\"><\/span>I) Condemning Terrorism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Al-Azhar condemned groups like the Islamic State unequivocally.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Declared all extremist groups as antithetical to Islam.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Enabled governments and Muslim communities to counter extremism on a religious basis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"II_Permitting_Organ_Donation\"><\/span>II) Permitting Organ Donation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">In the 1980s, Al-Azhar opined that organ transplants are allowed under Islamic law if ethical conditions are met.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">This ruling contributed to medical advancements and saved many lives (Padela et al., 2020).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"III_Supporting_Women_in_Leadership\"><\/span>III) Supporting<strong> Women in Leadership<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Al-Azhar permitted women to serve as judges and political leaders.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Based on sound Islamic principles.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Resulted in greater participation of women in public life in some countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"IV_Standing_for_Jerusalem\"><\/span><strong>IV) Standing for Jerusalem<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">In 2017, when the U.S. government recognized Jerusalem as Israel\u2019s capital, Al-Azhar quickly hosted a major conference rejecting the recognition.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Enabled a\u00a0<strong>unified religious and political response<\/strong>across the Muslim world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">These examples show that Al-Azhar does not stand idly by during pivotal issues. Its fatwas not only shape religious thought but also\u00a0<strong>catalyze communities to respond<\/strong>\u00a0to global events.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Part_B_Al-Azhar_and_the_Bahai_Movement\"><\/span><strong>Part B: Al-Azhar and the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed Movement<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Fatwa_That_Matters\"><\/span><strong>A Fatwa That Matters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">Al-Azhar has produced a\u00a0<strong>\u06f9\u06f6-page Arabic book<\/strong>\u00a0with a fatwa against the<a href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?s=Bah%C3%A1%E2%80%99%C3%AD&amp;lang=en\">\u00a0<\/a><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?s=Bah%C3%A1%E2%80%99%C3%AD&amp;lang=en\">Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed <\/a><\/span>movement<\/strong>, which emerged in the 19th century as a religious group claiming new revelations after the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him).<\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">The length and depth of the fatwa demonstrate how seriously Al-Azhar treats the matter.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Core_Issues_Examined\"><\/span><strong>Core Issues Examined<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">The fatwa addresses critical theological concerns:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">The claim to prophets after the finality of Muhammad (PBUH).<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Teachings that contradict the fundamental beliefs of Islam.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">The danger of creating religious confusion among Muslim societies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Global_Relevance\"><\/span><strong>Global Relevance<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">The book is currently being translated into English by a conscientious Muslim who has taken the task as an obligation\u2014may Allah bless and reward him. Once published, it will likely become a\u00a0<strong>central reference point<\/strong>\u00a0for scholars and institutions examining the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed question from an Islamic theological and legal perspective.<\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">What sets this fatwa apart is that it comes from one of the\u00a0<strong>most respected institutions in Islam<\/strong>, not a fringe voice. The ruling will:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Help Muslims worldwide recognize the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed faith as a\u00a0<strong>man-made system<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Expose its links with anti-Islamic organizations.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Highlight its dangers as what Al-Azhar considers one of the deadliest enemies of Islam and Muslims today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prayers_for_Guidance\"><\/span><strong>Prayers for Guidance<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">We pray to Allah (SWT):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">To help us read and understand these fatwas from the pious and learned scholars of Islam.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">To protect us from this dangerous and hidden enemy.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">To accept the selfless services of Al-Azhar and allow it to continue guiding the Muslim Ummah in times of need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"References\"><\/span><strong>References<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Abou El Fadl, K. (2019).\u00a0<em>Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari\u2019ah in the Modern Age<\/em>. Rowman &amp; Littlefield.<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Padela, A. I., Shanawani, H., &amp; Arozullah, A. (2020).\u00a0<em>Ethics of Organ Transplantation in Islam: Principles and Debates<\/em>. American Journal of Bioethics, 20(2), 14\u2013\u06f2\u06f0\u066b<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Skovgaard-Petersen, J. (2022).\u00a0<em>Al-Azhar and the Shaping of Modern Islamic Authority<\/em>. Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, 38(4), 213\u2013\u06f2\u06f3\u06f6\u066b<\/li>\n<li style=\"direction: ltr;\">Omar, M. (2021).\u00a0<em>Al-Azhar\u2019s Outreach in Africa: Countering Extremism Through Education<\/em>. African Security Review, 30(3), 221\u2013\u06f2\u06f3\u06f7\u066b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thebahaitruth.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/thebahaitruth.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\"><strong>Keep in touch with us: \u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:bahaismiran85@gmail.com\"><strong>bahaismiran85@gmail.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Part A: From Cairo to the Ummah \u2013 Why Al-Azhar\u2019s Fatwas Matter \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Introduction \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Muslims today are confronted with an abundance of intricate questions related to faith, ethics, society, and modern life. Many Muslims look to scholars for guidance. However, not all scholars\u2019 voices are equal, and there are significant differences based on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[823,985],"tags":[6295,4125,4221,15254,15250,15246,2946,9751,9919,15256,15244,15248,2978,5579,4903,2354,15252,4539,15242,13259,15258],"class_list":["post-17511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-articles","category-slidshow","tag-abundance","tag-based-on","tag-confront","tag-differences","tag-equal","tag-ethics","tag-faith","tag-fatwa","tag-guidance","tag-institutional","tag-intricate","tag-modern-life","tag-muslims","tag-questions","tag-related","tag-scholars","tag-significant","tag-society","tag-today","tag-voice","tag-weight"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17511"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17514,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17511\/revisions\/17514"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}