Q. In response to a question about non-Muslims being not allowed to enter the holy places in Saudi Arabia, I read that the city of Madinah also forbids entry to non-Muslims. However, to my knowledge, Madinah has a quite sophisticated international airport. A few years back, even a hijacked airliner, probably Russian, was allowed to land there with non-Muslims on board. Please clarify.
Sami Khan
A. It is as we stated last time: Madinah is not allowed for non-Muslims within a 12-miles radius. This is in fulfillment to a prohibition order by the Prophet who says: “I am forbidding this city as God has made Makkah a forbidden city.” There are clear signs on the roads approaching Madinah from all sides stating that non-Muslims are not allowed in the city. Hence, the prohibition is applied and there is no question about it.
It is true that Madinah has an airport, but it is located outside the precincts of the city. It is not part of it. Thus, it is not different from Jeddah airport, which lies within the Hil area. Moreover, it is only a semi-international airport with international flights coming only from Muslim countries.
It is only Saudia and a few other airlines from Arab and Muslim countries that are allowed to land there. It is not a normal point of entry into the Kingdom, like Jeddah or Dhahran. International flights are received at Madinah airport mostly during the pilgrimage and Umrah seasons. As for the hijacked airliner, this is a case of an emergency that was dealt with in the proper way by the authorities. Certainly no non-Muslim on the plane was allowed in Madinah, unless that person needed urgent medical attention.
Attitude to unbelievers,
euthanasia, etc.
Q.1. I have heard that a verse in the Qur’an gives an order to “kill unbelievers wherever we find them.” On the other hand, I know that Islam forbids the killing of innocent people regardless of their faith. Please explain.
Q.2. Is euthanasia acceptable in Islam?
Q.3. Is it compulsory for women to cover their hair because, as can be seen in most countries, many Muslim women do not cover their hair?
Sultan Mirza
Riyadh
A.1. The Qur’anic verse you refer to is quoted wrongly and out of context. It is verse 191 of surah 2, but if we read it in context, we realize that it is totally different from what you have quoted. Here is the translation of verses 190-193: “Fight for the cause of God those who fight against you, but do not commit aggression. God does not love aggressors. Kill them wherever you may find them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away; for oppression is even worse than killing. However, do not fight them near the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you first there. Should they fight you, then kill them. Thus shall the unbelievers be rewarded. But, if they desist, know that God is much-forgiving, merciful. Fight them until there is no more oppression and submission is made to God. If they desist, let there be no hostility except against the wrongdoers.” As you see, the verse is concerned only with those who are aggressors, fighting Muslims because they believe in Islam, and driving them away from their homes, or fighting us near the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. It is such people that we may kill wherever we find them. The verse is not concerned with all unbelievers, and certainly not with those who are willing to live with us in peace. It is as God says: “No hostility except against the wrongdoers.”
A.2. Euthanasia is certainly forbidden. No one may resort to it, neither a patient, nor a relative, nor a doctor. It is God who gives life, and it is He alone who decides when life is terminated. To claim such a decision is to claim equality with God, saying to Him, “You have given us life, and we decide when to end it.” This is an affront to God, and God may not be affronted.
A.3. There is always a difference between religious requirements and people’s practice. Many Muslim women may not wear a head covering, but this does not mean that Islam does not require such covering of women’s heads. Indeed the requirement is clear, and Muslim women should cover their heads and bodies, revealing only their faces and hands. If many or all of them do not, then that is an act of disobedience to God.
A joint prayer
Q. As a student at the University of Adelaide, Australia, I received a request from the Department of Anatomical Sciences to find someone from the Muslim community, to take part in an annual university ceremony to pray for the people who had donated their bodies for the sake of science. Basically, they need a religious leader to pray for the souls of these people. Are Muslims allowed to pray for dead non-Muslims? If not, why? Moreover, I have even heard that the practice of donating bodies is forbidden. Please explain the Islamic perspective regarding these issues. Could you please advise on how to respond to the University’s request.
M. Nasir
Adelaide
A. No doubt the University’s request is made with all good intentions. Perhaps you should leave the matter to the local Imam to handle, if you think he is suitable. If not, you need to explain to the university that in Islam we do not have a clerical order and that anyone could lead prayers. So, a Muslim person from the university may be as good for the purpose as any religious leader. What he could do in the ceremony is that he explains that Islam prefers that such prayer be done in silence, every one on their own, addressing God and appealing to Him to bestow His mercy on those who died to improve the lot of humanity. Then in a period of silence lasting a minute or so, every one could say whatever prayer they wish.
The Prophet tells us that he sought God’s permission to pray for the forgiveness of his own mother, but God refused him that permission. Hence the Prophet did not pray for his own mother’s forgiveness. Hence, it is not for any Muslim to pray for the forgiveness of any unbeliever, even though that person may be closely related to him. The reason for this is that we do not know what such people are like in their beliefs or their attitude to God.
Hence, we must leave the question of their destiny to God. He determines it according to His own criteria. We also know that God is most just in His judgment and that He does not deal unjustly with anyone. Therefore, we leave the matter entirely to Him.
It is not correct to say that donating organs is prohibited. In fact, Muslim scholars have reiterated the ruling that it is perfectly permissible for a Muslim to carry an organ-donation card with him, so that if he is killed in an accident and some of his organs may be used for transplant, this could be carried out without delay.
