Muhammad Al-Munajjid#Controversial statements

Al-Munajjid was born to Palestinian refugees in Aleppo, Syria and raised in Saudi Arabia.{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/women-in-islam-behind-the-veil-and-in-front-of-it/a-18969819 |title=Women in Islam: Behind the veil and in front of it |website=Deutsche Welle |access-date=September 2, 2016 |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917200918/https://www.dw.com/en/women-in-islam-behind-the-veil-and-in-front-of-it/a-18969819 |url-status=live }}[http://www.dw.com/en/women-in-islam-behind-the-veil-and-in-front-of-it/a-18969819 "Women in Islam: Behind the veil and in front of it"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312092116/http://www.dw.com/en/women-in-islam-behind-the-veil-and-in-front-of-it/a-18969819 |date=2016-03-12 }} Deutsche Welle, 1 October 2016. He studied shariah (Islamic law) under 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baaz,{{cite book|title=The Experiences of Face Veil Wearers in Europe and the Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|last=Brems|first=Eva|page=144}} Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymin, Abdullah ibn Jibreen and Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak, among others.[https://islamqa.info/en/about-director About], islamqa.info. Accessed 20 March 2024.

{{Main|IslamQA.info}}

In 1996, al-Munajjid launched a question and answer Islamic website, IslamQA.info. The website states, "All questions and answers on this site have been prepared, approved, revised, edited, amended or annotated by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid, the supervisor of this site."[http://islamqa.info/en/ref/islamqapages/2 IslamQA.info website: "Introduction"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223084501/http://islamqa.info/en/ref/islamqapages/2|date=2014-02-23}} Retrieved 17 September 2016. IslamQA.info was banned in Saudi Arabia for issuing independent fatwas. In Saudi Arabia the kingdom's Council of Senior Scholars has sole responsibility and authority for issuing fatwas[http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/09/03/118350.html "Saudi Arabia blocks 'Islam Question and Answer',"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131182612/http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/09/03/118350.html |date=2013-01-31 }} Al Arabiya (in Arabic), September 2, 2010[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-09/03/c_13477495.htm Xinhua: "Saudi blocks scholar website after fatwa control decree: report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916060822/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-09/03/c_13477495.htm |date=2016-09-16 }} Accessed 3 September 2010. under a royal edict issued in August 2010 (while restrictions had been in place since 2005, they were seldom enforced); this move was described by Christopher Boucek {{Who|date=March 2024}} as "the latest example of how the state is working to assert its primacy over the country's religious establishment."

Christopher Boucek,

[http://carnegieendowment.org/2010/10/27/saudi-fatwa-restrictions-and-state-clerical-relationship/6b81 "Saudi Fatwa Restrictions and the State-Clerical Relationship"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104155135/https://carnegieendowment.org/2010/10/27/saudi-fatwa-restrictions-and-state-clerical-relationship/6b81|date=2019-11-04}} Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 27 October 2010. Accessed 18 November 2013.

Al-Munajjid believes that the Muʿtazila, the Ashʿari, and Maturidi schools of Islamic theology are wrong in using Ilm al-Kalam (philosophy) to explain the Quran and are contradicting both the Quran and the Sunnah.{{cite web |url=http://islamqa.info/en/205836 |id=IslamQA fatwa 205836 |title=What are the differences between the Maturidi school of thought and Ahl as-Sunnah? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602102807/https://islamqa.info/en/answers/205836/what-are-the-differences-between-the-maturidi-school-of-thought-and-ahl-as-sunnah |archive-date=2022-06-02 |access-date=May 27, 2015 |quote=The Maturidis, like other kalaami (philosophical) groups such as the Mu'tazilah and Ash'aris, discussed the necessity of knowing Allah, may He be exalted, on the basis of reason before studying the texts (of Qur'an and Sunnah); they regarded that as the foremost duty of any accountable person, and said that there was no excuse for not doing that. Rather they believe that a person would be punished for not doing it, even if that was before any Prophets or Messengers were sent. Thus they were in agreement with the view of the Mu'tazilah. This is a view that is evidently wrong, as it contradicts what is proven in the Qur'an and Sunnah.}} Attributes that God ascribes to himself require neither explanation nor interpretation; instead, a Muslim should neither deny the divine attributes nor liken God to his creation and should accept the statements of God in the Quran without questioning.{{cite web |url=http://islamqa.info/en/96323 |title=Islam QA fatwa: 96323: The 'aqeedah of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah and the praise of the imams for him and Ibn Hajar's attitude towards him |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528034354/http://islamqa.info/en/96323 |archive-date=2015-05-28 |access-date=May 27, 2015 |quote=The view of the salaf is one of moderation, neither denying the divine attributes nor likening Allaah to His creation. They do not liken the attributes of Allaah to the attributes of His creation, as they do not liken His essence to the essence of His creation. They do not deny that which He ascribes to Himself or that His Messenger ascribes to Him, which leads to denying His beautiful names and sublime attributes, and to displacing words from (their) right places (cf. al-Nisa' 4:46) and turning away from (Fussilat 41:40) the names and signs of Allaah. Both those who deny Allaah's attributes and those who liken Him to His creation are guilty of both errors. Those who deny His attributes failed to understand the names and attributes of Allaah except in a manner that is befitting to created beings, so they denied these concepts and thus they have combined both errors; first of all they likened Him to His creation, then they denied His attributes as a result. That is likening the names and attributes to what may be understood from the names and attributes of His creation, then they denied the attributes that He deserves to have that are befitting to Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted.}}

Al-Munajjid quoted Ibn Ḥajar saying it is obligatory to destroy anything that may tempt or confuse the faithful, including buildings, people, animals, or inanimate objects.{{Cite web|url=https://islamqa.info/en/answers/20894/obligation-to-destroy-idols

|title=Fatwa: Obligation to destroy idols |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511145022/http://islamqa.info/en/20894 |archive-date=2015-05-11 |access-date=May 26, 2015 |quote=This hadeeth indicates that it is prescribed to remove things that may tempt or confuse the people, whether they are buildings, people, animals or inanimate objects ... They were unanimously agreed that whatever casts a shadow is not allowed and must be changed. Images that cast a shadow are three-dimensional images like these statues.}}{{cite web |last=Russell |first=Gerald |date=March 7, 2015 |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5256246a-c400-11e4-9019-00144feab7de.html#axzz3orW4U4Ej |title=Isis are modern vandals smashing centuries of history |work=Financial Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602102751/https://www.ft.com/content/5256246a-c400-11e4-9019-00144feab7de#axzz3orW4U4Ej |archive-date=2022-06-02 }}

Al-Munajjid has stated that Muslim women are obliged to cover their entire body including the face (except eyes) and hands.{{cite web |url=http://islamqa.info/en/21134 |id=IslamQA fatwa 21134 |title=Do women have to wear niqaab? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163613/https://islamqa.info/en/21134 |archive-date=2018-06-12 |access-date=November 25, 2023 |quote=Therefore, if the woman's Niqab or burqa' does not show anything but the eyes, and the opening is only as big as the left eye, as was narrated from some of the salaf, then that is permissible, otherwise she should wear something which covers her face entirely.}} He also stated that women are required to stay within their city of residence, unless they are in the company of a mahram and are forbidden to ride in a taxi/car driven by a non-mahram male, as "it may lead to evil consequences".{{cite web |url=http://islamqa.info/en/45880 |id=IslamQA fatwa 45880 |title=Does the ruling on driving a car vary from one country to another? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915165359/http://islamqa.info/en/45880 |archive-date=15 September 2013 }}

Al-Munajjid does not denounce (war captive) slavery, and, in a January 2016 fatwa, stated that a man was allowed to have consensual intercourse with his concubine whether he is married or not, and that his wife "has no right to object to her husband owning female slaves or to his having intercourse with them ", he continues, "The scholars are unanimous in this assessment, and no one is permitted to view this act as forbidden, or to forbid it. Whoever does so, is a sinner, and is acting against the consensus of the scholars.” However, he did state that Islam does condemn ill treatment of slaves.{{cite news|last1=Knipp|first1=Kersten|title=Women in Islam: Behind the veil and in front of it|url=http://www.dw.com/en/women-in-islam-behind-the-veil-and-in-front-of-it/a-18969819|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Deutsche Welle|date=10 January 2016|archive-date=5 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505000449/http://www.dw.com/en/women-in-islam-behind-the-veil-and-in-front-of-it/a-18969819|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://islamqa.info/en/10382|title=Ruling on having intercourse with a slave woman when one has a wife |website=IslamQA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106101656/http://islamqa.info/en/10382 |archive-date=6 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Nomani|first1=Asra Q.|last2=Arafa|first2=Hala|title=Inside the World of Gulf State Slavery|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/11/inside-the-world-of-gulf-state-slavery.html|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Daily Beast|date=11 October 2015|archive-date=1 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501014906/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/11/inside-the-world-of-gulf-state-slavery.html|url-status=live}}

Al-Munajjid has stated that slavery necessarily came about because of jihad against the kuffar (disbelievers) and the need to determine what to do with those who have been taken prisoner and thus become property, noting that "In principle, slavery is not something that is desirable" as Islam encourages the freeing of slaves for the expiation of sins.{{cite web|last1=al-Khudayr|title=The difference between slaves and prostitutes|url=https://islamqa.info/en/5707|website=IslamQA|access-date=27 September 2016|archive-date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510161236/https://islamqa.info/en/5707|url-status=live}} Slaves are to be treated in a "kind manner" including the provision of food and clothing from ones own. It's important to know that this is the Orthodox Islamic view.{{cite web|title=Islam and Slavery|url=https://islamqa.info/en/94840|website=IslamQA

|access-date=27 September 2016|archive-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817154622/https://islamqa.info/en/94840|url-status=live}}

Al-Munajjid stated that "The crime of homosexuality is one of the greatest crimes, the worst of sins and the most abhorrent of deeds, and Allah punished those who did it in a way that he did not punish other nations."{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Andrew C. |title=Obama's Gay-Rights Hypocrisy |website=National Review |date=August 14, 2013 |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/355715/obamas-gay-rights-hypocrisy-andrew-c-mccarthy |access-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-date=August 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807101148/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/355715/obamas-gay-rights-hypocrisy-andrew-c-mccarthy |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|last=Nomani|first=Asra Q.|title=Islam must repeal its scarlet-letter sex laws|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/repeal-islams-scarlet-letter-sex-laws/2016/06/15/3db58cc6-3268-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html|access-date=2016-09-02|archive-date=2016-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002184108/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/repeal-islams-scarlet-letter-sex-laws/2016/06/15/3db58cc6-3268-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html|url-status=live}} He has openly called for the death penalty for proven acts of sodomy (homosexual intercourse) in Muslim lands, with works distributed in his name saying that "those guilty of this crime are to be killed by the sword".

Al-Munajjid's books include:

• Koonu ‘ala al-Khayr A‘waanan (Be Helpers in Doing Good)
• Arba‘oona Naseehah li Islaah al-Buyoot (The Muslim Home: 40 Recommendations)
• 33 Sababan li’l-Khushoo‘ (33 Ways of Developing Khushoo‘ in Salaah)
• Al-Asaaleeb an-Nabawiyyah fi ‘Ilaaj al-Akhtaa’ (The Prophet's Methods for Correcting People's Mistakes)
• Saba‘oona Mas’alah fi’s-Siyaam (70 Matters related to Fasting){{Cite web|last=نور|first=مكتبة|title=تحميل كتاب 70 Matters Related to Fasting pdf|url=https://www.noor-book.com/كتاب-70-Matters-Related-to-Fasting-pdf|access-date=2021-05-08|website=www.noor-book.com|language=ar|archive-date=2021-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142850/https://www.noor-book.com/%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-70-Matters-Related-to-Fasting-pdf|url-status=live}}
• ‘Ilaaj al-Humoom (Dealing with Worries and Stress)
• Al-Manhiyaat ash-Shar‘iyyah (Disallowed Matters)
• Muharramaat istahaana biha Katheer min an-Naas (Prohibitions that are Taken Too Lightly)
• Madha taf‘alu fi’l-Haalaat at-Taaliyah (What you should do in the following situations)
• Zaahirat Da‘f al-Eemaan (Weakness of Faith){{Cite web|last=نور|first=مكتبة|title=تحميل كتاب Weakness of Faith pdf|url=https://www.noor-book.com/كتاب-Weakness-of-Faith-pdf|access-date=2021-05-08|website=www.noor-book.com|language=ar|archive-date=2021-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510144704/https://www.noor-book.com/%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-Weakness-of-Faith-pdf|url-status=live}}
• Wasaa’il ath-Thibaat ‘ala Deen-Illah (Means of Steadfastness: Standing Firm in Islam)
• Ureedu an Atooba Walaakin… (I Want to Repent, But…)
• Shakaawa wa Hulool (Problems and Solutions)
• Siraa‘ ma‘a ash-Shahawaat (Striving against Whims and Desires)[https://islamqa.info/en/about-director Biography of the site's General Supervisor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309193136/https://islamqa.info/en/about-director |date=2022-03-09 }} islamqa.info About our site

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{{wikiquote|Muhammad Munajid}}

• [http://almunajjid.com/ Official website (almunajjid.com)]
• https://twitter.com/almonajjid
• https://twitter.com/almonajjid_EN

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