Recently The Majlis in a pamphlet criticized the Kiswah viewing ceremony, branding it haraam on the basis of the payment of a fee making it an act of

Answer

The claim that there was no charge is a blatant LIE. There was a "R90 per person" charge. This fee was advertised in the very same paper, "Islam". The advert reads: "TICKET SALES CONTACT –

031 2078866. Cover Charge R90 per person." To divert attention from this haraam qimaar R90 viewing charge, the paper seeks to hoodwink by saying that the Kiswah was taken to different areas to be viewed by people who did not pay. The issue here is not related to Overport and Chatsworth where they had taken the Kiswah for 'free' viewing. The attack is against the R90 fee which was charged for viewing the Kiswah where it was displayed at a specific venue. It is dishonest and demeaning to gorge out the blatant LIE that R90 was not charged as was advertised by the paper itself.

The prizes were awarded to some of those who had paid the entrance fee – the R90 for viewing the Kiswah. Whether there was a 'raffle' or not is immaterial. In terms of the Shariah, the act was qimaar (gambling) in view of the R90 fee paid.

While hundreds may have viewed the Kiswah, millions of Hindus, men and women, bath naked in the 'holy' waters of the Ganghes river each year. Millions attended the recent condom world cup event, and millions always participate in baatil, haraam, fisq and fujoor. The permissibility and correctness of an event are not judged in terms of numbers. The majority among the masses are always plodding baatil. This is a Qur'aanic principle. The Qur'aan Majeed says: "And, if you follow the majority on earth, then you too will verily be among the mushrikoon."

When according to the Shariah the event of the Kiswah viewing was qimaar, it was haraam regardless of any 'goodness' which the organizers saw in it. If it was an act of ibaadat, there would not have been merrymaking – fun, awarding of prizes, mob laughter, women coming out adorned in their finery, to view something which the Shariah does not order. Even for Salaat they are not allowed to emerge from their homes. The separate facilities for ladies is nowadays nonsense – drivel, bunkum – deception to hoodwink and mislead. The 'separate facilities' which they have for so-called 'ladies' at Musjids and other 'thikr' and 'ta'leem' venues are all haraam stunts and deceptions of Iblees.

The primary Shar'i ground for the prohibition of the viewing session is the fee charged. Even if it be momentarily assumed that there was no merrymaking, no satanism and no fisq and fujoor accompanying the display and viewing session of the Kiswah, then too the function was haraam solely on the basis of the fee charged. The kutub of the Shariah all unanimously state this prohibition in the following terms:

"Renting books for reading (is not permissible) because the benefit of books is (acquired) by looking inside them. Looking in the books of others is permissible without paying rent (or a fee). Thus if a person acquired books by way of renting (paying a fee) and reads them, there is no rental (or fee) which he has to pay." (Badaaius Sanaai',Vol. 4, Page 180)

"Renting the Mushaf (copy of the Qur'aan Majeed) is not permissible because the benefit of the Mushaf is (the act of) looking inside and to recite from it. Looking and reciting from the Mushaf of another person are Mubah (permissible). That which is Mubah cannot be sold….." (Badaaius Sanaa', Vol. 4, Page 175) While the Qur'aan may be sold and bought, it cannot be rented out or a fee charged for reciting from it. The same ruling applies to all books.

Similarly, it is not permissible to charge a fee for viewing animals. Thus, the R90 fee had made the function haraam. It was haraam to pay the R90 and haraam to collect it. In addition to this primary haraam aspect, other acts of prohibition also accompanied the display and view session. The Shariah cannot be abrogated with the stupid logic of the proponents and promoters of baatil.

On the Day of Qiyaamah these miscreants will see what they have perpetrated here on earth in the name of Islam. As for the molvis who condone and promote such haraam acts in the name of Islam with their participation or silence, the Qur'aan Majeed has the following warning and reprimand for them: "O People of Imaan! Verily, many of the ahbaar and ruhbaan devour the wealth of the people in baatil (haraam) ways and they (thus) prevent (people) from the Path of Allah." (Surah Taubah, aayat 34) – The ahbaar and ruhbaan were the molvis, muftis and sheikhs of Bani Israaeel whom the molvis, muftis and sheikhs of this Ummah in this era are emulating.