Clash of Religions---

Interesting story, not at all related to photography, so I'll be happy to remove this if anyone finds it inappropriate. But -- back when I was in grad school, I regularly attended my campus' Catholic community services. Back at that time, there was a very small Muslim community on campus, and there was no local Imam. Our priest came in one day with a curious smile on his face and related the following story: the small local muslim community asked him to provide a fatwa for them on a local campus matter. I cannot recall exactly what the matter was, but I seem to recall it was dietary in nature. It turns out, that in a pinch, if there are no Imams or distinctly Islamic places of worship available, (some?) Muslims can 'legally' take recourse to a Priest or a Rabbi to settle religious matters or to pray, under the idea that at least Christians and Jews are "People of the Book" and, therefore, their religious authorities are better than secular ones, and the same goes for places of worship.

So -- this *could* have been a sign of respect, however unlikely that strikes many of us today, and not necessarily a clash or provocation.

Of course I haven't the slightest insight into the local politics and community relations where you are, Pete, just offering a story that I, for one, found fascinating and completely counter-intuitive.

Dusty Negative said:

Interesting story, not at all related to photography, so I'll be happy to remove this if anyone finds it inappropriate. But -- back when I was in grad school, I regularly attended my campus' Catholic community services. Back at that time, there was a very small Muslim community on campus, and there was no local Imam. Our priest came in one day with a curious smile on his face and related the following story: the small local muslim community asked him to provide a fatwa for them on a local campus matter. I cannot recall exactly what the matter was, but I seem to recall it was dietary in nature. It turns out, that in a pinch, if there are no Imams or distinctly Islamic places of worship available, (some?) Muslims can 'legally' take recourse to a Priest or a Rabbi to settle religious matters or to pray, under the idea that at least Christians and Jews are "People of the Book" and, therefore, their religious authorities are better than secular ones, and the same goes for places of worship.

So -- this *could* have been a sign of respect, however unlikely that strikes many of us today, and not necessarily a clash or provocation.

Of course I haven't the slightest insight into the local politics and community relations where you are, Pete, just offering a story that I, for one, found fascinating and completely counter-intuitive.

Click to expand...

Interesting indeed! I had never heard of that.

In regards to this being a sign of respect, I don’t doubt that. I wish we could have first-hand confirmation!

Of course, now there's the internet, and I cannot find anything to substantiate this story, increasing the interest factor (at least for me).

Per Chat GPT, my question and the generated AI response. If this question and response are offensive, I apologize and shall delete them. I generated the question solely out of curiosity. Of course, we are aware of the extreme limitations of this kind of auto-generated internet-based response.

Question:
I have heard in the past, that in a small Islamic communiy, if there is no specific Islamic authority available, , but there may arise an issue ordinarily mediated by religious consult, that it may be permissible to consult a non-Islamic religious authority (for example a priest or rabbi) under special circumstances. Is this true?

Generated response:
Islamic teachings generally encourage resolving conflicts within the community through Islamic principles and consulting knowledgeable Muslim scholars or authorities. However, in situations where a qualified Islamic authority is not available, some flexibility can be observed, depending on the context and the nature of the conflict.

1. Seeking Justice and Fairness: In Islam, seeking justice and fairness is paramount. If a non-Muslim authority, such as a priest or rabbi, is known for their wisdom and fairness, it might be considered permissible under special circumstances to seek their counsel, particularly if it helps maintain peace and harmony within the community.
2. Interfaith Relations: Islam recognizes the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) and encourages respectful and cooperative relations with them. Consulting a non-Muslim religious authority in the absence of a Muslim one could fall under this principle of mutual respect and cooperation.
3. Practical Necessity: In some cases, practical necessity may dictate seeking advice or arbitration from a non-Muslim authority, especially in non-Muslim majority countries where Muslim religious authorities might not be readily accessible.

It is important to note that while this might be acceptable in certain situations, it is generally recommended to consult with knowledgeable members of the Muslim community or seek advice from recognized Islamic institutions, even if they are not local. Online consultations with Muslim scholars can also be an option in modern times.
For specific guidance, it would be best to consult with a knowledgeable and trusted Islamic scholar who can provide advice based on the specific circumstances and context of the conflict.

Thanks for all those interesting Replies--