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ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 21 September 2013 15 Dhul-qa’da 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5829 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY H H Sheikha Moza addressing the ceremony after receiving the award. Sheikha Moza receives George Bush Award KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE: H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, was on Thursday night presented with the George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service of the George Bush Library Foundation in recognition of her “devoted promo- tion of peace and human development throughout the world”. In a ceremony at the University of New England, Kennebunkport, Maine, former president George H W Bush and his wife Barbara presented her with the award. Report on page 3 Qatar ‘can host World Cup in summer’ DOHA: Qatar has maintained it can host the 2022 World Cup in summer even as pressure mounts on FIFA to switch it to winter to save players and fans from the heat in the country. Qatar said it was open to a switch to win- PULPIT ter dates but reiterated that despite the extreme heat, it could stage the World Cup in summer by building AC stadiums using newly environmentally-friendly technology. “We bid for the World Cup in summer and are fully committed and working hard to deliver on these promises,” the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said in a statement yesterday. “If the international football com- munity asks us to move the timetable, we are able to do so, but the development and implementation of environmentally-friendly THE ISSUE cooling technologies remains an important legacy issue for our nation, region and many countries with similar climates.” As Arab Spring has thrown several Arab countries into chaos, with Syria has complicated the issue, as it has divided “Creating comfortable conditions for pub- continuing to burn and tension simmering in Egypt, an intense debate is Muslims and as a result, mosques, instead of Design: Abraham Augusthy lic areas, walkways, training pitches and becoming a unifying force, are sometimes con- stadiums during and after the World Cup raging across the Arab world – about the relation between politics and tributing to divisions among Muslims. means being able to play and watch football the pulpit. Can mosques, especially Friday sermons given by imams, According to Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi, whose matches in summer throughout the coun- be used for political purposes? Are the sermons given by some imams Friday sermons are famous for their political try,” the committee said. content, there is nothing wrong about discuss- contributing to violence on the streets and deepening the divide between ing politics in the pulpit. Answering a ques- Obama could meet parties? Will the Arab world be better if mosques stop taking sides in the tion in his personal website about whether battle between parties? All these questions are being discussed openly it’s advisable to talk about politics in Friday Rowhani at UN sermons, he says: “It’s not absolutely forbid- in social networking sites across the Arab region and joining the debate den; it’s not absolutely allowed.” He adds that WASHINGTON: Iran’s reform- are both religious scholars and ordinary people. while discussing politics, the imam should not minded President, Hassan Rowhani use names, delve into details or speak ill of may meet Barack Obama in an infor- ne major factor that has ignited views, some of them objected to the contents people. According to him, imams have a right mal, orchestrated encounter at the UN the debate is the rise and fall of of sermons. A classic example is an incident in to express views even if they run against the General Assembly next week, amid signs Brotherhood in Egypt, and the a Riyadh mosque where supporters and oppo- views of governments. “Mosques are meant of a rapidly softening stance in Tehran. Oexpulsion from power of its leader nents of Brotherhood almost came to blows. to follow and spread the message of Shariah, Rowhani will address the assembly on Mohamed Mursi by army general Abdulfattah A video capturing those scenes went viral on not to support specific government policies.” Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after the Al Sisi. Being rooted in political Islam, Youtube. Other scholars strongly disagree with traditional opening speech by the host Brotherhood has its supporters among imams Scholars say that politics and Islam are him. Writing on the website of Think Tank President, Barack Obama – a symbolically PAGEand as a result, the 6political developments in inseparable. During Prophet Mohammed’s Center for Studies, Dr Mohamed Al Ahmari, important though coincidental confluence of Egypt found their way to Friday sermons, with (peace be upon him) time, mosque was the an expert, says that mosques must keep away scheduling that will highlight building hopes unhealthy consequences. As the faithful who centre of Islamic life and politics were openly from politics. of a breakthrough in relations between the attend Friday prayers have their own political discussed during sermons. But Arab Spring Continued on page 2 two powers. QNA & AGENCIES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Striking a balance in sermons Arab Spring has triggered a debate on use of pulpits for political purposes Pics: Salim Matramkot BY AZMAT HAROON believe is a blow to the Muslim and think they would be sinners Brotherhood. if they oppose the political ideas DOHA: Dispute over the use of Although mosques have been of the Imam.” politics in Friday sermons has used for political debates for She said that some preachers become a divisive issue among a many centuries in Islamic history, have their personal ideas about majority of Muslims across the some experts suggest that latest politics, and by giving speeches on Arab world. disputes over mosques began fol- politics during Friday sermons, The Friday prayer is singled lowing the revolutionary wave they impose their beliefs and ide- out from all other obligatory of demonstrations that began in ologies on their audiences. prayers in Islam for many rea- the Middle East and North Africa “The purpose of Friday ser- sons, including the fact that the (Mena) in December 2010. mons should be to promote sermon (Khutba) is compulsory. Some argue that politically- Islamic ethics and ways of life and The sermon is delivered by the motivated speeches in mosques create awareness so that people Imams of all the mosques, who are creating a further divide make political decisions on their lead the prayers, and cover a vari- among Muslims already sepa- own.” ety of issues Muslims encounter rated on sectarian grounds. Popular pro-democracy Islamic in their daily lives. One Imam of a mosque in activist, Dr Muhammad Al Scholars who argue that poli- Riyadh was recently suspended Ahmari, called for a new legal tics is inseparable from Islam say following a video that went viral framework that separates politics that the Imam is duty-bound to on the Internet, showing locals from religion in mosques across dive into politics while giving the and Egyptians fighting during the the Arab world. weekly sermon, and disclose suf- Friday prayer. In a recent column, he writes ferings of Muslims, even if they The brawl erupted over com- decree barring them from discuss- it was important to draw some that Muslims have co-existed are located in a remote corner of ments of the Imam who had ing political issues in mosques. sort of limits for the Imams. with Christians and people from the world. spoken against Egypt’s General Kuwait’s ties with Egypt dete- The Imams are “The address should be rele- other religions for centuries in Others say that the ‘minbar’ Abdel Fattah Al Sisi in his ser- riorated as some Imams contin- encouraged not to vant to the interests of Muslims countries such as Egypt, Syria, (the platform used by the Imam to mon, a political stance that agi- ued to speak against the ouster attending the prayer and not the Lebanon and Iraq but many deliver his sermon in the mosque) tated many Egyptians present in of president Mohammed Mursi. exceed 30 minutes other way around. Islamic-political ideologies today is being exploited by political par- the mosque. Following the political stand-off during their “Our problem is that many were promoting sectarianism. ties which use Imams to further Reports suggest that since 2011, in Egypt over the overthrow of address on Friday. people misunderstand the real “Some extremist groups their agendas. nearly 1,101 mosques have bro- Mursi, Cairo’s Al Fateh Mosque The Khutba should purpose of mosque and use it for describe liberals and people sup- The debate has come to the ken their ties with the Tunisian became a focal point of a bloody their personal agendas.” porting secular parties as ‘disbe- forefront following Egypt’s crack- government, while some 2,200 showdown between the Egyptian not cause divisions Mohammed Smatti, a resident lievers’ or ‘agents’.” down on unlicensed Imams, who mosques have become a point of military and members of the among people. of Qatar, said that Islamic schol- “People should select their lead- have been banned from giving dispute between different Islamic Muslim Brotherhood, many of ars should not impose their politi- ers based on their vision, not their Friday sermons. parties and the state. whom took refuge in the mosque. cal opinions on others. tribal or religious affiliations.” According to the London-based In Syria, as many as 1,450 August 16, a Friday, was “If they use Islam to defend an The debate is expected to Arabic daily Asharq Al Awsat, mosques have been destroyed or declared the ‘Day of Rage’ by the argument, no one can disagree intensify in the coming weeks as Egypt’s Ministry of Awqaf has bombed since the beginning of the Brotherhood, and hundreds died with it.” the civil and political unrest in barred nearly 55,000 unlicensed crisis, and include the historical in clashes that broke out dur- Heba Alfiq, a Qatari, said that many countries in the Arab world clerics from preaching in mosques Khalid bin Walid Mosque dating ing mass demonstrations across some people attending such con- continues, and taking sides for or and banned all those who have back to the 7th century.