 WASHINGTON: A celebratory procession taken out on Sunday in Coney Island, New York, ...
| ...now the 19,962nd holiest place in all Islam ... |
... to mark the Prophet's birthday (ptui pbuh), carried a 20-foot high model that the leaders of the procession claimed was a replica of his mausoleum. This most unusual practice, unknown so far in any Muslim country or expatriate communities in the West, has triggered a controversy.
| "Innovation" is, of course, against Muslim rules. |
The proponents of the practice claim that if the Shias can display "tazias" to mourn the martyrdom of Hussain and his companions, why can't the Sunnis do the same to celebrate the birthday of the true messanger.
| As far as I'm concerned, they can do most anything they want, as long as it doesn't involve weaponry, explosives, and the usual incitement to violence... |
While most clerics are silent, a couple have described the practice as "bida'at", or something undesirable and impermissible.
| Sounds like the participants must have been having fun or something. It was Coney Island, after all, though it's too early in the year for the beach... |
There were 60 to 70 families taking part in the Coney Island procession, including women and children. There are about 100 mosques in the greater New York area, most of which continue to skirmish with one another over intricate theological controversies or "masai'l". Comrade Shahid, of the Pakistan-US Freedom Forum, told Daily Times that it was unfortunate religious leaders and clerics, instead of bringing the community together to deal with the problems it has faced since 9/11, are dragging it into divisive and unnecessary theological debates and religious strife.
| I disagree. I have no particular reason, though one will probably come to me. I just reserve the right to disagree reflexively with anyone named "Comrade Shaheed." |
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