Pope prays at the "Blue Mosque"

[Umar001]

If the Pope is praying to Jesus Christ he is praying to God. I know that is difficult for some Muslims to understand(seemingly), but one could think of it as a triangle, three sides of the same figure. In any event, from what I understand the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) allowed Christians to pray at his Masjid after a meeting he had with a group of Christian leaders. So if the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) didn't find a problem with allowing Christians to pray at a Mosque why should you second guess that decision now?

Finally someone brought this up, jee it really can be difficult getting people to think.

 

[north_malaysian]

from what I understand the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) allowed Christians to pray at his Masjid after a meeting he had with a group of Christian leaders. So if the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) didn't find a problem with allowing Christians to pray at a Mosque why should you second guess that decision now?

Prophet Muhammad did allow Christians to pray in mosque? Care to further explain? Cos... I dont know about it.:embarrass

 

[Ismahaan]

How do you know that the pope was not praying to Allah? Do they not believe in Allah who Ibraheem worshiped?

The believe in the trinity, a God that's 3 in 1. Is that Allah? Catholics pray to Jesus, they even pray to Mary. So who knows who is was praying to, maybe Jesus, maybe Mary, maybe the holy ghost- but definitely not Allah! You to declare that there is no God but Allah before you can even pray- shahada, then prayer.

 

[Ismahaan]

If the Pope is praying to Jesus Christ he is praying to God. I know that is difficult for some Muslims to understand(seemingly), but one could think of it as a triangle, three sides of the same figure. In any event, from what I understand the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) allowed Christians to pray at his Masjid after a meeting he had with a group of Christian leaders. So if the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) didn't find a problem with allowing Christians to pray at a Mosque why should you second guess that decision now?

Err where's your evidence? Can you give me a hadith reference if you don't mind? I would really appreciate it.

 

[Keltoi]

In the year 10 A.H. (631 CE), Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received a delegation of sixty Christians from Najran in Medinah. The territory of Najran was located south of Bani Khath’am near Yemen, about 450 miles south of Medinah. They were received in the Prophet’s mosque, and the Prophet allowed them to pray in the mosque, which they did facing East. This group of Christians followed Byzantine rite.

They discussed with the Prophet the points of doctrine including the nature of God, and he replied them by reciting Surah Ikhlas (112) of the Qur’an. It begins with the word ‘Qul’ meaning ‘Say’. The translation of the meaning of the Surah is: 'Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him'. Further discussion on the nature of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) led to some disagreements, on which he recited them the three Ayats of the Qur’an from Surah Ale-‘Imran (3:59-61). After three days, the Christian delegation decided to conclude its mission

http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/treaty631.htm

http://al-islam.org/kaaba14/2.htm#The Treaty with the Christians of Najran.

 

[Muhammad]

Question:

What is the ruling on non-Muslims entering the mosque?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

It is forbidden for Muslims to allow any kaafir to enter al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah] and the sacred areas [al-Haram] around it, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Verily, the Mushrikûn (polytheists) are Najasun (impure). So let them not come near Al-Masjid Al-Harâm (at Makkah) after this year” [al-Tawbah 9:28].

With regard to other mosques, some fuqaha’ said that it is permissible because there is nothing to indicate that it is not allowed; others said that it is not permissible, by analogy with al-Masjid al-Haraam.

The correct view is that it is permissible if it serves the interests of sharee’ah or meet a valid need, such as a person hearing something that may invite him to enter Islam, or because he needs to drink water in the mosque, or the like. This is because the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) tied up (his prisoner) Thamaamah ibn Athaal al-Hanafi in the mosque before he became Muslim, and the delegations of Thaqeef and the Christians of Najraan stayed in the mosque before they became Muslim. There were many benefits offered by doing this: they could hear the speeches and sermons of the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), see people praying and reciting Qur’aan, and other benefits that are gained by those who visit the mosque. (From Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 6/276).

If some kuffaar ask to enter the mosque so that they can see how Muslims pray, so long as they have nothing with them that could make the mosque dirty, and there are no women among them who are dressed in a provocative fashion, or any other reason not to let them in, then there is nothing wrong with allowing them to enter and sit behind the Muslims so they can see how they pray. If we fear that there is someone who may rebuke them (for not praying etc.) without realizing that they are not Muslim, we should point this out to them.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid​

http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=2192&ln=eng&txt=kuffaar masjid

​

 

[imaad_udeen]

I dont like the idea of someone who insulted the Prophet (pbuh) being allowed to enter a Mosque.

But Allah knows all.

 

[Keltoi]

I dont like the idea of someone who insulted the Prophet (pbuh) being allowed to enter a Mosque.

But Allah knows all.

Actually, a Byzantine Emperor insulted the Prophet, Pope Benedict just quoted him for reasons of his own. An extemely dumb thing to do, but Benedict is a scholar and not as charismatic as John Paul. What is most unfortunate about his choice of words is that it completely overshadowed the point of his speech, which was the role of reason in religion, and that violence has no place within it.

 

[limitless]

That pope should not be allowed to pray in the musjied. Wasn't it Christians who genocided the muslims. If the pope prayed in Israel where jews worship; I would see all jews killing and spreading hatred about Christianity.

I hated the fact muslims allowed a mushirk to pray in the musjid; this is the reasons why Muslims are getting killed, being insulted, and treated like trash around the world. I don't blame Bush or any of the politicians for claiming muslims to be terrorist because it is their (muslims) fault for this. If they didn't fight and "hated" each other this wouldn't happen.

Anyway, I didn't mean to insult or say anything to hurt someone. It is my opinion.

 

[Keltoi]

If one is truly concerned with creating improved relations and fostering friendship between faiths it would seem prudent and logical to be seen honoring the other faith's places of worship. Would it be more insulting for the Pope to state he would not pray in a mosque because it would be sinful to do so, or more insulting that he views a mosque as a place Christians should feel comfortable in worshipping their own faith? Not that Christians are suddenly going to start trying to worship at mosques, but that Christians may grow to feel more comfortable with the Islamic faith. The mentality I've read about this issue by many on this thread is a repitition of what has divided us over the past 1,000 years.

 

[imaad_udeen]

If one is truly concerned with creating improved relations and fostering friendship between faiths it would seem prudent and logical to be seen honoring the other faith's places of worship. Would it be more insulting for the Pope to state he would not pray in a mosque because it would be sinful to do so, or more insulting that he views a mosque as a place Christians should feel comfortable in worshipping their own faith? Not that Christians are suddenly going to start trying to worship at mosques, but that Christians may grow to feel more comfortable with the Islamic faith. The mentality I've read about this issue by many on this thread is a repitition of what has divided us over the past 1,000 years.

The Pope prayed to someone other than Allah in a mosque, I don't think that is right.

 

[abdil han]

salam aleykum all,
brothers if the problem is getting into a mosque as a nonmuslim;pope is not the first,,blue mosque is one of the most famous mosques in the world and every tourist(including atheists,polyteists,jews,whatever) who visits istanbul,goes into this mosque,,,and this mosque has been visited by 6 million tourists last year,,..


and once a hindu prayed there(actually he prayyed in islamic way,but he is not a muslim,i am a guide and im guiding in istanbul,i was his guide)

wassalamu aleykum

 

[AvarAllahNoor]

Mosques, Gurdwaras, Churches, Mandirs, Synagogues are places of worship of God, so we souldn't be throwing our toys out of the pram.

 

[AvarAllahNoor]

If the Pope is praying to Jesus Christ he is praying to God. I know that is difficult for some Muslims to understand(seemingly), but one could think of it as a triangle, three sides of the same figure. In any event, from what I understand the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) allowed Christians to pray at his Masjid after a meeting he had with a group of Christian leaders. So if the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) didn't find a problem with allowing Christians to pray at a Mosque why should you second guess that decision now?

Although i agree we should all be allowed to pray where we want.

Also bear in mind. Christians then did no beleive in this trinity theory as strongly that's come to the surface recently as you do now. Jesus was never percieved to be God, but the SON of God, who wanted to direct all people to that one God. Somewhere Christians lost there way and decided Jesus was God. Not what he came on this earth to do!

 

[Woodrow]

If a man says he is going to pray to Allah(swt) is it not more right for us to accept him on his word and let it be his own sin if he does different? Isn't it much better for us to allow someone to pray then risk denying a person who's intent is to pray to Allah(swt).

The Catholic Church has long taught it's members that Allah(swt) is the same God(swt) of the prophets that is revealed to them. I do believe the Catholic church is in error over the nature of Isa, but they will accept the oneness of Allah(swt)

I am certain that the Popes prayer was said aloud and I am also certain that if the words spoke of anyone besides Allah(swt) there would have been a loud uproar at the Mosque.

We can not know a person's thoughts or their intentions all we can do is see that the outward actions are not Haram.

 

[Keltoi]

Although i agree we should all be allowed to pray where we want.

Also bear in mind. Christians then did no beleive in this trinity theory as strongly that's come to the surface recently as you do now. Jesus was never percieved to be God, but the SON of God, who wanted to direct all people to that one God. Somewhere Christians lost there way and decided Jesus was God. Not what he came on this earth to do!

Actually the Christians the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) had this meeting with believed in the concept of the Trinity. This was actually a topic of conversation according to the sources I've encountered on the subject. I don't want to get bogged down in debating this subject though as it has been discussed numerous times with much detail in the comparative religion section.

 

[KAding]

It was supposed to be a sign of respect and an attempting at mending relations. Guess that didn't quite work out like planned!

Btw, the blue mosque is as much a tourist attraction as a Mosque. I even visited it a year or so ago. If they let in a completely unbelieving kafir like me, surely they couldn't bar the pope .

 

[AvarAllahNoor]

Actually the Christians the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) had this meeting with believed in the concept of the Trinity. This was actually a topic of conversation according to the sources I've encountered on the subject. I don't want to get bogged down in debating this subject though as it has been discussed numerous times with much detail in the comparative religion section.

I'll read up on it then. It's odd how it's only recently or some groups who see Jesus as God.

I'll remain on topic though!

 

[Abdul-Raouf]

Did The Prophet, peace be upon him, allow Christians to pray in his masjid?

Yes offcourse......... but he ordered them that they should clean their body and enter the mosque thats it.......