Iran clerics criticize Ahmadinejad for consoling Chavez's mother with a hug
Picture removed
The Canadian Press - FILE --In this Friday, March 8, 2013 file photo released by the Miraflores Press Office, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comforts Elena Frias next to the flag-draped coffin of her son, Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, during the funeral ceremony at the military academy in Caracas, Venezuela. Senior Iranian clerics have criticized President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for consoling Hugo Chavez's mother with a hug — a physical contact considered a sin under the country's strict Islamic codes. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office, File) less
TEHRAN, Iran - Senior Iranian clerics have scolded President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for consoling Hugo Chavez's mother with a hug — a physical contact considered a sin under Iran's strict Islamic codes. The rebuke follows a widely published photo showing Ahmadinejad embracing Chavez's mother at the funeral of the late Venezuelan president in what is seen as taboo-breaking behaviour in Iran. Iranian papers on Tuesday cited clerics from the religious centre of Qom who described the hug as "forbidden," inappropriate behaviour and "clowning around." Iran's strict Islamic codes prohibit physical contact between unrelated members of the opposite sex. The clerics did not spare Ahmadinejad. "Touching a non-mahram (a woman who is not a close relative) is forbidden under any circumstances, whether shaking hands or touching by the cheek," said one of the clerics, Mohammad Taqi Rahbar, adding that such a contact, even with "an older woman is not allowed ... and contrary to the dignity of the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, Iran's former judiciary chief and a religious leader in Qom, said Ahmadinejad was "clowning around" and his hug shows he failed to "protect the dignity of his nation and his position." The clerics were also outraged by Ahmadinejad's letter of condolence to Venezuelans and their interim leader Nicolas Maduro because the Iranian president had described Chavez as a "martyr" who will be resurrected and who will return to Earth along with Jesus Christ and Imam Mahdi, a 9th century saint revered by Shiite Muslims. "Your knowledge of religious issues is limited and no intervention could be made in this matter," said Yazdi, addressing Ahmadinejad directly. Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Mirtajeddini, a cleric who accompanied Ahmadinejad to Venezuela and stood by as the Iranian president hugged Chavez's mother at the funeral last week in Caracas had initially tried to deny the story, saying the photo was a fake. Yazdi also scolded Mirtajeddini: "You are a cleric and you wear the clerical robe ... you should not deny what happened." The uproar surrounding the hug has given Ahmadinejad's conservative opponents fodder to criticize him, three months ahead of the June presidential elections. Ahmadinejad can't run in the elections due to term limits under Iran's constitution but is seeking to get a protege into the race. For their part, Iranian reformists ridiculed Ahmadinejad for weeping at Chavez's funeral. "I burst into laughter when I saw Ahmadinejad weeping on the arm of Chavez mother, said Abbas Abdi, activist and columnist with the independent website Aftabnews.ir. "If he needed to cry, he should have done so for his countrymen who died" in clashes with security forces during the mass protests that followed Ahmadinejad's disputed 2009 re-election, said Abdi.
Salaam.
This is just sad. He gets criticized for hugging a woman who's lost her son.
This is just sad. He gets criticized for hugging a woman who's lost her son.
format_quote Originally Posted by crimsontide06
This is pathetic...the woman lost her son, nothing wrong with this.
In Islam, touching a non-mahram is not allowed under any circumstances, save in absolute emergencies such as life or death situations.
It was narrated from ‘Urwah that ‘Aa’ishah told him about the women’s oath of allegiance: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never touched any woman with his hand. He would explain to the woman what the oath of allegiance implied, and when she accepted, he would say ‘Go, for you have given your oath of allegiance.’”
Narrated by Muslim, 1866
If the Prophet when doing something as important as taking the oath of allegiance from women, did not deem it permissible to take the oath in the same manner as men (hand on hand), and did not deem any physical contact appropriate, then we cannot devise our own exceptions to that rule.
Stunningly beautiful adhaan from the Dome of the Rock in Masjid ul Aqsa Download (right click and choose "save target/link as").
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed (14:52)
Indeed Allah knows, and you know not (16: 74, part)
It was narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yassaar said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than that he should touch a woman who is not permissible for him.”
Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 486. Shaykh al-Albaani said in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5045, that this hadeeth is saheeh.
He showed his humanity for a moment with his compassion for Chavez' mother. Will they stone him to death before or after the next election because of it ?
For god sake he's just being a human.Give me a break.
It is not my place to condone or condemn the actions of Ahmadinejad. I think he unwittingly had placed himself into a situation in which he did not know what to do,
Perhaps much of this could have been prevented if he had simply not attended the funeral and sent appropriate condolences by mail.
Chavez's family as is most of Venezuela are Deeply Catholic and the funeral was a Catholic funeral. Perhaps Ahmadinejad should have learned a bit more about the religious beliefs and practices of Chavez's family and prepared himself to avoid any compromising situations. A bit of knowledge may have prevented an emotional response.
It is not always a wise thing for a Muslim to attend a Christian funeral,unless they have knowledge as to what to expect.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also been criticized in the past for watching near naked dancing women in South America. He has an if in Rome do as the Romans do attitude. The clerics are right to chastise him as he represents Islam (and is their job). But he is also a diplomat that does not want to alienate his Christian friends so he sins for a good cause. He wears a business suit not Islamic garb to give the impression that he is a statesman that has to deal with many cultures and does not want to come across too hard core Islam. Some Muslims may say he should not have Christian friends and allies and Allah is the only way and rant and rave. But remember that Jesus (Isa) (PBUH) had pagan Roman friends.
Perhaps much of this could have been prevented if he had simply not attended the funeral and sent appropriate condolences by mail.
It is not always a wise thing for a Muslim to attend a Christian funeral,unless they have knowledge as to what to expect.
Muslims living in the West often complain that the West does not allow them to participate in normal life in the West. Woodrow seems to be saying that Muslims cut themselves off.
Who cares. He can hug a whale shark for all I care.
I was looking at myself talking to myself and I realized this conversation...I was having with myself looking at myself was a conversation with myself that I needed to have with myself.
Muslims living in the West often complain that the West does not allow them to participate in normal life in the West. Woodrow seems to be saying that Muslims cut themselves off.
Muslims living in the West often complain that the West does not allow them to participate in normal life in the West. Woodrow seems to be saying that Muslims cut themselves off.
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Islam and Hugging Non-Mahram
when doing something as important as taking the oath of allegiance from women, did not deem it permissible to take the oath in the same manner as men (hand on hand), and did not deem any physical contact appropriate, then we cannot devise our own exceptions to that rule.
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