An Islamic studies professor in Turkey has stirred controversy by issuing a fatwa – religious ruling – that Muslims can pray three times a day, instead of five, by doubling up on prayers.
The fatwa by Istanbul University professor Mohamed Nour Dugan was supported by other professors of Islamic law, and sparked debate in the Turkish press.
Among those who supported the ruling was Dr. Ali Kusa, who said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would merge prayers in special cases, Turkish papers reported.
The fatwa by Istanbul University professor Mohamed Nour Dugan was supported by other professors of Islamic law, and sparked debate in the Turkish press.
Among those who supported the ruling was Dr. Ali Kusa, who said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would merge prayers in special cases, Turkish papers reported.
But Muslim preacher Dr. Ahmed al-Kabisi rejected the fatwa, saying the Quran and the prophet's sayings emphasize that Muslims should pray five times a day.
"Merging prayers is permissible, but only in emergencies," al-Kabisi said, adding that the prophet himself did it once in his entire life.
Al-Kabisi told Al-Arabiya.net that the fatwa "is a whimsical approach to religion and abuses Islam's leniency in emergency cases."
"Combining...prayers is a Shiite theory to contradict the Sunnis in everything," he said.
The timing of daily prayers is a key difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Shiites combine two prayers twice in the day, so they pray at three separate times – not five – but the number of prayers still adds up to five.
(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid).
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