Thursday, December 1, 2011

Grand Mufti Condemns Royal Opera House

A couple of days ago a video surfaced in YouTube of the Grand Mufti of Oman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalili (mufti meaning religious leader or highest religious authority in a country) while he was answering people's questions on religion. A guy mentioned that his mother wanted to visit the newly opened Royal Opera House Muscat to admire the Islamic architecture and the Mufti stated clearly that because the venue hosts evils like dance and music, that is it forbidden for muslims to visit such dens of iniquity. Ouch. I wonder what His Majesty feels about that. If you speak Arabic you can see the video here. Your thoughts?

14 comments:

  1. I don't think it struck Sheikh Khalili that the questioner was specifically asking about an opera house endorsed by HM.

    -Omani in US

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  2. Oh dear! This sounds like something out of Iran, not Oman!

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  3. if you have time, could you post a complete transcript of what he said
    Thanks

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  4. i think ths guy wnts early retirement.

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  5. I want the locals to pick up this subject and have a national level debate and come to a serious conclusion, if they want a developing and open to modern ideology or a laid back sleeping nation living upto the Mufti's expectations.

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  6. I dont think the Mufti actually condemned the Opera House, all what he did was to answer a religious question pertaining to visiting the house.

    It is a well known fact that Islam prohibit Music, and visiting any place whose purpose is to play music will be haram.

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  7. I remember the only time I met His Eminence was in Al Bustan Palace. He was a charming man and certainly I can only respect his opinions.

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  8. Isnt Dance and Music a part of Omani / Arabic culture? I am surprised !
    I really dont understand why people have such extremist views about ROHM. Cant anyone see the employment benefits for the nationals? cant anyone see the various business opportunities for the nationals ?

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  9. I am so happy to see opera at last in Oman.It was the only thing missing in this beautifull country

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  10. No, this is not Iran. Whether it struck him or not that he was talking about the ROH is not the point here.

    I think what the Grand Mufti has done shows that there is freedom of speech in Oman (to a certain extent) which is what we should focus on. People have the right to love ROH or condemn it, we live in a free country.

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  11. Salaams Nadia
    Enjoying reading through your blog now and then. Have just set up my own one just now - at the moment mostly photos.
    I am at the other end of the country though - Muscat (although have travelled around Dhofar a few years back).
    Love your blog!

    http://khaleejikat.blogspot.com/

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  12. Poor old man needs to retire and let a sheikh with a bit of an open mind take control. How pathetic.
    Would sheikh like to issue fatwa or nasihah about child custody laws in iman plz..they are more important than a freakin condemnation of a visit to a beautiful building.
    Yet another muslim stuck in a time warp.

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