Should Muslims have a global authority figure like the Catholics to issue infallible decrees?

Question

If so, how should he be appointed, by vote of the Council of Grand Ayatollahs, or some other method?

Answer 1

Grand Ayatollah Sistani, as we all know, no decree is infallible, as man is not infallible, which does make for the reasoning behind these decrees coming to being in the first place, which makes divine inspired laws, or even earthly laws (which some may feel to be the same thing), just a wish, command, or a good intention through this understanding. If this were not so, the word infallible would not be in every dictionary on the globe. Free will is what enables man to find himself in the right place, if he so chooses wisely, as to these decrees, in any religion.(or society) Free will is what also enables man to find himself imprisoned, or worse, if he so chooses poorly, as to these decrees, in any religion (or society) Most laws are dictated in America, and elsewhere, by the norms, and popular beliefs of values. And these values have remained pretty much the same for thousands of years, and in almost all cases, civility and rights towards other humans has actually very much improved. And oddly, throughout VAST time, what was taboo then, and hidden, for whatever reason, still is today, globally, Grand Ayatollah Sistani. And although some things do not fit within my realm of norm, I do know that many freedoms of choice that do not hurt others, when restrained, can hurt others. As an example of changes in other ways, or out-dated in realm of the norm, I don't think marrying family is accepted at all in decrees any longer, like as it was acceptable in the Old Testament, but we know through science now that this tends to cause unnecessary mental-illness and deformity issues. I feel that globally, most of the world treats each other in a civilized and rational manner. But I also feel that some divine decrees made, and expected to be adhered to, are uncivilized, irrational and tyrannical as far as towards the treatment of other human beings. It is like imprisonment on earth for some, so I have heard. Which Church was it that broke away from the Catholic Church due to what they, the Catholics, decreed as not a norm, yet had adolescent boys for entertainment almost nightly? This is why we have separation of Church and State in America, this is why most decrees have stayed the same for a VERY, VERY long time, unless of course for your rational, or common-sense, moving forward decrees that have changed due to big-picture, long-haul, or facing the facts problems solving solutions that we haven't been able to fix others ways before. I wish you the best of luck on your endeavors in Iraq, but will tell you that I am highly disappointed that I have not received a letter back from you, from your web-site you had provided here for this purpose, here at YA, in regards to some questions I had for you regarding the Iraq that you wish to represent. It was a very long, well-thought out and respectful letter, so I am sure you could not have over-looked this one. I have worked in politics before, and I can tell you, If I were your constituent, you would have lost me. There is a saying in America, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, easy come, easy go. Good Luck.

Answer 2

The source of Islaimic jurisprudence and laws have always been the Quran (Word of God), Hadith(the Prophet's sayings), Qiyas (Analogies or something perhaps similar to legal Precedence) and Ijma' (Common Concensus among a council of Scholars).

In the past the Sunni world's authority figure would be the Grand Mufti appointed from the concensus of Scholars by the Caliph as somebody heading the caucus. I don't know how infallible the decrees (fatwa) are going to be, but suffice to say that a decree can be reached through the concensus in concordance with what has been written in the Quran and the Hadith.

If certain things are not fully explained or simply present textually in these two authorities (such as cigarette smoking for eg not mentioned in the Quran and Hadith) then an analogy has to be drawn so that a decree can be issued from the Consensus of Muslim scholars.

Ayatollahs are the closest to the concept of 'clergy' in traditional Christianity and they only exist among Shiites.

Since there exist not Clergies in Islam, then there is no Papal figure like what the Catholics have.

However modern Muslim countries of today where Muslims are a majority there are Decree Council set up by the respective government so that fatwa can be issued. These councils have good international rapport and dialogue with the Decree Councils in Mecca (Saudi Arabian) and the Al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt, often regarded as the two most highly respected decree councils of the Muslim world.

Answer 3

I am a Catholic and I am SHOCKED by the answers being posted in this page. This is a very simple question. Why add unsolicited comments about it?

Back to the question, though I am not familiar with the set up of the Islamic heirarchy, I do agree that there should be one Grand Ayatollah who is voted among his peers like that of the Catholic Pope. In this way, there will be one interpretation of the Koran and there will be one voice on issues involving Islamic doctrines. This is quite important as people (whether Christian, Muslim or even Buddhists) tend to create their OWN interpretations to suit their self interest.

Answer 4

Infallible decrees are purely made on doctrines of the religion. Evolution is area of the idea of organic technological knowledge, which humanity has explored and more advantageous on because the starting up. It does indirectly impact the tenets of religion. Making an infallible decree about evolution should be about the equivalent of creating an infallible decree about the nuclear fusion, or about atomic structure. we've a tendency to well known that technological knowledge is conscious what that's speaking about in those concerns till it promptly conflicts with faith in a violent or hateful degree. we've grown up as a religious employer to comprehend our courting with technological knowledge. As John Paul II suggested in his record "Fides et Ratio": "faith and reason are like 2 wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of actuality; and God has positioned interior the human heart a want to understand the actuality—in a be conscious, to understand himself—so as that, through understanding and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of actuality about themselves (cf. Ex 33:18; playstation 27:8-9; sixty 3:2-3; Jn 14:8; a million Jn 3:2)."

Answer 5

This is the last thing Islam needs: one more self-concerned conceited male with a superiority complex screwing things up between the muslim and western world.

And there can be no infallible decrees except those issued by God, and he gave us this book and set us on our own a few hundred years ago. If we had our own Pope of sorts, then Islam would stop being about a faith and connection with God and turn into a series of rituals and rigid traditions designed to mass control their followers.

Answer 6

The used it. It was called the Caliph, but they haven't embraced once since the Ottman era.

Basically because Sunni's wont accept a Shi ite and Shi ite's won't accept a Sunni!

The closets the came was Khomeni, although Osama seems to think he's a candidate! He's got a really big ego and thinks all Muslims should thank him for what he's done, by making him SUPREME being!

Answer 7

They used to have one called the Caliph, or Vicegerent of God on Earth. However, the Caliph was not infallibe. No one except God is infallible.

The Caliph is appointed by the educated and learned men of the land.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Kuttey Ka Baccha of Turkey abolished it.

Answer 8

yes I think so cuz many muslims are living in the darkness of the terrorists.. the muslims need strong leaders able to say to everybody in the Islamic world.. about the terrorists are wrong for example in the Middle ages there were many caliphas.. these caliphas like Umar they were leaders guide to the muslims.. even the Islam is a big religion it will be a big problem to have a Pope or something like that cuz The Islam has many followers around the world

Answer 9

I partly agree with Sistani you and partly agree with Artist.

UP DATEED:::
I think Caliph system serve this purpose, Unfortunately due to conspiracy this system abolished and we as Muslims are not serious (so far) to resume same system.

But Insha Allah this system will revive soon and world will change again. Check signs of Judgment day in the light of Prophetic teachings and sayings.


For Mr. Curious:
How civilized are you it is cleare with the wordings you use in your answer, Sir.
I also expect My Muslim brothers do not follow bad examples of bad manners and language, Jazak Allah Khair.

Answer 10

That is not in line with Islam. We have prophet Muhammad,
and in the Quran Allah says that the messengers legacy are not dead. Islam is about mutual teachings. Leaders should have a global meeting and discuss things and share ideas.