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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Shaikh has reiterated his fatwa against drivers who jump red traffic light, Al Arabiya News Channel has reported.
The Grand Mufti, who is the most senior religious authority in Saudi Arabia, said that such a violation of traffic law is a “major sin”, and referred to a Quranic verse which says, “If you kill one person unjustly it is as if you killed the whole humanity, and if you saved one person it is as if you saved the whole humanity.”
This is not the first time the cleric has issued such a fatwa. In 2010, he is reported to have used a similar edict, saying the person who caused the death of another person because of such a violation is guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of car accidents in the world with an average of 17 fatalities a day, according to a recent report in Dubai’s Gulf News.
In 2010, a report by the kingdom’s General Directorate of Traffic revealed almost a third of traffic accidents in Riyadh were due to drivers violating traffic signals.
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On DawnNews
Comments (29) Closed
Apr 30, 2014 09:03am
Has this fatwa caused a drop in traffic accidents or violations? In Saudi Arabia or anywhere else?
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Apr 30, 2014 09:16am
What about monarchy ? Sir!
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Apr 30, 2014 09:21am
@Kamal Gupta
Whether it drops the rate of accidents or not but at least it gives an opinion from religious scholar that it is illegal. Opinion building of something (wrong or right) is necessary to start changes in any society.
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Apr 30, 2014 09:31am
The grand mufti should stick to religion and leave civil laws to legislators and law enforcement officials.
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Apr 30, 2014 09:36am
This shows the disrespect of laws and rules. The Islamic society needs to come way to far to understand that it does not have to be a fatwa to implement traffic rules.
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Apr 30, 2014 09:47am
Now if only a fatwa can be issued that females can drive and shed the abaya except in Mecca and Medina. If such a fatwa is announced, the world wouldn't criticize the Saudis of living in a backward male dominated society.
No matter how many flashy, extravagant and over the top buildings and palaces the royals build they can't progress unless women are given basic rights.
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Apr 30, 2014 10:27am
@illawarrior Islam covers all aspects of life, every sort of dealing in this world has rules described by the Quran and Sunnah, so the grand mufti isnt really stepping out of his bounds. Secondly this was kinda needed, its needed more in Pakistan where the "religious" people don't really respect any man made laws because they're better than them......so yes its a good start....
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Apr 30, 2014 10:38am
What wrong has the grand Mufti committed in issuing a fatwa against drivers jumping the red light. I myself was a witness to such a fatal accident caused by a red light jumping driver. In our part of the world traffic rules are hardly followed, we should appreciate any good step towards betterment be it by anyone.
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Apr 30, 2014 10:49am
@illawarrior Religion is part of life, what ever religion you follow, it teach you good or bad from your childhood. It is like your mother teaching.
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Apr 30, 2014 11:12am
Yea Mufti Sahab you are quote famous (one reason of you are blind and in saudi elite imams). Even though what took you so long to fatwa in traffic lights, instead you have said any person who do not abide law of the their country (specially muslim) is doing haram. Otherwise what about overtaking, changing lane without indicators, speed limit, vehicle registration and insurance, driving without license, underage driving, hit and run, etc etc.So its' better to say be a law abiding (halal / muslim) citizen.
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Apr 30, 2014 11:16am
@Kamal Gupta
The purpose of the "FATWA" is to bring to light the gravity of the issue. Breaking red signal can lead to potential serious implications and should not be taken lightly. By issuing the FATWA the religious authority has emphasized the fact that a person who violates the signal would be responsible for any morbidity or mortality occurring as a consequence and would be held accountable in life hereafter even though he may get away in this world. It is a message for the wise and for those who believe in the dignity of life.
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Apr 30, 2014 12:28pm
@illawarrior Islam is the only religion whcih cover every aspect of human life, including civic laws
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Apr 30, 2014 01:21pm
@FIZA what are basic rights of women? :)
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Apr 30, 2014 02:12pm
@Kamal Gupta-fully agree with you Gupta Sb. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest ratio of fatal traffic crashes in the world and driver's behavior has been the major cause
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Apr 30, 2014 02:40pm
In Shanghai China people obey traffic rule even though they are atheists... What kind of people need a fatwa to obey traffic rules? ... The Saudis are welcome to employ our 'pretend traffic warden' Nasreen, from Lahore legally instead. (today's news item).
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Apr 30, 2014 02:57pm
like most of other guys here i was also not getting the point of this act.. But when I read it thoroughly i came to know mufti sahb is right. Mufti sahb give refference form Quran which we all know "Jis nay aik insan ko qatal kia us nay pooree Insaniat ko katal kia" so instead of being cynical I think we should act upon this fatwa... Infact this is the essence of islam, instead of declaring other as kafir or non-believers they are trying to teach us the basic principals, i.e how we can b responsible citizens
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Apr 30, 2014 03:35pm
Finally, a fatwa that I can appreciate!
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Apr 30, 2014 04:02pm
Good use of Muftis.
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Apr 30, 2014 05:51pm
Good use of Fatwa.
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Apr 30, 2014 06:12pm
That is a brilliant idea. Instead of using the words like "legal" and "illegal," or '"right" and wrong, government should use "haram" and "halal." This the language people know, But if they still don't go by the rules, that is a different problem. But they do understand the concept. Just see the way it can be used: Wife to husband, "Dear you didn't give me enough money for the household this month, that is totally haram."
"But I did bring a woolen shawl for you." Wasn't that halal?
Boss to his subordinate: "You come late everyday. I hate these haram punctuality."
Subordinate: Right sir, but i do do halal punctuality everyday except for some especial reasons when i got to go haram. Sir,
Police man, Hey, you blue scooter, cant you see this road is haram for on coming traffic.
Editor to his feature writer: "I rarely see whole of your articles halal. The way you write makes even halal ideas haram."
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Apr 30, 2014 08:52pm
@illawarrior Saudi Arabia is governed by Sharia law... so he is doing his job. What you are describing is a secular system ...
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Apr 30, 2014 08:54pm
@FIZA you are funny! ... Saudi will progress only when women are wearing Bikinis...
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Apr 30, 2014 09:31pm
When you jump a traffic light you are not killing a person but violating a civil law that forbids jumping a red light. How can the Mufti connect the ancient Sharia law with the modern universal traffic rule.
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Apr 30, 2014 11:07pm
If it can help save lives, then it is a good Fatwa. We should all appreciate it and obey it. Thank you Grand Mufti Sahib.
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May 01, 2014 02:39am
@Muhammad Ashraf
Your arrogance starts here. Your religion is so good and you follow the religion in letter and spirit. And yet, in every non-Muslim country in the western world, Muslims have a very high share in the prison population.
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May 01, 2014 02:40am
@Malik Ajmal Khan
You have no hope. Unless and until the rules appear in the garb of religion, do not expect people to follow them.
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May 01, 2014 01:19pm
....and this too shall fail.
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May 02, 2014 01:38pm
@Muhammad Ashraf How can you say that. Have you studied other religions, or did your Mulla say that?
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May 07, 2014 03:19pm
Finally muslims show signs of understanding the changing times
The first three-colored signal and the traffic tower: In 1912 a traffic control device was placed on top a tower in Paris......
It only took us 100 years to understand it
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