Scholars ban Qur'an ringtones
09/11/2007 11:00:00 AM GMT
The Saudi-based Islamic Jurisprudence Council dismissed the use of Qur'an in ringtones as impermissible.
RIYADH — The Saudi-based Islamic Jurisprudence Council, an affiliate of the Muslim World League (MWL), dismissed on Thursday, November 8, the use of Qur'an in ringtones as impermissible.
"It is forbidden to use verses of the Qur'an as mobile telephone ringtones," the council said in a fatwa cited by Agence France Presse (AFP).
The fatwa was endorsed during the council's 19th session at the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which was attended by 70 scholars.
They contended that such use impinges on the sacred character of the Muslim holy book.
"Any such use would damage the Qur'an by their abrupt interruption of the psalm verses or by sounding in inappropriate places."
The council is composed of an assorted group of jurists from around the Muslim world.
It is the main Fiqh body of the MWL, a broad based international Islamic non-governmental organization.
Turbulent
The fatwa, however, did not come out smoothly.
The Saudi-owned Al-Hayat daily reported that the controversial issue of Qur'an ringtones was at the heart of "a turbulent debate" during the six-day meeting.
It said the scholars were divided on the use of verses from the Qur'an as mobile ringtones.
During the lively discussion, some scholars denounced Qur'an ringtones as a "frivolity".
They have also hit out at adverts which promote the downloading of Qur'anic verses.
The fatwa did not mention the use of Qur'an as text logos or audio recordings on cell phones.
Ringtones with Quran verses or calls to prayers are popular among Muslims in the Arab and Islamic world.
Many users consider the religious tunes a reminder of their faith.
In recent years many scholars of Islam, especially from Egypt, have denounced the use of Qur'anic verses in mobile telephony.
Source: IslamOnline
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