Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

Is this a significant case of civil law turning into religious law?

Most of what we think of as laws started as religious commandments centuries ago. This is a case of things going the other way round.

LINK

"Islam impels every road user to comply with traffic rules … it is a sin not to," said Dr Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Haddad, Grand Mufti and head of the fatwa department at the Dubai Fatwa Centre.

"There are quite a few fatwas clearly stating that it is obligatory to observe traffic laws and haram [forbidden] to violate them," he said.

He rebuked reckless drivers who argue that safety precautions demonstrate a lack of faith in God or those who claim that their strong faith means they are exempt from traffic safety rules.

He said the idea that a seat belt is makrooh, or discouraged by Islam, because safety is in God's hand is "completely wrong".

"Drivers and passengers must always wear seat belts. The seat belt is a means of protection not the protector - the real protector is Allah indeed, but He never advised people against taking safety precautions."

The mufti recited the story of a man who asked the Prophet Mohammed if he should tie up his camel and trust in Allah, or keep it loose and trust in Allah.

The Prophet replied, "You tie it up and put your trust in Allah."

"Wearing a seat belt is definitely a means of protection that can minimise the outcome of an accident," Dr Al Haddad said. "Whoever holds something contrary to this must be ignorant of what Islam is and what its prudent teachings are."

Nonetheless, such beliefs are widespread and often used as justification for reckless habits.

A 2008 survey of 260 traffic police at eight of nine stations in Al Ain found that "92 per cent believed that the most likely causal factor for motor vehicle crash injuries and deaths was destiny". Seventeen per cent attributed crashes to the evil eye and 15 per cent to djinn, or supernatural creatures.

"This is superstitious, groundless talk," said Dr Al Haddad. "Accidents have known causes. They are caused by drivers themselves when they are reckless, when they are undisciplined, when they don't have their vehicles regularly maintained and when they fail to comply with traffic laws."

Road safety experts said such beliefs were common but that their extent was difficult to quantify.

"I have discussed this many times with different people because, the belief here is that destiny or inshallah is to blame," said Dr Abdulilah Zineddin, a road safety specialist in Abu Dhabi.

Dr Zineddin said the belief that Islam deems safer road practices unnecessary could be addressed by discussing safe driving from a religious perspective.

"I don't think it's difficult at all. I think you just have to make the argument and explain it from a religious point of view, which they do here. I've heard it at the mosque," he said. "What's really, really important is they need to do it from an early age ... and they are raised with it, just as they are raised with a love of the Prophet."

Dr Zineddin stressed that it is important for people to understand the basis for road safety rules and regulations so that they can make informed decisions.

"People say I don't wear the seat belt because if I crash and I'm going to die, that's what God has written, but at that same time does that person really know how much safer it is to wear the seat belt?" he asked.

Dr Al Haddad issued a well-known fatwa in 2008 on the obligation to follow road regulations.

"Contemporary scholars unanimously agree that traffic laws must be observed," Dr Al Haddad said.

Police said uninformed beliefs are on the decline because of road safety campaigns.

"Our religion asks people not to throw themselves in danger," said Brig Gen Ghaith Al Zaabi, director general of traffic coordination at the Ministry of Interior. "Some people say 'inshallah, they will not wear the seat belt because of God' but the majority of people are following the law."

Religious leaders have also discussed the importance of good driving habits at mosques and with communities.

"Imams, preachers and scholars do their best to instruct motorists and passengers on how to carry themselves on the road. But, while they can provide them with religious instruction on the subject, they can't really control people. All they can do is spread the word," Dr Al Haddad said.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

Just do a googlewhack on videos for "saudi & drifting & accident" and you'll get the message. Not for the squeamish. The only saving grace is that it depletes the gene pool, although there are some innocents who get killed and maimed, too.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

"This is superstitious, groundless talk," said Dr Al Haddad

Once again, traditionalist religious opinion is far more progressive than the secularly-grounded police.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

Nobody sitting around watching or participating in drifting in KSA is innocent. It's like in The Unforgiven: 'Innocent? Innocent of what?.....BAM'

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

You have Fatwa Council in Dubai??!!

At least they are engaged in constructive matters like sorting out the traffic. Our Fatwa crowd in KSA are busy with keeping the shops closed during prayer times.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20120415121853

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

This is the problem - I don't care if the next fellow wants to take risks but his or her right to risk their own life begins where the next person begins.

They are murdererous reaves behind steering wheels, stealing life, limb and property in their quest to display the ultimate stupidity- disgusting low lives who should face same punishment as if they caused damage with their fists instead of a car.

N.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

I can never understand why, in the uk, causing death by reckless/dangerous driving ends up with a ridiculously short sentence, whereas someone who walks down the high street swinging an axe around slicing people up would get banged up for decades. I fail to see the difference.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

You are presumably joking.:fingerscrossed:

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

No. Can you point out the difference?

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

The difference would seem to be intent to kill/endanger life. Reckless driving in itself is not intent to kill.

wow defending lionheart, I need a (acid) bath

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

You do indeed.

Anyway, swinging an axe round your head doesn't constitute intent to kill, it constitutes a reckless disregard for what may ensue. Exactly the same as reckless driving. In fact you (well, at least I) could argue that reckless driving is the greater crime, coz you're far less likely to be apprehended or avoided than the nutter on the high street.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

someone who walks down the high street swinging an axe around slicing people up would get banged up for decades

Well to nit pick your original statement above showed intent, it would be hard to argue there was any other reason for bringing an axe to the high street and slicing people up. Where as driving recklessly is a by product of some other cause, speeding to get some where or whatever, the intent was not to cause damage regardless if this was the outcome or not.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

Well, no: carrying the axe could merely be for intimidation or showing off, there may not be an intention to maim or kill. But the person doing it would be deemed to know that doing so could well result in injury or death. Same as the driver.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

Easy answer:

It has always been incredibly difficult to persuade a jury to convict a person of murder while they are behind the wheel of a car.

Re: Mufti says ignoring traffic law is sinful
 

Of course bad driving shouldn't be considered sinful under islam, because there were no cars during the time the Holy Quran was drafted by Mohammed PBUH. However, if the police wants to encourage bad drivers to imporve their ways inciting the religious aspects is a good move in my opinion, anything to imporve the arrogance and recklessness of the UAE driving. In Thailand, there is also reckless and mostly drunk driving resulting in many deaths, however, after being in the Gulf for 15 years, I can safely say that driving here is more relaxing than in the Gulf mainly because there is courtesy and no horning or macho-ism...It also said that one can be shot by other drivers if he drives disturbingly, but I am not going to test that theory...