Ilham Shaheen’s Controversy: A⁢ Professor’s ⁤Perspective

Published on Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Al-Azhar University ⁣Professor Weighs in on Ilham Shaheen’s Criticism

Dr. Saad Al-Din Al-Hilali, a professor ⁣of comparative jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, has commented on the controversy surrounding artist Ilham Shaheen. Shaheen had criticized the director of one of ‍his works for stopping filming to perform prayer.

​ According to Dr. Al-Hilali, Ilham Shaheen was subjected to “legal bullying.”⁢ He cites a verse⁣ from Surah ​Al-Ma’idah, which states, “O you‌ who believe, He Himself is​ responsible for any one of you who⁢ goes ‌astray. It will not harm you if you go‌ astray⁤ and He will inform you of ‍what you do.”

‍ In⁤ an interview with the “Al-Heqayya” program on MBC‍ Egypt, Dr. Al-Hilali added, “The artist Ilham Shaheen‌ has ⁤a view that what‌ he does is to earn ⁤a⁢ living, so we can make concessions about the prayer and ‍do it at the end of it, because time is enough.”

⁣ He ⁤also quoted a hadith ‍narrated by the Prophet Muhammad, ​which states that he used to ​gather prayers without the excuse of ⁤travel or rain using a valid license.

Dr. Al-Hilali explains that those who criticize⁤ Ilham Shaheen’s actions see prayer as an obligation that takes precedence over fun‍ and games. However, he argues that this perspective is not entirely accurate.
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A hadith narrated by‍ Al-Tabarani on the authority of Abu ⁢Huraira quotes the Messenger of Allah as saying, “Sins include those for which ⁤fasting, prayer, or charity do not atone, but they are expiated⁤ by striving for⁣ their dependents.”

In another hadith, Abu Hurairah​ Radiyallahu Anhu said, “The Messenger⁣ of Allah said, ‘Whoever takes care of⁤ widows and the needy is like the person ⁤who strives in the ⁤way of Allah – and I think he⁣ said:‌ – the ‌person ⁢who stands and does not kneel does not break his fast.”