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Opposing Nude Body Scanners

By Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad 4 Muh 36 ◦︎ 28 Oct 14 8 Min Read

Given the current draconian measure of implementing nude body scanners in the UK, Muslims and others are being forced to shed the notion of decency and be exposed to strangers all in the pretext of maintaining ‘acceptable levels of security’. Indeed, the government has managed to beguile many of the public into believing these scanners are apparently for public safety, a false claim that has been dealt with by many commentators, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. 

As we have recently seen, airport staff have been involved in using the scanners for personal gratification, an abhorrent phenomenon that will inevitably continue to happen. These scanners have now set a precedent whereby it is seemingly acceptable to view the genitalia of all, including our children. Ironically, the new Conservative government has now withdrawn ID cards out of concern for civil liberties, yet turns its attention from our personal information to our naked bodies.  

Such measures must be seen as unacceptable to all right minded individuals, and thus, they must be withdrawn immediately. It is offensive to all those who stand for decency that the government resort to such lowly tactics to deal with terrorism, so much so that they take on the vile immorality they so quickly claim these terrorists to personify. Indeed, only a little while ago was it that the media condemningly reported that terrorists were using child pornography websites to relay messages to one another, but what for the government who now want to see our children naked?

So what to do?

In the event that the government refuses to withdraw these immoral tactics that will undoubtedly aid in the ‘radicalisation’ of our youth (a term they so fondly use), we find it totally unacceptable that if people who have been selected to be scanned refuse, they will not be allowed to fly. This idea is preposterous, and as stated by others, even the US allows individuals who refuse a scan to be patted down instead.

Thus, it is obligatory upon every Muslim (who is able) to stand against these scanners, and in the event of their continued implementation, to call for the option of a pat-down at the very least. Allah the Most High states,
“And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are allies of one another; they enjoin good and forbid evil, they establish prayer and offer charity, they obey Allah and His Messenger. Those are the ones that Allah will show mercy to; surely Allah is Mighty and Wise.”[1]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“Whoever amongst you sees anything objectionable, then let him change it with his hand, if he is not able, then with his tongue, and if he is not even able to do so, then with his heart, and the latter is the weakest form of faith.”[2]
This call can currently be made by signing the online petition which you can find here (10 Downing Street) whilst also objecting in the form of an email (or letter for those who are unable to access a computer). Email Mike Alcock of the Department for Transport (dft) in order to log your condemnation of the scanners and advocate that in the continued case of violating the basic right of humans not to be exposed to strangers, a pat-down should be offered in place of a body scan. In order to facilitate the email, the letter below may be used as a template, but please take care to personalise your email so that every letter be read as an individual response.

Please note that the period of consultation will end on the 21st June 2010, so it is incumbent that you take action as soon as possible. To be efficient, please send your email (addressed to Mike Alcock) to
[email protected]. For those who would rather write a letter, please send your letter to:

Mike Alcock
Department for Transport
Zone 5/12
Southside
Victoria Street
London SW1E 6DT

Please email this fatwa to all the people in your address book as well as printing it off and hanging it on the noticeboard of your local mosque – it is incumbent upon Muslims to encourage one another in this endeavour; such encouragement could be manifested in the form of Friday sermons, public announcements through Muslim media, and even raising the issue at your local mosque or Muslim community centre. Indeed Allah says,
“and help one another in birr (righteousness) and taqwa (piety), and do not help one another in ithm (sin) and ‘udwan (enmity).”[3]

As for the email template, you could possibly write something like this:

Dear Mr Alcock,

I write to you to express my deep condemnation over the nude body airport scanners. I harshly oppose such measures since they violate the fundamental right of dignity and personal privacy. The scanners are a clear violation of morality and decency, and will undoubtedly serve as a cause of offence by the leaking of nude pictures. They infringe upon the personal rights of all, and if anything, do more to endanger public security.

I fully support essential measures which increase passenger safety; however, I refuse to accept that passenger safety may be enhanced only by means of the body scanner, or that passenger security lies in passengers being seen naked. As a people who should take pride in the notion of decency, none should be put in a position where they must choose between security and dignity – indeed, both principles are entwined with one another. We will never be able to ensure security by stripping the dignity of passengers. Given that other technologies and measures exist which are proven to detect the presence of questionable materials and/or weapons, I argue that passenger safety may be enhanced without infringing upon the rights of passengers.

In the case that such vile measures continue to be implemented, I call for the option of a pat-down search for those passengers who refuse to be scanned out of a sense of modesty and dignity. Other airports around the world have implemented such procedures, a fact that clearly indicates their effectiveness.


Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,
(Your name)

 

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Notes:
Source: www.islam21c.com


[1] Surah Al Tawbah 9:72
[2] Sahih Muslim
[3] Surah Al Ma’idah 5:2
 

 

Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad 4 Muh 36 ◦︎ 28 Oct 14 1 Raj 31 ◦︎ 13 Jun 10
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By Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad
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Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad is a jurist who seeks to contextualise classical Islamic knowledge for the modern era. He is a firm believer that Islam is uniquely qualified — more than any other system — to build a divine civilisation capable of helping humanity to enjoy a better life in all spheres by maintaining the correct balance between the rights of the Creator and the rights of the creation. He believes Islam is the only viable alternative to the failing unjust and oppressive contemporary world systems, as Allah says: "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind: you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah." (al-Qur'ān, 3:110) According to this verse, Shaykh Haitham identifies the pillars of Islamic reform as īmān (faith), unity of the Ummah, impactful action, and knowledge. Drawing from his expertise in Islamic principles — Usūl al-Fiqh, Maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah, ‘Aqīdah, and other Islamic sciences — he promotes these foundational pillars to guide the Ummah’s revival. He is known for developing advanced theories that explore the role of Islamic jurisprudence in obtaining solutions for the contemporary challenges facing humanity, and he critically re-evaluates how Islamic legal rulings (fatāwa) can be formulated in light of modern sociopolitical realities. Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad earned his PhD from SOAS, University of London, with a doctoral thesis on Islamic jurisprudence concerning Muslim minorities. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Sharī‘ah and Law from the University of Omdurman, Sudan, and a degree in engineering from the renowned King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia. He has undertaken intensive studies in management, becoming a certified ISO 9000 auditor. In addition, he has studied various Islamic sciences under leading scholars of the Muslim world, including the former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Baz, among many others. He has obtained many classical ijāzāt in various Islamic sciences, including Qur'ān and Hadīth. Shaykh Haitham has served as an Islamic judge for several UK-based arbitration and legal bodies for over 20 years; he is a judge at Islamic Council. He has delivered hundreds of courses on topics such as Fiqh, ‘Aqīdah, Usūl al-Fiqh, Maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah, Tafsīr, Sīrah, Islamic Thought, Islamic Leadership and Management, Da'wah, Reform, and Political Engagement. Shaykh Haitham has also submitted many academic papers in many universities around the world. He is frequently consulted by numerous Islamic organisations across Europe and beyond, and serves as a senior scholar at Islam21c. Shaykh Haitham has lectured in various universities around the Muslim world, provided counsel to Islamic institutions, authored several books and textbooks for different institutions, and travelled extensively to advocate for the reform and unity of the Ummah.
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12 Comments
  • YHWH says:
    10 Shw 39 ◦︎ 24 Jun 18 at 7:32 am

    Muslims murdered all over the world sisters been raped and killed and nothing been done to help them from the muslims near to them, so come on let us give up and hand our sisters here as well and our wives and mother!!!!

    Reply
  • Jada Stevens says:
    7 Hij 37 ◦︎ 8 Sep 16 at 2:22 am

    if a person reused to go through one should hve the right to a pat down.

    Reply
  • jada says:
    5 Hij 36 ◦︎ 18 Sep 15 at 8:41 pm

    i am aappluaued with the nude scane at airports it allowing strangers and ppl use not for suiricty but for their own provicteive enternaimenet …if a person reused to go through one should hve the right to a pat down.

    Reply
  • Mohammed Ashik says:
    26 Hij 31 ◦︎ 2 Dec 10 at 1:07 pm

    Metallic ink-printed underwear
    As-salaamu alaikum,
    I’ve just come across this great idea from a US company.
    “Now there’s a way to protest those intrusive TSA X-ray scanners without saying a word. 4th Amendment Metallic ink-printed undershirts and underwear.
    Assert your rights without saying a word.”
    http://cargocollective.com/4thamendment
    Very clever idea.

    Reply
  • Dr. M.A. KABEER says:
    12 Qid 31 ◦︎ 20 Oct 10 at 1:55 pm

    Airport Body Scanner Hazards
    http://www.naturalnews.com/029378_full_body_scanners_images.html

    http://www.naturalnews.com/027913_full-body_scanners_DNA.html

    http://www.naturalnews.com/025767_Radiation_Ct_Scans.html

    http://www.naturalnews.com/027648_CT_scans_radiation.html

    Reply
  • Dr. M.A. KABEER says:
    12 Qid 31 ◦︎ 20 Oct 10 at 1:46 pm

    How to opt out of the TSA’s naked body scanners at the airport
    http://tinyurl.com/25cwrcv

    Reply
  • Another Yusuf says:
    9 Raj 31 ◦︎ 21 Jun 10 at 10:47 pm

    Controlling Muslim Immigration
    I think this is just another way of controlling Muslims from coming in and going out of the UK. When they see that they may have to technologicallu undress here and there in the UK, eventually perhaps, then they’ll stop going to the UK. That’s most likely what the Brits want.

    Reply
  • suba says:
    7 Raj 31 ◦︎ 19 Jun 10 at 5:40 pm

    miss
    i am aappluaued with the nude scane at airports it allowing strangers and ppl use not for suiricty but for their own provicteive enternaimenet …if a person reused to go through one should hve the right to a pat down. not refused to go on the flight….

    Reply
  • Reply to so called Yusuf says:
    6 Raj 31 ◦︎ 18 Jun 10 at 7:40 pm

    I wonder how you came to this name when it simplise chasty.
    Muslims murdered all over the world sisters been raped and killed and nothing been done to help them from the muslims near to them, so come on let us give up and hand our sisters here as well and our wives and mother!!!! how disgusting is that in place of doing your best here to any effort… Man this really frustrating

    Reply
  • hina says:
    6 Raj 31 ◦︎ 18 Jun 10 at 9:40 am

    reply to yusuf
    well, at least he is trying to save the dignity and chastity of people in his country rather than sitting at home like you and just laughing like a clown.

    Reply
  • hina says:
    6 Raj 31 ◦︎ 18 Jun 10 at 9:38 am

    Reply to yusuf: laughable
    Well, at least he is trying to save the dignity and chastity of people in his country rather than sitting at home like you and just laughing like a clown.

    Reply
  • yusuf says:
    5 Raj 31 ◦︎ 17 Jun 10 at 7:50 pm

    laughable
    I find it distasteful that a sheikh like mr hadad jumps to defend the sisters with such vigour when it comes to body scanning by a kafir in his own land, while he is so muted about the atrocities of rape and murder occuring in the lands of the Muslims. Coupled with his views on the apparent pressing obligation of voting for kafir governments and taking part in their systems and politics, I think that we have a good picture of where he sits and with whome he sits. Shame.

    Reply

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