Pugnacious words from Sheikh Younus Kathrada

MEMRI TV Clip No. 6906 Offers Report on Sheikh Younus

Canadian Cleric Younus Kathrada informs us that "Congratulating Christians For Christmas Is Worse Than Murder"

[According to Memri,] "During a sermon delivered at the Muslim Youth of Victoria in British Columbia, Sheikh Younus Kathrada said that Muslims must be offended when people worship Jesus. He explained that congratulating non-Muslims on Christmas and other 'false festivals' is tantamount to approving of them, and that it is a far greater sin than murder, adultery, and other major sins."

Consider that! For a Muslim to wish someone a 'Merry Christmas' is far worse then murder. But the Sheikh demurred when faced with the implications:

"Sheikh Kathrada stressed that he never calls to kill non-Muslims, who should be treated justly." [Here are several excerpts:]

Sheikh Younus Kathrada: "We see around us that people are preparing themselves to celebrate Christmas, and that with great sadness we see that amongst us there are those who think it's a small matter, and so, not only might we congratulate them on their Christmas, on their false holiday and celebration, but we may take part in their holiday as well. There are those who will say to them 'Merry Christmas' – what are you congratulating them on? [Are these] congratulations on the birth of your Lord? Is that acceptable to a Muslim? Are you now approving of their beliefs? By saying that you are approving of it."

But only now does the Sheik get serious:

"If a person were to commit every major sin – committing adultery, dealing with interest, lying, murder . . . If a person were to do all of those major sins, they are nothing compared to the sin of congratulating and greeting the non-Muslims on their false festivals. This doesn't mean that we treat the non-Muslims in a bad way or that we deal with them unjustly. I'm not saying, and I've never said, go out and just kill them, and do this to them . . . No! Because Allah tells us not to allow the enmity that may exist between you and a people to cause you to be unjust towards them. Rather, be just."

The good Sheikh need not call for killing the one guilty of greeting "Merry Christmas." He need merely advise to treat offenders with justice. The implication is clear enough. If wishing "Merry Christmas" is far worse than murder, then one surely is justified in killing the one guilty of offering the greeting.