Jordan: Call by Endowment Ministry to obey 'thief ruler' criticised

Following the Friday khutba (religious sermon), during which the Endowment Ministry asked preachers to call for obeying the “thief ruler”,

Jordanians took to social media and called for ousting the endowment minister, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported.

The Endowment Ministry asked preachers to maintain their obedience to the ruler: “Even if he robbed your money and lashed your back.”

Several forums and public figures issued statements criticising the khutba and how the Endowment Ministry imposes its guidelines on preachers, calling for firing the endowment minister.

According to Secretary-General of the Forum for Moderate Islamic Thought and Culture Marwan Al- Fa’ouri: “The writer of this khutba hurt the ruler.”

Islamic activist and engineer Maysara Malas called for punishing the officials who delivered the khutba: “Because it annoys the worshippers and incites them against the ruler.” He argued:

The khutba, which is supposed to bring the people around the ruler, incited them against the ruler. It had the opposite result.

Malas explained that the 15-minute khutba stirred public opinion against the state and the ruler in a way that the partisan opposition could not do in a year.

The Endowment Ministry and the government have not yet commented on the issue.

Grand Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has stated that the text that calls for Muslims to obey the ruler “even if he robbed your money and lashed your back” is a false part of a hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).