Scholars around the Middle East have over the past three months been debating whether a recent Fatwa issued in Turkey is permissible in Islamic law. From the beginning of 2008, Muslims in Turkey will be allowed to pray only three times a day instead of the usual fi ve - without fear of committing a sin!

A member of the scientifi c council of Istanbul University, Muhammad Nour Dughan, issued this controversial fatwa (religious ruling) and cut the Islamic prayer requirements from fi ve to three times a day.

The move has provoked widespread debate as well as opposition from orthodox Muslim clerics.

The Shariah (Islamic law) specifi es that a Muslim should pray fi ve times a day, but does allow for the possibility of praying three times a day in case of sickness or travel. However, this fatwa has extended this option by allowing Muslims to pray three times a day, especially when they are heavily committed with work or personal issues.

The Turkish debate echoes a similar one that has already taken place in Egypt where the fatwa has also drawn some support.

Quite surprisingly, Jamal al-Banna, the brother of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hasan al-Banna, has endorsed the Turkish move.

“Merging prayers has become a modern necessity,” he told an Arab news website. “In most cases, people do not always perform the fi ve prayers on time due to the pressures of modern life.”

Jamal al-Banna is often criticised for his modern interpretation of Islamic rules. He said the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself had given followers this option that could be applied when prayers cannot be carried out in a given time.

However, despite the acceptance by some, others are becoming increasingly more vocal in their disagreement. A member of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Youssef al-Badri told Islamic Times by telephone that he rejects the argument by Turkish scholars, saying it was unacceptable to merge prayers unless it was due to travel, illness, rain or pilgrimage.

The debate continues