Outrage silenced by Saudi scholar after Twitter call not to pray for mercy on Sridevi

A social media controversy has been raised after Emirati singer Ahlam al Shamsi called on Twitter not to pray for mercy upon Indian Bollywood star Sridevi Kapoor after her death in Dubai.

The 49-year-old tweeted after the death of Sridevi, that it is not right to pray for mercy upon a non-Muslim irrespective of the good they have presented or not.

Saudi Islamic Scholar Sheikh Ahmed al-Ghamdi, however, has refuted the claim by the Emirati singer.

He said that as per the Holy Quran praying for mercy for non-Muslims living or dead is permissible.

Sheikh al-Ghamdi added that there is a distinct difference between praying for mercy or forgiveness.

He said that according to Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) praying for forgiveness for non-believers is forbidden.

“The Prophet (PBUH) forbade praying to God for forgiveness of his own mother, according to the Saheeh Muslim hadeeth however it only forbade praying for forgiveness and not praying for mercy upon a non-Muslim,” Sheikh al-Ghamdi said.

He told Al Arabiya that the exchange of accusations because of the issue of praying for mercy for non-Muslims has been blown up for no reason and that he was surprised people are preoccupied with such an issue.

This story is also available in Arabic