Research › Current events and society
42 answers in 19 recordings, 2017 to 2021. 18 with a checked position in his own words.
Indexed so far: 259 of 1,859 recordings (1,904 answers, 2014 to 2025). Anything below may change as the rest are indexed. Limits of the data
Oldest first. A checked position shows what he holds, then the sentence he says, word for word from the transcript, with its moment. Years without one list the answers that have not been checked yet. Recordings not yet indexed may hold more.
· What harm does belief in jinn possession do?
Mufti Abu Layth says the belief in possession must be tackled because it mocks Islam and its Prophet and sustains a tyranny of abuse, from beatings and sexual violence to the extraction of money and property, and that Islam will be left to carry the blame as mythology.
“what's going to take the brunt of in the end is Islam so people will just say you know what Islam is just a load of nonsense”
1:25:44TranscriptCite 2017-09-20-S17corrected
· Why not treat jinn possession as just a difference of opinion among scholars?
Mufti Abu Layth refuses a diplomatic stance that treats possession as one of two valid opinions, because unlike a difference over raising the hands in prayer this belief underwrites mass exploitation and abuse and brings ridicule on Islam and its Prophet.
“this is why i refuse to have a diplomatic stance on this that this abuse is unacceptable it needs to be brought to an end”
1:57:09TranscriptCite 2017-09-20-S25corrected
· Why does it matter whether people believe in jinn possession?
Mufti Abu Layth holds that the belief in possession must be confronted because it exposes Islam to mockery and underwrites an industry of beatings, sexual violence and financial exploitation, for which Islam itself will be blamed by coming generations.
“why is this so important to tackle this topic it's important because one the mockery that is being made out of Islam”
34:00TranscriptCite 2018-04-15-S09corrected
· Is jinn possession just a difference of opinion among scholars?
Mufti Abu Layth refuses to treat possession as one of two acceptable opinions, since unlike a difference such as raising the hands in prayer it unleashes mass exploitation and abuse and brings ridicule on Islam and the Prophet, and he notes that a number of scholars, among them al-Razi and al-Shawkani, rejected it.
“this is why I refuse to have a diplomatic stance on this that this abuse is unacceptable it needs to be brought to an end”
1:06:47TranscriptCite 2018-04-15-S17corrected
· Exploitation by 'babas', and the solution: proper help and mental health
Mufti Abu Layth says the solution is to seek proper help from one's social network or the relevant professional.
“the solution is to seek proper two things want to seek proper help from either your social network or from if it's a health issue”
48:51TranscriptCite 2018-04-15b-S09corrected
· Do you need to appear perfectly pious to be a good Muslim?
Mufti Abu Layth says one does not need to pretend to be pious, and that it is okay just to be human.
“what I am saying is you don't need to pretend to be pious I think it's okay to just be human just be yourself”
29:39TranscriptCite 2019-08-01-S05corrected
· How should I deal with religious circles that pressure me into beliefs?
Mufti Abu Layth advises religious people to expand and burst the 'religious people bubble', which he calls among the most judgmental places to be trapped in, and to be true to their faith and to themselves rather than be bullied into beliefs.
“if I could give you guys advice those of you that are religious gradually build you you know expand this bubble and then burst it and then just live your life”
10:17TranscriptCite 2019-08-21-S03corrected
· Did the Prophet teach a formal creed of what Muslims must believe?
Mufti Abu Layth holds that the Prophet never taught a creed beyond a handful of beliefs, that the salaf up to Imam Malik never taught or wrote down dogma for over a hundred and fifty years, and that forcing faith and policing people's ideas is the antithesis of what Islam came with.
“this kind of policing people's ideas this is the antithesis of what Islam came with this this theme was born free people yet today they've locked it in Chains”
15:55TranscriptCite 2019-08-21-S04corrected
· Is it worse to use religion as a cover for wrongdoing?
Mufti Abu Layth says that if you are going to do something as a human being you should just do it and not use religion.
“my point is look if you're gonna do something as a human being you're gonna do it just if you're gonna do it just do it don't use religion”
6:20TranscriptCite 2020-06-01-S02corrected
· How do some imams use religion to exploit young women?
Mufti Abu Layth says imams who sell girls fantasies of a pious relationship, knowing there is a clientele for it, are as far as he is concerned absolutely despicable.
“these Imams who are selling these fantasies because they know this a clientele this punter ship for it they are as far as I'm concerned absolutely despicable”
2:26:37TranscriptCite 2020-07-14-S40corrected
· How common is sexual abuse in madrasas?
Mufti Abu Layth says he would never recommend that young boys go to a madrasa in Pakistan.
“This is why I would never recommend for young boys young um to ever go to a madrasa in Pakistan ever. Ever.”
1:19:23TranscriptCite 2020-08-04-S15corrected
· Don't madrasas expel students for sexual abuse?
Mufti Abu Layth says he thinks madrasa teachers' heightened response to sexual abuse in recent years comes from worry about trouble with the police, not personal conviction.
“they're worried they will get into trouble with the police. It's not because of their personal conviction.”
1:31:30TranscriptCite 2020-08-04-S19corrected
· Is the jinn exorcism and ruqya industry a fraud?
Mufti Abu Layth says the exorcism and ruqya industry is largely fraudulent and drenched in abuse, and he cites al-Jahiz's observation that no Mu'tazili, who rejected possession, was ever afflicted by a jinn.
“the bulk of them are utterly fraudulent right maybe some of them are sincere and just delusional”
45:32TranscriptCite 2020-11-21-S09corrected
· Can I carry a child while I pray?
Mufti Abu Layth says that one may carry a child while praying and that Hanafi rulings such as the invalidation of prayer by three consecutive movements, by laughing or by mentally processing information are made up.
“Obviously, needless to say, all these things are made up and don't mean anything. You can do it all in salah.”
30:29TranscriptCite 2021-04-06-S06corrected
· Why are some clerics so harsh in their rulings on women?
Mufti Abu Layth says that many clergy issue harsh rulings, especially towards women, out of sexual deprivation and frustration, and that their rulings would change if they lived normal lives.
“if these moolas had access to, if they lived a normal life and had normal, healthy sexual relationships and enjoyed life, you'd see the rulings would start radically changing.”
1:16:13TranscriptCite 2021-04-06-S12corrected
· Why do some religious people dislike laughter?
Mufti Abu Layth says institutionalised religion has always disliked humour because satire lets ordinary people see absurdity and question authority, and that reports against laughing much were fabricated for this reason.
“i feel that institutionalized religion has always hated uh humor because it's felt that humor hmm you know it's just this is something that if you allow it to enter the realm of religion authority will disappear”
1:12:01TranscriptCite 2021-04-13-S19corrected
· Is Mufti Abu Layth against Salafis?
Mufti Abu Layth says his objection is not to Salafis as a denomination but to dogmatic, cult-like mentality in any group, which he says suffocates religion.
“it's not about by the way it's not about speaking against a denomination per se it's more about the cult-like mentality”
1:18:59TranscriptCite 2021-04-13-S21corrected
Mufti Abu Layth says he believes Adam was a literal person, the father of the cognitive revolution, while accepting that some see him as a metaphor.
“adam in my understanding is literal yes i do believe that i believe he was the father of the cognitive uh revolution”
3:06:04TranscriptCite 2021-04-13-S46corrected
How many of these answers cite each (guest speech left out). Cited means named as evidence or discussed, not necessarily accepted: open the answers to see which.
These answers state a view in order to discuss it, often to reject it. They are never read as his position.
Cite a statement by its id: Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment id, with the date and the address of its page. Citation formats
