Discussion: Comedy, Shirk, and Fundraising Dua
What Would You Do? What Does This Mean?
Whoever associates others with Allah ˹in worship˺ will surely be forbidden Paradise by Allah. Their home will be the Fire. And the wrongdoers will have no helpers.
-Quran 5:72
I was at a fundraising dinner of a Muslim organization a few weeks ago, and the leaders of the organization saw fit to invite an emcee who was a comedian and television host. She asked if there were non-Muslims in the audience and given that there were four or five, she decided to do an ecumenical dua.
She then used phrases making dua to:
“Allah, and the Universe”
“Allah, and whatever it is [name of person she is making fun of] prays to”
At the moment, nobody at the event said anything. I did not participate in the dua once I saw what she was doing, I just emailed the head of the organization the next weekday and the Executive Director agreed I had a point, but otherwise took no action that I am aware of (this may change). This comedian continues to be booked frequently by nonprofits, though I don’t know how often she is asked to make dua. This seems like an absurd thing to ask of her.
The Muslim nonprofit space has become quite lucrative for speakers and entertainers of late. They are valuable additions to fundraising events.
I have some questions for you:
How would you have handled being at an Islamic organization even when the dua includes clear examples of shirk?
Putting a comedian known to be irreverent to do a closing dua, how should accountability work within the nonprofit?
If we support such organizations, are we part of the problem, even if we don’t commit shirk ourselves?
Please comment and let me know what you think.
My apologies I did not realize comments were restricted all day long. Comments are open now.
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
Fund raising for the sake of Allah Tala should not have comedians. Instead, it is an opportunity to inspire Muslims to change and do better in righteousness. Major issues within the Muslim ummah or shirk and abuse of tongue by making fun of others and backbiting. The event should be used to address these issues and inspire giving for the sake of Allah Tala alone. Less with righteous intentions is better in the sight of Allah Tala than anything else regardless of how big that may appear.
Salaams!
fundraising events. Remind me of the North Carolina auction of tobacco in the olden days.
I never go to fundraising events ! if they’re good causes, I don’t need to go eat their dinner, I donate to them without going to such an event because they’re no longer fundraising events. They are fun-raising events.
If one has to have fun as a prerequisite in order to donate to a good cause then the very premise of the intention of doing good is missing. Allah knows best.
PS as for what you could have done when the comedian started praying to Allah and the universe at a Muslim fundraising event you should’ve walked out and completely removed yourself from the premises.