Egyptian Cleric Khaled Al-Gindi: Colombian Performer Shakira Is a Whore

* Islamic wisdom: “Beauty is for the worms, while moral values are everlasting.”

“If the whole world approves of something, but Islam condemns it, that settles it. Is music and song forbidden? Yes they are—according to both the book [Koran] and Sunna. The matter is settled.”

Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian cleric Sheik Khaled Al-Gindi, which aired on Channel 1, Egyptian TV, on August 30, 2008:

Interviewer: What do you think of Shakira?

Khaled Al-Gindi: Oh my God!

Interviewer: Although it’s strange to ask Sheik Khaled Al-Gindi about Shakira, I’d like to know what you think of her.

Khaled Al-Gindi: She is nothing but a whore.

* Must read: ”Islam and the Arts” why does Allah forbid it?”

Interviewer: A whore?!

Khaled Al-Gindi: Of course.

Interviewer: In my opinion, she is a dancer.

Khaled Al-Gindi: We are all entitled to our own perspectives.

Interviewer: I think she is a beautiful dancer.

Khaled Al-Gindi: Beauty is a relative thing. For me, beauty lies in moral values, not in a woman’s body, charms, nudity, stomach, back, legs, or arms. I don’t care about those things. In this country, we have been raised to respect moral values more than the values of superficial beauty. As the saying goes: “Beauty is for the worms, while moral values are everlasting.”

Interviewer: So you were against her coming to Egypt?

Khaled Al-Gindi: Not only was I against it, but it was painful to me.

Interviewer: Painful?!

Khaled Al-Gindi: Whoever allowed her to come to this country… We know what happened when she came to Egypt – roads were blocked, the Al-Giza area was closed, all traffic was stopped – it was a disaster. Our youth looked frightening and ridiculous, I’m sad to say. Not all of them, I don’t want to generalize, but this was a disaster. All the people living on Faysal Street, or in the Al-Giza area, are familiar with the dark history of this individual’s visit to this country.

Interviewer: But such people do not attract ads.

Khaled Al-Gindi: Exactly.