Is it permissible for Muslims to join groups like Freemasonry?

Question

Two of my brothers are from Turkey, Muslim, and are also Freemasons. I am Christian and sometimes Christianity does not accept joining and sometimes forbids people from joining the fraternity. They are great men, intelligent, and faithful to their religion. Case in point, I had brats bratwurst sausages (سجق = نقانق) and burgers during a cookout at my house and they wouldn't eat the brats because of the pork. We also enjoy each other's company and discuss the differences and similarities of our faiths. Something which I believe we need more of in society. Freemasonry has united us as true friends even though we may have remained in perpetual distance otherwise. However, I am concerned that other Muslims may not appreciate their decision to join. Are there any common beliefs or stands in Islam against (or for) fraternities such as Freemasonry?

Just as a side note: in one of the groups which we belong, there are people who practice Judaism, Christianity (different denominations), and Islam. Where else can people of different faiths come together, discuss, and enjoy each other's company?

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Please note that the information below is not enough information to answer the question. It is just an introduction for those who may not know anything at all about the organization. I am specifically looking for reasons why Muslims should or should not join groups such as Freemasonry which are multi-faith groups that promote virtues.

• Freemasonry is one of the oldest and largest fraternal societies in the world.
• It provides you with a code of living in today's community, based on good moral and ethical standards.
• It is an organisation of men who try to live by the principles of integrity and goodwill which unifies them, regardless of colour, creed or worldly status.
• It is a non profit making organisation that is involved in supporting charity and service to the community.
• It provides you with a common interest where you can meet and enjoy the company of like minded men from all walks of life.

When a Mason is initiated into the fraternity, he chooses the Holy Book of his choice to use - which is opened during the initiation as a symbol of the rules and guide he chooses to live by. Freemasonry has many "side bodies" which include groups such as the Shriners, which appear associated with Islam but are not. I find it best described here:

Despite its theme, the Shrine is not connected to Islam. The Shrine's charitable arm is the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of twenty-two hospitals in the United States, Mexico and Canada. They specialize in orthopedic care, burn treatment, cleft lip and palate care and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. All treatment offered at Shriner's Hospitals for Children is offered without any financial obligation to patients and their families, and there is no requirement for religion, race, or relationship to a Shriner. Patients must be under the age of eighteen and treatable.

In 2008, Shriners Hospitals had a total budget of $826 million and in 2007 they approved 39,454 new patient applications, attended to the needs of 125,125 patients.

Edit After reading some more questions on this site, I realize that my question is very similar to this one - but not quite a duplicate.

Here is some more information from a Muslim who is also a Freemason: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/islam_freemasonry.html

Answer 1

I know little about the Freemasons in particular, so this answer is geared towards fraternal organizations in general. Regardless of the goals, rituals and creeds of any individual fraternity, they almost always promise a fellowship of mutual acceptance and support for their members; a "brotherhood" as it were.

Muslims are not forbidden from socializing and just generally associating with non-Muslims (assuming of course that they're not actively fighting the Muslims or mocking God's Word). Joining a fraternity, on the other hand, is a different story as God says in the Qur'an,

Let not believers take disbelievers as 'awliyaa' (أَوْلِيَاءَ) rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing with Allah , except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination. (Qur'an 3:28)

The word 'awliyaa' (أَوْلِيَاءَ) does not really have a single translation in English; various major translations of the above ayah have interpreted it as "friends", "guides", "guardians", "counselors", "patrons", "supporters", "helpers" and "allies".

Each and every one of these translations can also describe the members of a fraternity.

Rather, God proclaims that the Muslim community forms its own brotherhood, when He says,

The believing men and believing women are 'awliyaa' (أَوْلِيَاءَ) of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (Qur'an 9:71)

As such, if a fraternity is organized by and for Muslims, upholding God's Law and supporting each other along the straight path, it would be acceptable (albeit a bit redundant since we're supposed to be doing all that anyway).

Answer 2

I do not have very much knowledge of the freemason organization, but my answer is based on the information you have provided.

In islam we follow the rule that everything is halal (permissable) unless it has been stated otherwise.

And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed do many lead [others] astray through their [own] inclinations without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord - He is most knowing of the transgressors.6:119 And leave what is apparent of sin and what is concealed thereof. Indeed, those who earn [blame for] sin will be recompensed for that which they used to commit.6:120

This verse from the quran is a message from allah that is saying not to forbid yourself from doing things that were not said to be prohibited. Allah has explained to us what is prohibited, we should not commit what is prohibited, nor should we stray away from what isnt.

we are allowed to interact with others, be in agreements with others and be freinds with people of other religions. We are also encourged to help those in need with charity.

[2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous

5:85 Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the Believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": Because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.

the verses above explain that the strongest relashonships muslims will have to other religions would be jews and christians because within their religions they have people who are devoted to learning and are not arrogent, both being highley apprectiated characteristics in islam. The verses also demonstrate that not only is giving to charity allowed, but it is honored in the quran those who give to charity are being called righteous by Allah.

But we are also advised not to make agreements with those who are conspiering against islam or muslims.

Let not believers take disbelievers as allies rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing with Allah , except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination."

in conclusion, there is no evidence that a fraternity is prohibited in islam. However i cannot speak on behalf of the freemasons due to the limited information given on their secret organization, i do not know if any haram (prohibited) activity is being carried out within the fraternity and its members.

Answer 3

I guess it may go political here, but I will present my ideas here and moderators may judge my ideas:

well it is a common belief for Arab and maybe Muslims, as I read from many books, that the main goal of the Masons is to rebuild the temple of King Solomon peace be upon him, and to establish the state of Israel, well this contradicts with what Muslims and Arab believe in the rights of Palestinians in the land of Palestine ( which is considered Israel to a lot of non-Arab, non-Muslim),

well another point that Harun Yahya (not only him but a lot or other scholars) presents, he thinks that Masony was created as opponent to religions, you can see those links (http://www.harunyahya.com/en/books/677/Global_Freemasonry/chapter/1910, http://harunyahya.com/en/Makaleler/5412/The_dark_philosophy_of_atheist_freemasonry)

I know that this is the main problem regarding Masonry from the point view of an Arabic or Muslim person

Answer 4

Freemasonry is NOT a religion but is a Luciferian replacement seeking to supplant all faiths. We know this from the mouth of a Freemason.
No Christian is permitted to join such an organisation, though many Freemason heretics exist in high office within the organised church. Their state of heresy frees all Christians from flowing them as they have their office falsely.