Part 1 - CARE - Love thine Shiaa brethren

Part 1 - CARE - Love thine Shiaa brethren

Walaikum assalaam.

The perversion of Shia beliefs is something most people (among Sunnis) would agree to. What is striking, and alarming, is that you have called for, perhaps implicitly, the Shias to be declared as non-Muslims, in the same breed as Qadianis and "Submitters".

From what I know, the scholars of Islam, have traditionally considered the Shia to be "Fussaaq" (plural of Faasiq). A "Faasiq", as we know is a "perverted transgressor". Even a Muslim can be a perverted transgressor.

In fourteen centuries of Islamic scholarship, the consensus of the Ulema has been that Shias are seriously misguided, but not outside the pale of Islam. Al-Azhar University in Cairo admits both Shia and Sunni students.

There is a difference between a person or group falling into "kufr", and legally declaring the person or group as "Kaafir". A legal declaration would imply that the group is prevented from entering the sacred precincts of the Haram, just as the Qadianis are not allowed to perform Hajj.

My knowledge of Islamic history is limited, but I am not aware of any period in which the Shias were prevented from performing Hajj. I am not sure if the late Ali Mian Nadwi pronounced takfeer on the Shias. Even today, I do not believe that any scholar or group you refer to have called for such a ban.

This is not to say that the consensus of the scholars cannot be critiqued. However, the critique must come from a position of profound knowledge. In other words, the posting on your blog does not give compelling reasons why a common man like me should set aside fourteen centuries of scholarship and now sit up and take notice of the views of one "Mr. NewJoy"!!

While scholars have refrained from declaring the Shia as "Kuffaar", rank hatred for them and from them has festered over the centuries. The vast majority of Sunnis, therefore, do not need to be convinced that Shia beliefs are deeply problematic. Rather the need is to bring about some balance in this discourse, something that your posting clearly does not even attempt to do.

Do you feel that your posting will be a step towards bringing the Shia closer to the truth? I for one, am not holding my breath on this one.

More likely it will only add to the hatred that common Sunnis have towards the Shias, which I am certain is not your objective. Sunnis have been ranting against the Shias for centuries in precisely the same manner that you have done. The results are known to all who follow the events in the Muslim world, particularly in countries like Pakistan. With due respect, I have heard insanity being defined as "doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results".

So there can a middle way, between saying "Its all OK", and boiling with anger and hate towards the Shias (or any other deviant group for that matter). The brief foreword written by the late Ali Mian Nadwi to Maulana Manzoor Nomani's book, is an example of such scholarly and dignified discourse. Why not leave these things to folks who know?

And Allah Knows Best.


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