If Shias And Sunnis Cannot Be United On Theological Grounds, What Is The Possible Approach To Prevent Bloodshed And Suicide Bombings Against One Another?

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 7 March 2022 Despite The Theological Acrimony between Sunnis And Shias, A Path To Peace Is Certainly Possible Key Points 1. Insulting or denying the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar Farooq, according to Sunni jurists [Fuqaha], is an act of Kufr. 2. The average Shias were regarded as misled and not Kafir by the early classical Sunni theologians [Mutakallimin]. 3. Average Shias, according to modern Sunni theologians, are Kafir because they believe the Holy Quran is faulty and that Hazrat Ali is superior to all Prophets except the Last Prophet. 4. The majority of the Prophet's holy Companions, as well as ordinary Sunni Muslims, are declared Kafir by the Shias with the exception of the Zaidi Shias. 5. Since the majority of Shia and Sunni clerics commonly oppose suicide bombing, they should work to ensure that their theological differences do not lead to murder, bloodshed and suicide bombing. ----- The doctrinal divide between Shias and Sunnis is so great that no amount of human effort can seem to bring them together except by God Almighty's will. Those familiar with Islamic theology are aware that there has been disagreement between the classical jurists [Fuqaha] and the classical theologians [Mutakallimin] regarding the principles and rules of Takfir. The Jurists have agreed that whoever does not believe the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar Farooq to be correct is a Kafir, and similarly, anyone who insults the honour of any of them is a Kafir. Thousands of volumes contain descriptions of jurists’ sayings, which Barelvis, Deobandis, and Salafists all duplicate in their respective works and writings. This is a jurisprudential rule [Fiqhi Hukm] exclusive to the Tabarraii Rafizis, a Shia sect. In the works of the Fuqaha, the Tabarrai Rafizis who simply oppose the caliphate of the Shaikhain (Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar Farooq) and denigrate the Sahaba, but not the other needs of the Religion [Zarooriyaat e Deen], are also referred to as Kafir. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Sectarian Religious Violence Among Muslims Calls For Introspection Among Ulema: Evolve A New Theology, A Theology Of Peace, To Replace The Traditional Theology Of Violence And Conflict -------------------------------------------------------------------- The classical theologians [Mutakallimin], on the other hand, have taken the most cautious approach in this regard. Such Rafidis, they say, are misguided [Gumrah] and ‘the dogs of the hellfire’, but not Kuffar. However, in recent centuries, the Mutakallimin and Fuqaha have made it obvious that the Tabarrai Rafizis not only deny the Khilafah of Shaikhain and disparage the Sahaba, but also deny other religious criteria, making them Kaafir. According to these Mutakallimin and Fuqaha of Sunnis, there are two things in the common faith of the Rafizi Shias that render them Kafir. These Rafizi Shias embrace two views that Sunnis believe make them Kafir: first, that the holy Quran is flawed, and second, that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is superior to all Prophets except the last one, Muhammad (peace be upon him). Similarly, the Shiites, with the exception of the Zaidi Shias, have used their writings to attack the honour of the Companions, particularly Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqah, and have perpetrated widespread Takfir against Sunni Muslims. When you look at the Shia-Sunni divisions in detail, you'll see that there's no possible way to bring them together. Political partnerships can be found now in some locations; however, they can only be referred to as political alliances rather than religious ones. Takfir is a deeply rooted issue on both sides. But what I want to say is that while everyone is free to live in this century with their differences, those differences should not be exacerbated to the point of murder, violence, or suicide bombing. Scholars from both sides should collaborate to undertake a campaign to educate ordinary Shia Sunni Muslims about the dangers of allowing theological disputes to devolve into slaughter, suicide bombings, and violence. This, I believe, is the platform on which both Shias and Sunnis can agree. However, some brothers believe they will be successful in bringing Shias and Sunnis together on religious grounds, which I believe will be impossible due to the extreme severity of divisions on both sides. The principles that have proven to be effective in reducing suicide bombings and violence should be implemented immediately. A general view of the prayer hall after a bomb blast inside a mosque during Friday prayers in Peshawar, Pakistan, (REUTERS) ----- Furthermore, an event occurred during Juma’ah prayer in a Shia mosque (Imambargah) in Bazar Qissa Khani, Peshawar, Pakistan, in which a suicide bomber murdered around 60 persons gathered and injured hundreds more. ISIS-Khorasan claimed responsibility for the attack on the mosque. You're all familiar with the ideologies of ISIS. This terrorist organisation has done more harm to Islam and Muslims than anyone else. Not just Shiites, but also Sunni Muslims and common non-Muslims, are the enemies of ISIS. Suicide attacks are one of the most destructive weapons used by ISIS against these Muslims and non-Muslims. Suicide bombing is prohibited in Islam, according to the majority of Shia and Sunni clerics. When this is the case, Shia and Sunni clerics should make such Islamic teachings public, as well as clarify that their religious differences between Shias and Sunnis should not be translated into murder, violence and suicide bombing. ---- A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is an Alim and Fazil (Classical Islamic scholar) with a Sufi background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-sectarianism/shias-sunnis-theological-bloodshed-suicide-bombings-/d/126522 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism