Most Muslims in the West feel a little left out to begin with, but don’t you think non-sunnis feel left out even more?
Almost everything Islam related in the West is from a sunni point of view. Let’s take Muslim Student Associations at universities for example. Most members are sunni, so in reality they are Sunni Muslim Student Associations. The Shia students probably feel like guests when they attend one of the meetings or events. I know some schools have seperate associations for Shia students, but that is only if there are that many in number.
In large cities it is becoming entirely possible to find a masjid nearby. For example in Houston you can live in any part of the city, there will be atleast 2 mosques within reasonable driveable distance. But most of these are Sunni mosques. Shia mosques are fewer and farther. In smaller cities, there aren’t even non-sunni mosques.
But on the plus side, I imagine their communities are very strong and close.
Re: Do you think the Shias, Bohris and other sects feel left out in the West?
One of the things i hate to do is to put sunahs in their place; they are my fellow pakistanis and i find it really difficult to hurt them but often they force my hand or put words in my mouth.
Re: Do you think the Shias, Bohris and other sects feel left out in the West?
According to my knowledge shias here in the UK are pretty well organised and have regular programmes in their masjid. My shia friend is always telling me that their masjid also organises activities for younger age group too.
Re: Do you think the Shias, Bohris and other sects feel left out in the West?
according to staitistics ..93% of muslim world is sunni..rest 7% muslim world is composed of shias....you can imagine the ratio...93/7 and conclude yourself thier no. of mosques and institutions...
Re: Do you think the Shias, Bohris and other sects feel left out in the West?
But, it is funny that if bullehshah can reconcile with the fact that major parties of Pakistan, be it MQM and PPP are lead by shiites. I doubt that will ever happen in Iran.
Re: Do you think the Shias, Bohris and other sects feel left out in the West?
Let's take Muslim Student Associations at universities for example. Most members are sunni, so in reality they are Sunni Muslim Student Associations. The Shia students probably feel like guests when they attend one of the meetings or events.
To bring you upto speed on the History of Muslim Student Association, it was started back in the sixties by Mr Ibrahim Yazdi a Shia Brother from Iran(became Govt Minister in Iran), it was that Organization is what turned into ISNA, so our Shia Brothers still have an MSA, but you are right about Sunni Mosques.
I give credit to Imam Khomeini may Allah bless him for making Fatwa allowing our Shia brothers to pray behind Sunni Imams in Mosques. that Fatwa did a lot for Shia Sunni relations, but Saddam came along and ruined it.
Re: Do you think the Shias, Bohris and other sects feel left out in the West?
The Iranian treatment of Sunnis is nowhere near as bad as the Taliban's treatment of Shi'as.
no its not,
and I did not say that.
what I stated was that the treatment of shia by sunni regimes is inexcusable
and that does not justify how Iran treats its sunni (or other minorities)
dont get me wrong. My view is that we have to stand firm on this stuff...no discrminiation, no oppression, against anyone, whether they are shia, sunni, ahmedi, bahai, christian, hindu, rastafarian, druid, wiccan whatever.
when we say oh well this is not as bad as that, lets make sure we are not using that comparison to justify wrong acts by one group or nation because they are less than the other nation.
Re: Do you think the Shias, Bohris and other sects feel left out in the West?
Look at the video…This is a video from the most holiest of holy places for a Muslim…It is the place in which Quran forbids even killing of an ant let alone harming another human being…It is Makkah, the sanctuary from the rest of the world for a Muslim…
So how can anyone trust someone who can attack his own holy sanctuary…