Over the past month or so the Forum has seen a vitriolic exchange between the Shias & Sunnis, with each using quotations from the holy book to label the others as kafirs. This acrimonious debate has not been the first, nor will it be the last.
The biggest hypocrisy amongst muslims today is the same it was yesterday, i.e. each considers himself as ‘true’ and the other as ‘false’. What is behind this wildly irrational behaviour of ours? It is, surely, in the way we have chosen to interpret and follow Islam. And, the stakes are high because Islam is clear in its rewards for the ‘true’ and punishments for the ‘false’.
The Sunnis are the most vocal in claiming that they are ‘true’. And, they are the most organized and motivated or, so it may seem. However, amongst the Sunni sects, there is no uniformity of practice or fundamentals and, this often leads one Sunni to call the others infidels and sinners; the readers should note that the Sunnis are not alone in this practice. However, the Sunnis do stay aloof to any criticisms and blindly follow their interpretations claiming that their actions will be rewarded even though there are differences. For this, one must give credit to the Sunnis. However, what driving force binds them together? Surprisingly, it is none other than their total rejection of Ahle Bayt and its claim to spiritual leadership of Islam through divine authority.
Now, the Shias are themselves splintered into numerous sects, each differing in their interpretations. However, all Shias are united in their love and belief of the Ahle Bayt - the cornerstone of Shia faith. But, this institution of the Ahle Bayt or Immamate meant to unify the Shias has actually kept them apart and, each sect is suspicious of the other. And, why shouldn’t they be when the scholars of majority Shia sect of Isna Asharis or Twelvers, instead of improving relations, are unanimous in their condemnation of the other Shia sects, most notably the Ismailis ,their main rivals. Ismailis had, for few glorious centuries, ruled over Egypt as the Fatimid Caliphate and, whose Imam is living and present (the Aga Khan), unlike the Isna Asharis whose Imam is in deep occultation, seeing but unseen.
The Shias claim brutality & suppression from the Sunnis, yet they are not unpolluted in similar repression against other Shia sects or other beliefs. The Shia Isna Asharis claim that they are more closer to the Sunnis than to the other Shia sects and, go as far as saying that the other Shia sects are merely using the word Shias, are not Shias at all but kafirs; sounds familiar, doesn’t it? This appeasement of Sunnis has yet to bear them the desired results; for, the Sunnis continuously reject the Shias as kafirs. The mullas & ayatollahs are playing a dangerous game, indeed!
The Sunnis are the biggest players of the infidel/kafir card against others who disagree with them and, this has helped conceal the fact that they are guilty of not fully or properly implementing the wishes of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Their religious schools turn out young scholars in their thousands with an unbalanced view of Islam - very long on jihad against non-believers and short on compassion & tolerance. This cannot bode well for the future; unless, you subscribe to the their view of life.
Is consensus & reconciliation amongst the plethora of Islamic sects possible? It is a good question – can you come up with how this reconciliation may be attempted. Yes, I am asking you, for there is no easy answer. Personally and in my opinion - the rift between Shia & Sunni is permanent, the differences are simply too great to facilitate reconciliation. Forcibly converting the minority seems to be the preferred option, the judgemental criterion being: “We are right and they are wrong.”
How did we find ourselves in this mess? The apologists are quick to point out that the malaise to befall Islam has been caused, namely, by the absence of the Caliphate, Colonial period and Anti-Islamic West. Would things be any different under a Caliphate ? Surely, the Shia-Sunni rift would still be there. Under the Turkish Caliphate many Islamic states saw themselves as colonies and serfs to the Turks and, were only too quick to rebel when the opportunity presented itself. As far as the West is concerned – fundamentalist Islam cannot co-exist with a democratic and modern West perceived as the greatest evil/Satan on Allah’s Earth. Is there another way? There are always options but do we have the will? We could accept that we alone are responsible for the current malaise confronting Islam; that, the blame lies with us and, with us alone. It would be a good start, because then the focus shifts to finding solutions rather than dwelling upon the past and wasting energy & resources plotting revenge.