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Moderate Shia

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Template:ShiaTerms According to some, a moderate Shi'a is a term for the Salaf who loved Ali.[citation needed] When Sunnis use this term, they mean to differentiate between the Salaf who were the partisans of Ali, and the present day Shias, labeling the present day Shia as extremist Rafidis. However, it is worth noting that Sunni Islam in general does not consider Shi'a as heretical or "extremist rafidis" [q.v.], as evinced by the declaration by al-Azhar University in the 20th century that the 4 Sunni madhhabs and the 12-er Shi'a madhhab are all legitimate paths of Islam.

Sunni perspective[edit]

A Sunni site, livingislam.org, states:

al-Dhahabi, a 14th century Sunni Shafi'i Islamic scholar writes:[2]

Another contemporary Sunni text writes:

Shi'a view[edit]

Shi'a view this distinction to be nonfactual. Shi'a view that the Shi'a Salaf were in fact rejectors of the Sunni Caliph's authority in addition to believing that the Ali should have been the given full authority. Shi'a view that violent circumstances and threat duressed them from airing their views in open, and in when they actually did so, Sunnis choose to disregard those testimonies.

Thus, Shi'a view this line of thought to be a case of Sunnis trying to find a definition of the early term "Shi'a" that is not at odds with the other Sunni doctrines.

There is no precedent in Shi'a scholarship or discourse to divide people into "moderate Shi'a", "real Shi'a", etc. The term "Shi'a" itself was used as early as Ali ibn Abi Talib and, according to some hadith, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

Differences between the "Sunni" and "Shi'a" views of Islam likely emerged generations after the Prophet Muhammad due to the fact that major theological questions (such as free will versus predestination) were more publicly debated during those times. This has nothing to do with being "moderate Shi'a" or "not Rafidi". During the time of the Companions of the Prophet, the community was focused less on controversial questions of theology.

Other views[edit]

Some commentators suggest that characterizing vast populations, even if they share some core religious beliefs, is difficult. Dr Carool Kersten told the BBC: "It would be overly easy to say Shias are more moderate than Sunnis. You can find extreme elements on both sides of the equation."[9]

Speaking for Ideas in Action with Jim Glassman (run by a former member of the George W. Bush administration}, one commentator views Sunnis and Shias as having varied interests, which may make them "moderate" or not, depending on their specific interests in a given controversy.[10] Nevertheless, there are differences and rivalries between the sects, so that politicial and military action are a result. even as they call each other names. These have real consequences.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Answer to fiqh-question
  2. Siyar A`lam al-Nubala', Chapter on `Ali - may Allah be well-pleased with him. Notes are provided by livingislam.org
  3. See al-Haytami, Fatawa Hadithiyya (p. 155) and Ibn Hazm's al-Fisal and al-Muhalla as quoted in al-Ghumari's al-Burhan (p. 85-88). This fact shows the weakness of the report from Imam Ahmad in al-Khallal's al-Sunna (2:392) whereby "There was no disagreement among the Companions of Allah's Messenger that `Uthman is better than `Ali.
  4. As in Abu Hanifa's al-Fiqh al-Akbar and al-Tahawi's Aqida.
  5. Al-Qanuji (d. 1307) said in Abjad al-`Ulum (3:163): "Among the sayings of Zayn al-`Abidin the son of Muhammad al-Bakri (d. 991) the son of Shaykh Abu al-Hasan al-Bakri al-Misri al-Shafi`i: `Abu Bakr is better than `Ali, however, love and attraction are a different matter.' And this is my belief also." Al-Qari said in Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar (p. 140): "It is patent that to prefer `Ali to the Two Shaykhs contravenes the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a according to what the totality of the Salaf follow."
  6. Imam Ahmad is related to define the Rafidi as "He who insults Abu Bakr and `Umar" in al-Khallal, al-Sunna (3:493).
  7. Al-Qari said in Sharh al-Shifa' (2:92): "Al-Nawawi said that cursing the Companions is one of the most depraved acts (min akbar al-fawahish), while the author (`Iyad) counts it among the major sins (kaba'ir). Such offense is punished with corporeal punishment according to the vast majority, while according to some of the Malikis and Hanafis the offender is executed. In some of the books of the latter, it is stated that to insult the two Shaykhs (Abu Bakr and `Umar) constitutes disbelief (kufr)." Al-Nawawi said in Sharh Sahih Muslim: "Know that to insult the Companions is prohibited and constitutes one of the major grave indecencies (al-fawahish al-muharramat) whether with regard to those of them involved in a dissension or other than them, because they entered those conflicts on the conviction of their ijtihad and interpretation."
  8. Bookwright: translators of classic works on Islam from Arabic and more
  9. "Syria World Sunnis and Shias — the key questions". Syria: Channel 4. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Schwartz, Stephen (January 12, 2006). "What Is a Moderate Muslim?". Ideas in Action with Jim Glassman. Retrieved April 6, 2014.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]


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