Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Shia Sunni 'Mess'

Shias and sunnis are two lovely creatures of God. They love to hate each other. When I had written the "I Hate You" post.. i had wondered then and am still asking now... what is it that they both are fighting for? Just faith related issues which they don't have a clear answer to! Amazing really.

Anyways, the following is in a reference to 'heated' debate currently being carried out on this blog in the comments section. Show off that I am, I too contributed my bit. I would be discussing various arguments that were put forth by contributors. Shias and Sunnis have some lovely beliefs that need to be addressed.

Assertion 1 - "What makes you think that YOUR kalma is the 'original' one"

There is only ONE shahada.. that is given in Quran by Allah himself.

3:18 - Allah (Himself) is Witness that there is no Allah save Him. And the angels and the men of learning (too are witness). Maintaining His creation in justice, there is no Allah save Him the Almighty, the Wise.

The shahada is 'There is no god but God". No additions whatsoever. Shias and sunnis should not have problems with God telling them what shahada is right? Or you both would be asking God what is His source?

Assertion 2 - "Bibi Fatima(sa) was definitely 'infallible', which means, I hope you know, means that there not a single chance that she(sa) could make a mistake."

Bibi Fatima was a human being. She was not an angel. She could have committed mistakes. EVEN
Prophet Muhammad made mistakes! Why do you think God keeps telling us that he was a human being! To quote.. He got perturbed when a blind man came to him while he was in audience with an influential person.

80:01 - (The Prophet) frowned and turned away,
80:02 - Because there came to him the blind man (interrupting).
80:03 - But what could tell thee but that perchance he might grow (in spiritual understanding)?-

And.

66:01 - O Prophet! Why holdest thou to be forbidden that which Allah has made lawful to thee? Thou seekest to please thy consorts ...

All portraying him to be more of a human being. This is not done to 'lower' his status but that people should not start to idolize him.

18:110 - Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your Allah is only One Allah ...

Assertion 3 - by clearing this case (whether sunni or shia is right), we'd be a step closer to identify the only sect which, according to Prophet(saww) is destined to Jannat...

Just like Jews, who keep repeating that they are the inheritors of paradise, shias and sunnis parrot this often. God asks them a simple question.

2:111 - And they say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their (vain) desires. Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful."

So what proof do sunnis and shias have they are the chosen ones? God and His religion Islam are way democratic then todays muslims wildest beliefs. I'll tell you something that will literally shock you. According to Quran.. 'anyone' can enter paradise - regardless of their religion! Only criteria is belief in one God.

2:62 - Lo! Those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans - whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right - surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.

So stop fooling around with "God is in love with me only" crap.

Assertion 4 - Prophets Lineage (I am a syed!)

This is a joke. I swear by God. Noah could not save his son. Prophet Abraham could not save his father. Lot could not save his wife and you guys expect that Prophet Muhammad will save us? and why would he do that? Just because a person is a syed (shia or a sunni)? The only criteria in front of God is this..

49:13 - O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you ..

God will not check who is a Syed. He will not check your lineage. Prophet can not save you. No one is given precedence due to it. No one becomes a 'true knowledge' source if he/she is a syed.

Assertion 5 - Please read the Quran. It's filled with verses where one prophet inherited from another, not prophet-hood but worldly things.

Wrong. No one 'inherits' prophethood. Its God will whom he chooses for prophethood.

16:02 - He sends down His angels with inspiration of His Command, to such of His servants as He pleaseth,

Assertion 6 - For example, Hazrat Suleiman (A.S.) inherited one thousand horses from Hazrat Daud (A.S.). The Quran stands testament to the fact that Hazrat Yahya (A.S.) was the heir of Hazrat Zakariya (A.S), Hazrat Yousuf (A.S.) was the heir of Hazrat Yaqoob (A.S) and Hazrat Ishaq (A.S.) was the heir of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S). Rasoolullah (S.A.W.W.) inherited five camels, one herd of sheep, one slave Shiqran, a sword named Masoor, house and a maid named Um-me-Aiman.

There is no information in Quran like that wherein wordly inheritance was discussed.

Assertion 7 - Prophet Muhammad was a foreseer. He knew what will happen to his grandson.

Quran states that Prophet Muhammad was not a foreseer nor had knowledge of unseen (ilm e ghaib)

6:50 - Say: I do not say to you, I have with me the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel; I do not follow aught save that which is revealed to me…

God's opinion stands diametrically opposite to what shias an sunnis believe in. But hey.. you guys have a right to your beliefs. So carry on fighting :D

6 comments:

Unknown said...

The biggest sin Muslims do is to fight among themselves. Being raised in India I always use to wish if I were born in Pakistan where there are only Muslims & then would stay away from Hindu - Muslim conflict. Today I'm thankful to Allah that I'm not born in Pakistan where I would then risk my family and my life to a fellow muslim (Shia or Sunni, I do not wish to disclose my sect in order to avoid unnecessary harsh comments).

Anonymous said...

:( @ Irwin's comment

sorry Pakistan,we got u to protect our skins n ended up killing each other within the sanctuary of ur four walls.... personally, i have never participated in any inflammatory sectarian debate but then my role in dousing the fire is also negligible *sigh*

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

i don't understand why people have to drag other topics like nationalism into it?

anyway, this is a good subject, you were brave in highlighting the rifts between both sects.
i'm actually changed my thinking these past few months with regards to sectarianism, i was raised sunni and hanafi at that, i still hold on to those beliefs but i'd prefer to be simply under the 'muslim' banner. i can't hold anything against shiay, we are all answerable for our own thoughts and actions, and we just don't know what's in another person's heart or their true intentions. it's unjust to trample their beliefs, each of us believe we're on the right path etc, i just weish we'd respect each other. there must be alternative ways of guiding people to what we feel is the 'right way' than these bitching sessions and hatred and terming one another 'mashrik'.

i think i got a little carried away there, but here's hoping you got the gist.

Anonymous said...

i have to agree with pinky there.
but again, this isn't a pakistan-centric problem, this exists in all faiths and globally.
and my comment was not targeted at your post, postman, you've done a great job. it was just a question a lot of peace-loving shiay and sunni are asking.

PostMan said...

Thanks Supe. My Lord says..

42:14 - They became divided only after Knowledge reached them,- through selfish envy as between themselves. Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (tending) to a Term appointed, the matter would have been settled between them: But truly those who have inherited the Book after them are in suspicious doubt concerning it.