02.12.07
The Great “Divide”
The great Muslim divide has has taken shape in the United States. There was an article (http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/us/04muslim.html&OQ=_rQ3D1Q26eiQ3D5059Q26enQ3D783e875fdbbd422fQ26exQ3D1171256400Q26partnerQ3DAOLQ26pagewantedQ3Dprint&OP=62eb560fQ2FD9ApDQ3CQ24Q2Az5Q24Q24ByDyZZQ2BDZyDZQ25DQ7CzDZQ25tQ7Cz4ltQ26JBt4) written by Neil MacFarquhar on the NY Times entitled Iraq’s Shadow Widens Sunni-Shiite Split in U.S., where he talks about the tension and discrimination primarily against the Shi’a Muslims. To a certain extend it is true. And to a degree its i true; I can speak for myself and others who face bigotry and intolerance from other Muslims from local masjids and organizations.
Nevertheless, the article has caused a reaction from the acclaimed Sunnipath.com website, an online Sunni academy. The director of the academy went as far as blogging about the article and publicy responded to it (http://blog.sunnipath.com/?p=13).
However, at the end of the day, I think it comes back to the individual. Yes, it’s very important for our establishments to recognize each other compassionately as brothers and sisters in Islam, but our institutions are essentially controlled by our communities and societies, so it ultimately goes hand in hand. We need to recognize the importance of tolerance and compassion as individuals and as established institutions. A very pleasing and satisfying response I read from a Sunni scholar on how to deal with each other was from Shaykh Faraz Rabbani of the Sunni Path Academy and I hope we all follow his advice.
I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.
Yes, there is absolutely nothing wrong with working with other Muslims whom one may have some differences with towards shared goals. Rather, this would be very much in the spirit of the sunna of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
At the same time, one must understand that the basis of unity and respect is accepting the reality that there are longstanding differences of opinion that cannot be ignored. Thus, “forced unity” where we try to somehow negate the existence of differences simply exacerbates old wounds. Rather, the way forward is to acknowledge that we differ; and to “work around” the differences rather than denying them.
And Allah alone gives success.
It goes in line to my article I wrote on Islamic Unity (http://thenlightenment.whatheblog.com/2006/05/17/islamic-unity-a-commandment-from-god/). We must also keep in mind, upholding Islamic Unity is not a preference, but an obligation.
Irving Said:
February 12, 2007 at 11:03 am
An excellent article on the subject. It is a sad day when Muslims consider their differences more important than their similiarities.
Ya Haqq!
Jaas Said:
February 12, 2007 at 6:08 pm
the article was very good… i actually linked it on the smsa blog
Gina Said:
February 12, 2007 at 10:57 pm
I agree that this is a matter to be considered by every individual Muslim. Especially in America, I think the rift that may be widening between Sunni and Shiite is sadly due to ignorance. One of the keys to life is that although one does not have to accept everything another person says, one is obligated to understand why that person feels the way he or she does. InshaAllah we can all increase our knowledge. Always be open-minded!
Salaam.
Abu Zahra Said:
February 13, 2007 at 5:33 am
We cannot underestimate how much politics has to do with this. The western media is playing up this divide to strengthen the U.S. claims against Iran. Ultimately, they are attempting to turn the “Arab Sunni World” against the “Shi’a Crescent.” Unfortunately, they will fail, inshaAllah.
Musalmuna Said:
June 24, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Assalaam-u-Alaikums,This fact is very well-known by the whole world that for political satisfaction, oil thirst, and feuling the rift among Muslim Umma, the authorities of USA can go to any limit, not even sparing its own nationals. But we should not and can not blame them only, as unfortunately, for centuries, the intolerance between Sunnis and Shia’ahs, has weakened our position very much. Of which the Non-Muslims are taking benefit of. This involves political motives in some Muslim countries too who instigate this issue. But on the general , level we should open doors for discussions with patience and listen to each other. It is possible that one side may be wrong at some point and the other on some other point. We should ask ourselves first, do we know anything about the Islamic history, do we know who are those Imaams that Shiahs respect so much , do we know what happened to the family of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the times of and after Mu’awiah? Being a Sunni, even I did not know unless I went through reliable History books by Sunni (Maulana Maududi)and Shiah (Hussain Al-Ameeni) scholars. We always send durrod-o-salaam upon prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Aal (family) but we never raised voices for the injustices that had been done with them, starting right with hadhrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).We should avoid extremism but at the same time we should not pass ultimate judgements about anyone, unless we are fully educated. And this is the point which lacks in this Ummah unfortunately. Unity is intensely needed among the Muslims. As it is rightly said, United we stand, divided we fall. We should feel pain for our Muslim brothers and sisters either they are in Palestine or in Iran or anywhere in the world, when they are troubled and tortured. May Allah give us guidance, Aameen, as all the prophets were only MUSLIMS, and called for Allah’s obedience. No prophet can ever be afraid of saying anything which Allah has ordered him to say or to do. This is what he is sent for; to spread Allah’s message. Wassalaam.