Interview: Can Sunnis & Shi'as co-exist in peace in the West? ~ Dr. Yasir Qadhi | 21st June 2014

My Interview with the Iranian-English TV station Press-TV

"Can Sunnis and Shi'is Co-exist in peace in the West?"

Due to the extremely sensitive nature of this topic, and the fact that (as expected) the Madkhali Salafis have cut and pasted their own mis-informed version of this lecture to slander me (and I fully expect Allah to expose them in this world and to bless me with their good deeds in the next), it is necessary to make the following disclaimers:

1) I am a Sunni, and firmly believe that all of the Companions of the Prophet (SAW) are righteous people. Anyone who slanders them insults the Messenger (SAW) himself.

2) I believe Shi'ites have incorrect beliefs and a misguided theology regarding, inter alia, their Imams, the role of Ali b. Abi Talib, and the status of the Companions. I pray that Allah guides them to the truth.

3) I have never once called for 'unification' with Shi'ites. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar (and the Quran tells us what Allah's verdict is on liars). I believe it is healthy for Shi'ites to have their own masjid, and for Sunnis to have their own masjid (as I clearly state in the interview!). This is the way that it has been historically, and this is the way it should remain, unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise.

4) I also believe that Sunnis and Shi'ites should debate and dialogue amongst themselves, and that it is necessary and healthy for such dialogue to take place, in the appropriate manner in front of the appropriate people. Clearly, only one of these theologies can be right, and it is important for a Muslim to know the truth in these matters.

5) It is unhealthy, and un-Islamic, for the Sunni and Shi'ite masses to be fed stereotypes of the 'other', and be made to hate and loathe each other. Scholars and clerics on both sides should not encourage blind hatred, nor should they foment rage against the other group. This WILL lead to violence and communal strife - matters that our religion does not approve of. Sadly, this 'feeding of stereotypes' is a reality on both sides.

6) It is haram to kill a person of an opposing theology or faith, or bomb their places of worship, merely because they have a differing faith or ideology. Anyone who does this is a murderer, plain and simple.

7) These principles are the general rule. However, at times and places, political matters happen that DO cause Sunnis and Shi'ites to fight one another (such as in modern Syria). Where this happens, we need to historically and politically contextualize what is happening in that particular region, and not extrapolate to the entire world.
Anyone, of ANY faith, will fight back and defend when he is attacked. Currently, in Syria, Sunnis are being killed and massacred by the Alawites, and they will and should fight back. But it is dangerous and un-Islamic to extrapolate the Syrian conflict and call for a global war against Shi'ites.

And Allah knows best.

To clarify my position: yes, I have read Khomeni's works, and I have read many Shi'ite classical works. I stand by my claim. However, in none of these works did I come across certain tenets that were taught to me by my teachers, and that I, sadly, believed without verifying, foremost amongst them is the claim that Shi'ites believe the slander against Aisha. This is simply NOT true: mainstream Shi'ism obviously has some harsh statements against our mother Aisha (and these statements enrage me), but by and large they do not consider the slander to be true. And their are other examples of this as well: what I was taught was not always correct. Also, it is incorrect to extrapolate from a book and then pass a verdict on a person based on that book. How many Shi'ites are there who have never read these books?! And how many who will disagree with what is written in them?! So for a person to pronounce a verdict on a group, based on reading a book (which is what I did in my early 20s) is not correct or wise. Hence, I fully stand by what I said in this interview, and if anyone had asked me for clarification (rather than slander me like the Madkhalis always do) I would have explained myself clearly.

Note: Comments on this video have been disabled to avoid any discrimination and hate towards any group or individual.

Recorded 21st June 2014