Beautiful Struggle: Anonymous asked: do you pretty much hate all sunnis?
<a href=”http://remorsecode.tumblr.com/post/17044553106/beautiful-struggle-anonymous-asked-do-you-pretty-much”>remorsecode</a>:<blockquote><a href=”http://the72sects.tumblr.com/post/17042519292/beautiful-struggle-anonymous-asked-do-you-pretty-much”>the72sects</a>:<blockquote><a href=”http://remorsecode.tumblr.com/post/17039769889/do-you-pretty-much-hate-all-sunnis”>remorsecode</a>:<blockquote>Okay I might as well talk about this more in depth since I’m worried people might get a misconception that the Shia somehow hate all Sunni people. This is not true whatsoever. As the saying goes, hate the sin, not the sinner. This is all just my personal beliefs. I don’t have…</blockquote>
The number of generalisations in this post is in stark contrast to the very same intellectual pursuits that the original poster talks about. But set aside all the generalisations and whether there is or isn’t truth to the aspersions against Sunni’s, or whether it even cements the argument that Shia’s are supposedly on the right path, or not. The lingering thought I have in my head, the same way I think about every other ridiculous post about these Sunni/Shia differences is simply this…how does any of the facts contained in the post actually strengthen your Imaan? If Imaan is purely about your sincerity of belief in the oneness of Allah, and not ascribing any partners to Him, and accepting His decree, then what does it matter what historical facts have been perfectly preserved or horribly twisted?
If we weren’t there to witness it, and the available knowledge has contradictions, then let it be. It has no impact on who we are as Muslims right now, because in Islam right and wrong is clear. Anything that causes doubt in between should be avoided. Simple. Why complicate beautiful way of life with these annoying attempts to convince everyone about whose history is more accurate?
</blockquote>I truly don’t like participating in “debate” however you’ve asked questions and I feel like I should answer them, despite the fact I sense a lot of rhetoric and sarcasm contained within them.<strong>“how does any of the facts contained in the post actually strengthen your Imaan?”</strong>Because I am of the belief that knowledge is what leads to certainty and through gaining knowledge, my Imaan increases. History is also a branch of knowledge I am fond of.<strong>“If Imaan is purely about your sincerity of belief in the oneness of Allah, and not ascribing any partners to Him, and accepting His decree, then what does it matter what historical facts have been perfectly preserved or horribly twisted?”</strong>As I’ve implied many times throughout that post and on my blog in general, Imaan is gained through knowledge. I don’t understand why people hold this belief that somehow history is history and you should leave and let die.
Do you know how many prophets are mentioned in the Qur’an? 25 and all of them with their relevant story and history. It’s a strange phenomenon that people imply history should just be left alone yet the very book we all turn to for guidance is for the vast majority, history. The lesson? History repeats itself and nothing is a greater teacher than the knowledge of the past. That’s why historical facts are necessary and required to be fully understood, weaved away from the falsehood.<strong>“It has no impact on who we are as Muslims right now, because in Islam right and wrong is clear.”</strong>I find no other word to describe what you are saying as other than completely ironic. The history of Islam has absolutely everything with who we are as Muslims today because history is what defines the current events.It is even more absurd that you claim “right and wrong is clear” yet your very own blog title is called “The 72 sects” ??? I’m sorry for my ignorance, maybe I just do not understand what you’re trying to say, but I see nothing but double standards in what you’re telling me.
</blockquote>In light of your ‘rebuttal’, please allow me to clarify my views. Whilst there may have been a healthy dose of rhetoric in some of what I said, sarcasm was certainly not intended. I respectfully disagree with your view that the stories contained in the Qur’an are intended to hold historical value. Allah states several times that it is through parables that Allah guides us so that we may understand. A lot of the historical evidences in the Qur’an was intended to confirm what was revealed before, and not simply as a history lesson. Also, your assumption about my views on history ignores another statement of mine in the same post that said:<blockquote>If we weren’t there to witness it, <strong><em>and the available knowledge has contradictions, </em></strong>then let it be<strong><em>.</em></strong></blockquote>
The Qur’an does not contain such inaccuracies or contradictions, and therefore cannot be used as an example to substantiate your objection to my statement. Again, with due respect, Imaan is not dependent on what our views are of historical events, or respected personalities. Imaan is about our belief and reliance on Allah alone. The only unforgivable sin is Shirk, and the belief in questionable historical facts has no bearing on this. Let’s assume for a second that your statement about history is correct relative to Imaan. Would you then please explain how the knowledge of A’isha (RA)’s age at the time of marriage strengthens your Imaan?
As for my blog url, it relates to the hadith that reminds us of the 73 sects that will form amongst the Muslims of which only one will be rightly guided. So my url is a reminder to me about the fact that the vast majority of sectarians are misguided. I’m not sure how that is supposed to reflect irony or double standards. Like I said above, not just to you but to everyone that engages in these types of debates, how has it strengthened your Imaan? Has it established or encouraged unity in the Ummah? Has it brought you closer to Allah? Or has it simply filled a gap of knowledge that was being fed by curiosity, or dare I say ego?
Edit: After a final exchange via ‘Ask’ with the OP, let’s just say we agreed to disagree. This debate was going nowhere fast, so it’s best to leave it at that, iA.