CAIRO,
June 2, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – No Muslim has the right to accuse
another of being Kafir (disbeliever), based on difference of Madhhab
(religious school or sect), as long as assets and pillars of Islam are
respected and the difference is limited to signs of practicing
religious rituals, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar has asserted.
"No
body has the right to brand anyone as disbeliever unless they deny the
assets and pillars of Islam; that is believing in Allah, His angels,
His Books and Messengers," Sheikh Mohamed Sayyid Tantawi said in
a message to Prince Ghazi Bin Mohamed, the advisor of Jordan's King
Abdullah II.
The
message, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net Wednesday,
June 1, was written in response to a number of questions raised by
Prince Ghazi on fatwas claiming followers of Islamic Madhhabs
such as Abadiyyah, Zahiriyyah, Ja'afariyyah, Zaydeiyyah, Ashirites
and Sufism are infidels.
"Therefore,
followers of these Islamic Madhhabs, which pronounce belief in
Allah and in His angels, Books, Messengers and the Hereafter, can't be
declared infidels," Tantawi added.
"Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) says the true Muslim is he who pronounces that there
is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, performs the
prayers, pays the Zakah, observes the holy fasting month of Ramadan
and makes pilgrimage if he is able to."
Differing
on Means
The
Grand Imam explained that difference on how to perform rituals could
not be grounds for deeming followers of minor Islamic Madhhabs Kuffar
(disbelievers).
"Consequently,
they can't be classified as infidels as they pronounce there is no God
but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger and acknowledges the pillars
of Islam."
Tackling
aspects of some Islamic Madhhabs, Tantawi said the Ashiri
religious school urges followers to obey the sayings and traditions of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
"The
essence of Sufism also calls for praising Allah, asceticism, and
getting closer to Allah by performing the good and avoiding the bad.
Hence, it is not allowed to describe Sufis or Ashirites as
disbelievers."
Qualifications
On
qualifications required for Muslim scholars to stand eligible to give
fatwas (religious edicts), Tantawi said a Mufti must know the Noble
Qur'an by heart, understand its meanings and must memorize sayings of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
"In
addition, he must be well-acquainted with the rulings of the Islamic
Fiqh (jurisprudence) and what is halal (allowed) and haram (forbidden)
a well as other issues of concern to the everyday affairs of the
people."
Tantawi
went on, "a Mufti must also be pious and only wants by his fatwa
to serve the public interest, right and justice."
Last
May, a bunch of prominent Muslim scholars had called for overcoming
differences among Islamic Madhhabs to live up to the current
challenges facing Muslims.
