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The Muslims of Michigan
By Micah Halpern

Saturday May 12, 2007

I've Been Thinking:

The Muslims of Michigan have recently signed an agreement to set aside the centuries old dispute between Shiites and Sunnis.

After some recent violence the leaders have decided to put aside differences and unite by creating a treaty.
Sounds like a great idea - but it is truly impossible to unite Shiites and Sunnis.

Why is it impossible to unite Shiites and Sunnis?
Because of "takfir" an Islamic term which literally means "excommunication."
The word "takfir" comes from the root "kufr" which means "non-believer."
From there the concept of "takfir" evolves.
A "takfir" results from a situation in which a person or group rejects the principles of their faith.
That is exactly how Shiites perceive the Sunni.
That is exactly how Sunnis perceive the Shia.
They consider each other to be heretics.

This Michigan Agreement is based on a perception of Muslim unity. It is predicated on the belief that the sides can unite against a common enemy and set aside theological differences. But in reality they cannot. The hostility between Shiites and Sunnis goes too deep and has been there for so very long.

A takfir is a takfir and with a takfir comes persecutions and even deaths.
All that cannot be erased, not even in Michigan.

4 June 2017 12:14 PM in Thoughts


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