Shaikh Nuh Keller: takfir and the Subcontinental divide
Jinnzaman recently blogged a lengthy article by Shaikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller on the subject of the rulings of takfeer, who is entitled to pronounce it, when and why, and how it relates to the infamous Bareilawi-Deobandi fitna:
Iman, Kufr, And Takfir (updated to point to new Shadhili Tariqa site).
Also, Jinnzaman linked a Deobandi response by br. Hanif at Basaa'ir and a thread about it on a pro-Bareilawi forum. The common theme is that perhaps Shaikh Nuh is not the most qualified to talk about the issue as he doesn't speak Urdu but relies on his mureeds to translate things, and that if he did he'd come down on their side. However, Hanif's response is more reasonably-argued; the Bareilawi responses are the usual partisan raving you find whenever such matters find their ways onto online fora, which is why their discussion is banned on some (e.g. Deenport).
Comments
Salam
What a relief to read this! This is certainly the best article in English I have read on this issue. The non-emotive tone and crystal-clear delineation and dissection of the issues and controversies! MashaAllah! May Allah reward Shaykh Nuh for this!
Wassalam
Posted by: Faramir | February 27, 2007 4:50 AM
AsSalamaulaikum Respected Brother in Islam,
I found this Video Refuting Barelvi allegations made against Deobandis. May Allah reward the person who posted this up and give them Tawfeeq to stop labeling the Barelvis as Bidaatis.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=brailvi&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv
Posted by: Mujtaba Ali | February 27, 2007 10:57 PM
Going to add this website to my favourites and read with an open mind.
I am a Kufr but I am not a Kafir. Allah gives so much love that denial is unthinkable of Allahs existance.
Yet I live my life with peace to my Neighbours of different faiths and even though my relationship between Allah & myself is a good one I feel the need to not cause too much conflict between different believers.
Could I say I believe in 1 God that exists though Islam, Christianity & Paganism who is Allah without being branded as a Kafir?
Posted by: Controversial | February 28, 2007 1:08 AM
Salaams, Oh, I could not remember for the life of me where I found that article. I had to write about it and the posts from another forum where a brother was quibbling with Sheikh Keller's argument. It just seems so non-sensical. Maybe us American Muslims don't get all of that, but I haven't been in the South Asian circles to really know if it has any implications in the US. The whole takfir thing is out of control and I really like the arguments he makes at the end about not judging someone by their group designation. Takfiring is so dangerous. Actually, it is just plain mean.
Posted by: Aziza | March 7, 2007 9:48 PM