Title: Fatwah of Takfir by Imam Ahmed Raza Shah Question: Imam ahmed raza shah barelvi openly declared leading ulema e deoband as kuffar on the basis of their kufria kalmaat against holy prophet Muhammad pbuh in their books. what is your view regarding this. was ahmed raza barelvi right in issuing takfeer. it is written in hassam ul haramain that numerous scholars of Arab also endorsed his fatawa e takfeer against the leading deobandi scholars. also I want to know that Shiites have been called kafirs throughout the history. even ghous e azam is said to have called them kafirs wahabis munkireen e hadis qadyanis,barelvis,deobandis,etc etc all have been declared kuffar to the extent that it is not allowed by any sects leading muftis to even pray behind the other sects ulema, even it is not allowed to attend the janazas of opposite sects people. what are your views regarding this. in the beginning I used to think that these issues are minor and only jahil molvis say like this, but I have heard from the top most religious authorities of every sect open takfeer (obviously not on television against other sects. plz clarify and I have heard that even in past leading scholars used to issue takfeer on Shiite and even with in Sunnis takfeer was issued. I mean long long ago. Answer: Takfir , which is in effect one's judgment of the rejection of Truth upon another, is one of the most serious issues in Islam. As of late it has become a weapon - not only to defame others - but to elevate their own status and that of their sect. The Qur'an has mentioned this: [Or] of those who have divided their religion and become sects, every faction rejoicing in what it has. - Al-Room 30:32 Sectarianism has become a blood sport in which people who believe in the same God, the same book, and the same Judgment compete to annihilate each other. From the Qur'anic words we can appreciate that people tend to attach themselves to their beliefs and that of their sects and pride themselves on such a thing. Moreover, they take their vainglorious attitude and have escalated it to violent damnation of those who do not think or act like them. So the "rejoicing" has its byproducts and the results are obvious to us all. Our position of takfir is clear and straightforward: no one, in absolute terms, has the authority to declare a person kafir (rejecter) or group of people kuffar (rejecters) . There is no status and no position that qualifies anyone to pronounce takfir on another. This authority belongs to God Almighty; His prophets only received Divine ordinances regarding who were the kuffar and how they were to be addressed. Thus, not even the prophets of God possessed such judgment; instead, their entire mission was completely subject to Divine Law. In regards to history, Muslims have been involved in sectarianism since the death of our beloved Prophet (pbuh). Sunnis and Shi'ites and other sects have been victims of takfirism . All of it is obviously wrong. Contrary to what has been asserted, there is nothing in the Shari'ah (Islamic Law) that forbids a person from praying behind people of other sects or praying janazah (prayer for the dead) with them. It would be a personal choice. As it regards some of the highest figures of Islam it has been my understanding that their words are sometimes misrepresented and/or misunderstood. As a matter of fact, it seems that the great scholars had mentioned what beliefs would place people in the status of kufr . While we may not agree with their opinions one must realize that what they were doing can be a far cry from proclaiming certain individuals or certain groups were kuffar . For those that did commit takfir then it is clear that we have no agreement and do not acknowledge their opinions as being correct. Sectarianism is a bottomless pit for Muslims. Continuing down that road will result in the deplorable condition Muslims seem to remain. This is one of the major tragedies standing in our way to return to the way of God and His good grace. Failing at this will result in a failing Ummah (Muslim community). I hope I have clarified the issue. God knows best. Ronnie Hassan January 19, 2007