April 3, 2026
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments
Q:Could you please clarify what was stated during the Friday khutba regarding Shiism and the ongoing conflict? Are Shia’s incorrect on how they view Umar and Aysha?
A: While I appreciate the request for clarification, there appears to be a misunderstanding: I did not use the term Shia coupled as an ‘ism.’ As we are aware, that connotation can sometimes be offensive to the Shia community. The small error on your side implies potential pain, and the mental anguish of how can a Sunni imam potentially attempt to stand for that which is good for people that some may view as ‘different from our total belief system. I’m not going to go into Umar (RA) etc, i’m just going to state what I have in my notes.
We have anywhere from five to a dozen Shia congregants who attend our Masjid. To ignore the current crises would be inappropriate; therefore, I stated the following:
The tragedies occurring in Gaza, Sudan, various parts of Asia-not limited to but including China and India, and upon our brothers and sisters from the former Soviet Union are heartbreaking. Without taking away from any groups suffering on, and i say this purely on humanitarian grounds, at this immediate time we pray specifically for the children, the elderly, and the innocent in Iran. We do not view this as a political matter, but as a humanitarian one. From that perspective, we must stand for the goodness and well-being of all innocent people on every side of a conflict.
Mufti Shafi made a vital point: those outside the faith do not distinguish between Sunni and Shia; they simply see us as Muslims. We must not allow ourselves to be divided further than we already are. We should keep our internal differences private and remain united against all forms of oppression.
That said, it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge that there are fundamental differences between Sunni and Shia Islam. The Quran states that ‘Allah is pleased with the Sahaba and they are pleased with Him.’ Therefore, in our belief, holding a negative view of any Sahaba or Sahabiya is incorrect and a matter of one’s faith. To omit this would be a form of deception. Yet, acknowledging this does not stop us from praying for the innocent people of Iran-especially the 170 children that were killed, the elderly as well as the innocent.
I recognize that for some, this remains a sensitive statement. Let me return to my topic at hand and conclude with a more positive topic, the story of Hanzala (RA)….
I hope the above clarifies my intentions. If you were simply seeking a written record of what was stated, I am glad to be of assistance.
Just to recap, wishing every group safety, security, prosperity, while fulfilling the criteria of justice upon humanity is should the goal of every human, most also during these critical times in our history.
Allah Certainly Knows Best.
In future, kindly pull me aside after I give the talk so that there is very little lag time between my comments and what you have heard. I am not answering the issue on Aysha (AS) and Umar (RA) for two reasons: you showed a lack of respect in addressing them, and this is not the time for such a conversation.