The AMI Podcast

The succession of the Prophet and the event of Ghadeer, Shia View Shaykh Ayub Rashid.

The succession of the Prophet and the event of Ghadeer, Sunni View Shaykh Ayman Yacoub.

‘Tawassul (Intermediation) in the light of the Islamic Tenet of the Sole Authority of God’, Shia Sunni debate. (Part 3 of 3)

‘Tawassul (Intermediation) in the light of the Islamic Tenet of the Sole Authority of God’, Shia view presented by Shaykh Arif Abudlhussain (Part 2 of 3)

‘Tawassul (Intermediation) in the light of the Islamic Tenet of the Sole Authority of God’ Sunni view presented by Dr. Khuram Bashir. (Part 1 of 3)

Dr Mohammed Khalid concluded with the following statements;  - Theologically, the Sunni and Shia schools of thought have a similar notion of tawhid. There may be differences in the terms used in  describing Tawhid, however, the differences do not make a difference to the essence of the oneness of God’  - The concepts of Tawassul and Sha’faa are not contradictory to the notion of tawhid. They are just a means of gaining the nearness of God.  - It was also concluded that a further discussion on Tawassul and  Shaf’aa according to the Sunni and Shia perspectives is required, to allow for an in-depth discussion on these topics for the benefit of all scholars.

Shaykh Muhammad Reza Tajri presented from the Shia perspective and discussed the variety of interpretations of Tawhid.    - He discussed the concept of Tawhid in its essence the Essence,  attributes and also the actions of God using popular sources such as the sermons of Imam Ali (as) from Nahjul Balagha.  - He also explained the meaning of tawassul (a physical action) and shafa’a (a theological notion) and their permissibility and invalidity,  respective of the concept of Tawhid within the Shia school of thought.  - It was concluded that these actions (tawassul and shafa’a) did not go against the notion of Tawhid.

It was concluded that regarding the fundamentals of faith, despite minor differences, there was an overwhelming overlap between the Shia and  Sunni regarding the fundamentals of the faith. (video part 3 of 3)

Shaykh Arif’s presentation saw him divide the fundamental beliefs into two parts; the primary (usūl awwaliyya) beliefs, subscribing to which one can be considered a Muslim, and the secondary beliefs (usūl thānawiyya), belief in which would consider one a Shia.  The primary being belief in the oneness of God (tawḥīd), Prophethood  (nubuwwa) and the day of judgement (qiyāma) whilst the secondary being belief in the justice of God (ʿAdl) and in the Imams (Imāma). He also outlined the differences amongst the Imami scholars regarding these divisions.

At the core of Shaykh Abdul Hadi Al-Omri's presentation regarding the fundamental articles were the belief in one God (tawḥīd) and prophethood of Muhammad (SAW) (nubuwwa).  This is rooted in a lengthy narration in which the Prophet is asked what islām and īmān are, to which he replies Islam is;  a) belief in one God   b) belief in the prophethood of Muhammad   c) establishing prayers   d) paying the zakat   e) fasting in Ramadhan and   f) carrying out the Hajj  whilst Iman is;   a) belief in Allah  b) his angels   c) his messengers   d) books   e) day of judgement  f) predestination.   Building on this as his framework and considering Islam and Iman as  being synonymous, he cited several verses to establish belief in all the above as being fundamental in being considered a Muslim.