The criteria of Takfir from the Shi’a viewpoint with emphasis on criticism of the book: “The Takfiri Concept according to the Shi’a – reality or fiction?”

In the last century in order to oppose the unity of the Islamic Nation many efforts have been made by movements and personalities, in order to introduce the Shi’a as a takfiri denomination; one of these personalities is Abdul Malik bin Abdur Rahman Ash-Shafi’I from Egypt in the book: “The Takfiri Thought according to the Shi’a – reality or fiction?” The reason for this accusation by him is the Shi’a belief in Imamate as one of the principles of religion and the consequences that apply to this belief, among which, according to him, is considering those who do not believe in this principle as infidels. He has based this claim on some hadiths and views of scholars particularly the Traditionalists. In this research, the criteria of Takfir which are: knowledgeable, reneging, deliberate and voluntary denial of the three principles (Unity, Prophet-hood and the Hereafter) and the necessities and definite ordinances of Islam and the absence of obstacles (ignorance, dislike, mistakes, forgetfulness, absence of words or actions that prove disbelief), have been addressed with the goal of answering the doubts raised by the author. And considering that the aforementioned criteria and conditions do not apply to most and nearly all non-Shi’a Muslims, therefore they are excluded from takfir and their belief in Islam is definite; and also the result that is gained by studying the hadiths and views of the scholars that the author has relied on is that due to the lack of enough research into the sources of traditions and jurisprudence of the Shi’a, lack of comprehensive observation and due to the tampering that has been done,  a correct understanding of the Shi’a beliefs has not been presented. Therefore the accusation of sharing the takfiri thought against the Shi’a is ignorant, unfounded and unfair and the Shi’a as a moderate denomination, consider all those who believe in Islam as Muslims and their brothers in faith and as those who will attain salvation, except the Nawasib (those who have hatred for the Ahlubayt) and the Ghali (those who exaggerate in relation to the Ahlulbayt) and deeply believe in the unity of the Muslims, not as an intra-denominative strategy but rather as a Qur’anic principle and consider the unity and harmony of all the Muslims  as the sole way of preserving and spreading Islam.