Knowledge & Tolerance Vs Ignorance & Extremism
The other day I was in a barbershop waiting for my turn to get a haircut. While waiting, quite a number of people, who were not there to get a haircut, were in the shop watching the West of Asia soccer tournament's finale featuring Iraq vs. Iran. As a person who loves sports, particularly soccer and MMA (mixed Martial Arts), I started watching the game like everybody else. It was an interesting match but in the half-time break, people were talking about politics not sports. What is funnier is that when the game ended with the Iranian team on top, the discussion totally shifted gears into religion. It was an interesting yet sad experience to see how narrow-minded most of discussion participants were. I heard many of what I thought are outrageous claims. It was the first time I hear that the Shiite Muslims got their own Mecca in Iraq and others interrupt "no,noo,nnnooooo, it is Iran." Another odd and shocking fact is spilled into the raging discussion; Shiites do their Haj or pilgrimage in Muharam, which is the first month of the Islamic Hijri Calendar not on Thu Al Hija which is the 12th and last month of Islamic calendar.
Up to that point, I had heard enough to be fueled up to take part in the discussion, so I started by pretending to be in the dark as to Shiites Muslims and Sunni Muslims. This strategy got things worse because everybody started exaggerating and cursing Shiites, the thing that pushed me to asking questions to those narrow-minded people. One of the questions I asked was whether Shiites are considered Muslims or not? Answers varied here some said they were but not good ones but the others totally said that Shiites are not Muslims and should not be dealt with, greeted, eaten with or even talked to. I wondered and asked how they would know the Shiites when they are totally not interacting with them. I really wanted to know the source of their ideas about Shiite Muslims. Some said they read books others heard imams in mosques speak such nonsense, some others watched some Shiite rituals on TV and started interpreting them however they want, and the rest have learned about Shiites through online forums. I laughed a bit then asked one of the participants what his Islamic subgroup was? He said, "I'm Zaidi." I told him if you really are why are cursing yourself then. He said he was not but he was cursing out Shiites. So I said don't you know that Zaidism is a part of Shiite Islam. He accused me of ignorance and stupidity. Things were about to turn ugly when they started asking in a threatening tone what I thought of Shiites. I simply answered telling them all Shiites and Sunnis are Muslims and it is ok to have differences.
Disagreement is inevitable and it does not mean we have to kill each other and hate on each other. I told them to use logic and take a good look at how Sunnis have many different denominations and Shiites as well. Differences exist everywhere and in everything. You should learn to accept the other and the other should do the same thing. I told them there are a billion and half Muslims in the whole world if not more. However, if we think the same way they, discussion participants, do Muslims would be much less and things would lead to a bottomless abyss. Finally I recited a verse from the holy Quran, "Let there be no compulsion in religion'' (2/256). Then I recited two other verses that are on the mark:" And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which God (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves." (3/103) Also: “And obey God and His Apostle; and fall into no disputes lest you lose heart and your power depart.”(8/46). I said that Shiites plus Sunnis equals Islam and this how it should perceived. I felt so good about it but they chased out of the shop and I never got the haircut I was there for in the first place.
