THE LEADER WHO IS NOT AFRAID

The recent fatwa of Ayatollah Khamnaei pronouncing " cursing of companions and wives of the Prophet as haram" is something unprecedented. The full impact of this fatwa in the Shia World is yet to be known, however the Sunni world has been quick to react with none other than the Chancellor of Al-Azhar (whose picture is posted above with Ayatollah Khamnei) describing it as a "blessed fatwa" which has come at an appropriate time and will help to "prevent seeds of sedition" being sown between various Islamic sects.

What is the background of this Fatwa? The fatwa was issued in reply to a question written to Ayatollah Khamnaei by scholars and intellectuals of Al-Ihsaa in Hejaz (so-called Saudi Arabia).

It comes in the backdrop of statements of a till recently little known shia cleric from Kuwait Yasir al-Habib who in a function in London which he organised to "celebrate" the death anniversary of Umul Momineen Aisha bint Abibakr openly accused her and some of the Companions of the Prophet(SAWW) of conspiring to murder the Holy Prophet(SAWW). This little known Kuwaiti cleric had been jailed in Kuwait for his earlier statements and released from prison sometime back.

The fatwa is bound to ruffle many a featrhers, especially in the Shia world as at it's face value it appears to be a blanket fatwa. However one needs to know that new and unique it may appear it is not something which has been said for the first time. It may be for the first time that the wording is so clear and precise. It is important to remember that the fatwa does not concern about matters of belief it concerns about ethics of dialogue and discussion and therefore it is nothing new. The Holy Quran prevents muslims from cursing even the idols of polytheists. The approach of Imam Ali (A.S) in this respect is the final word for anyone who claims to be his follower. The respect he showed towards Umul Momineen Aisha after the Battle of Camel is a lesson for all his followers. The bottomline is that inspite of her hatred and open revolt against Ali(A.S) which she herself regretted Imam Ali gave her the respect she deserved as being the wife of Holy Prophet(SAWW). This was the greatness of this man. As he advised his followers "give your life to your friends and justice to your enemies". If I am told to point out to one trait of Imam Ali which I feel is the most outstanding I would reply it is his "sense of justice". Inspite of the fact that he was sidelined and not taken into confidence in the selection of Prophet's successor he made it a point not to allow this personal rebuke to come in his way to guide the Caliphs in matters of common interest and concern to the Ummah. He knew that the policies of the third Caliph regarding the distribution of public funds to the members of his clan and the undue infleunce of Banu Omaiya especially Marwan on him, was harming the Ummah yet when people revolted against him Imam Ali (A.S) tried his utmost to find out a peaceful outcome to the impasse and repeatedly advised and admonished the Caliph and when things went out of hand appointed his son's to protect the beleagured Caliph. Therefore the fatwa has to be seen in this light. The fatwa is not an attempt to prevent academic and polished discussion of matters of differens of opinion; it is an attempt to bring back the ethics of discusiion and disagreement which the muslims seem to have been ignoring.

Having said so it is important that we condemn and isolate people like Yasir al-Habib. But at the same time it is also important to know that there are people like him on the other side of the muslim divide who deserve equal isolation and condemnation of all the muslims Shias and Sunnis alike. It is strange that in a recent conference in London convened to condemn Yasr al-Habib the Wahabi participant used the occasion to rebuke and vile Shias. It is important to know that these extremist elements in the Sunni world who openly curse Shias and call them infidels are responsible for the rise of people like Yasir al-Habib. It is saddening to know that while Yasir al-Habib is a non-entity in Shia world in the Sunni world some of the most infleuntial and important personalities have openly called Shias as heretics and polytheists (Dr. Yousuf al-Qardawi and al-Kalbani, the Imam of Kaaba). What reaction do you expect when the Imam of Holy Kaaba calls Shias as polytheists from the pulpit of the Holy mosque. It is therefore important for the people who are at the helm of affairs and in positions of infleunce to be discreet in their comments and pronounciations. It is a grave offence when people whose opinion matters fail to recognise the impact of their indiscretion and don't choose the right forum to raise any concerns they have. Imam Khamnaei's fatwa is a revolutionary and bold step in the direction of bringing the various sects of Islam together but it needs to be reciprocated. As we condemn and isolate people like Yasir al-Habib we also need to isolate, condemn and dissociate ourselves from those people in the Sunni world who find it their duty to vile and curse the Shiites whoever they are and whatever positionthey hold.