Question
I am a sunni (hanafi) by default and not by choice or rationale. I have developed a liking for my cousin. She is shi’i. Before pursuing any formal legitimate relationship I researched the differences between the two denominations in detail. I concluded that the shi‘i and the sunni share the same basis of belief. It is only that some ahadith we accept and they reject. Contrarily, some other hadiths they accept which we reject. These differences have nothing to do with the religion itself. I seek your advice on that whether I should refrain pursuing my choice in front of my parents or take stand and try to convince them to help me. This may however, result in confrontation with my parents.
Answer
Legally the shi‘i are Muslims and a shi‘i woman can be taken into marriage. However, they differ greatly in the basic beliefs and a believer conscious about his/her personal faith and beliefs and that of the children should think a little before taking a shi‘i woman into marriage. The difference between the shi‘i and the mainstream Islam is not confined to views on a few contradicting hadiths. Mainstream Islam does not stand on the hadith narratives. The basic beliefs and practices are founded on the Qur’an and the Sunnah. By Sunnah is meant the religious practices like prayer, hajj, zakah, sawm, marriage and birth rites and other such practices which have been taught by the Prophet (sws) to the entire generation of the Companions (sw) who then passed them on with their consensus to the next generation. Thus these practices have reached us through perpetual adherence of all the believers in all the layers of the Muslim generations. This makes them absolutely authentic like the Holy Qur’an.
Answered by: Tariq Mahmood Hashmi
Date: 2015-02-26
