:bism: (In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)
(Peace be upon you)
I'm a Sunni; I follow the Hanafi
madhab, and I also do not know any
Shia people in real life (at least to the best of my knowledge), but I do know that no one is perfect. And I know that Islam is not inherited by default in the sense that we're not all born knowing all knowledge of Islam from day one whether we're born into the religion and not, and therefore there are probably innumerable
Shia people who are raised in
Shia households that do not know or are aware of the entirety of
Shia teachings.
Therefore, as long as particular persons says, "La la ilaha illallah muhammadur rasulullah," we are obliged to identify them as Muslims, especially as we're laypersons. I do not disagree that some
Shia sects do have some weird teachings and some among them might show disrespect to the
Sahaba (Companions) :ra:; however, we should not assume that all laypersons within
Shia households do the same.
So, what I hope is that as Muslims we responsibly educate all Muslims regardless of their sectarian affiliation on what traditional Islam's positions on certain matters are and let people make informed decisions about what beliefs they should ideally hold.
Therefore, I cannot understand, regardless of whether a scholar or a layperson does this act, is blanket cursing an entire group of people, making prayers for their destruction, and hating them for their ignorance; instead, what I see the job of responsible Muslims wherever they are is to be compassionate and make prayers for guidance for any persons that they consider are not guided; anyone who does not do that is showing bad manners and is not following the prophetic methodology because
al wala' wal bara' is not about egotistical proclamations but exemplifying with kindness and leniency that which is just and true representation of submission to Allah and then hopefully being an inspiration to inspire the right changes in persons.
Prophet :saws: (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “
The servant does not reach the reality of faith until he loves for the people what he loves for himself of goodness” (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 238).
Prophet :saws:
(peace and blessings be upon him) also said, “
None of you have faith until you love for your neighbor what you love for yourself” (Sahih Muslim).
Prophet :saws:
(peace and blessings be upon him) also said, “
Righteousness (birr) is good character” (Sahih Muslim: 2553)."
Prophet :saws:
(peace and blessings be upon him) said, “
I have been sent to perfect noble character” (Sunan Al-Bayhaqee: 21301).
:wa: (And peace be upon you)