In an unprecedented move, a Shia religious body is now policing Aqeeda – and doing so without any public reasons or explanations
On August 16 approximately, the Religious Guidance Authority of Lebanon issued a decree that fifteen sheikhs in Lebanon are not qualified to be followed by Shias. Essentially, they are ex-communicato. Of course, any religion would publicly explain the religious basis for not only their transgressions but also the precedent in which they have the authority to ex-communicate right? Wrong. No explanation was given. Shia Islam, has taken one step towards becoming a full blown cult.
In addition to Audi, the document lists Samer Abdel Hussein Ghanoui, Bilal Ibrahim Salim, Mohammad Youssef Hajj Hassan, Nizar Mohammad Hamzeh, Ibrahim Hassan Herz, Abdel Karim Cheikh Ali, Youssef Hassan Kanj, Ahmad Abbass Idi, Abou Hassan Mortada, Mohammad Ali Fouani, Hachem Ali Moussaoui, Mahmoud Abdallah Fakih, Abdel Salam Niazi Dandache and Nizar Jamal Jechi. – as reported by L’Orient Today news.
“These figures were deemed unfit due to ‘theological deviance, behavioral deviations, or lack of religious knowledge,’ but without proof,” Bazzi told L’Orient Today. “The Council had not even summoned them for questioning or given them the right to defend themselves against those generic accusations.”
It is no wonder why the majority of shia theologians toe the line. If they are to speak out against what the public desires to hear, they get sidelined, ex-communicated, threatened, and perhaps more as we will see unfold. I am not against ex-communicating scholars that promote hearsay, however, I know that Sheikh Awde promotes a traditionalist and simplistic view of Islam backed up by the Quran. This of course has angered many Shias that obtain their creed from dubious stories spread from unreliable sources. These stories were in many cases complied from 440 AH until 1100 AH. Story tellers will cherry pick the most egregious poetic stories from these books to spread superstition. Sheikh Awde has dedicated his career in recent times to combating these cultish beliefs and practices that have become so prevalent in Shia Islam today.
It is also possible that he has come under attack due to his outspoken criticism of corrupt politics, which he would argue is our religious duty as muslims.
Credit: L’Orient Today.
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