56 minTranscriptDialogue on Religion and Secularism - Episode 5
حوار الدين والعلمانية - مع سماحة المرجع الديني السيد كمال الحيدري - الحلقة الخامسة
In this fifth episode of the dialogue on religion and secularism, Sayyid Kamal al-Haydari addresses the critical issue of excommunication (takfir) and sectarian violence within the Islamic heritage. He argues that both Sunni and Shi'i schools of thought have historically developed theological and jurisprudential frameworks that declare the other to be unbelievers (kuffar) or even polytheists (mushrikin) based on their respective readings of the Imamate and political legitimacy. Al-Haydari traces this problem to two roots: an epistemological root, where each group claims to possess absolute truth, and a textual root, which relies heavily on fabricated and problematic hadith narrations rather than the Qur'an. He critiques the traditional seminary (hawza) stance that leaves the application of takfir to laypeople, which has historically led to bloodshed. To resolve this, al-Haydari advocates for a fundamental revision of religious readings, emphasizing that no single human interpretation represents the absolute divine truth, and that the Qur'an establishes difference as a means for mutual recognition and integration rather than conflict.
18 Oct 2020
