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was noor or not. Deobandis say this belief violates the essential theology of Ahl al-Sunnah (specifically that Nabi [saw] was a human being) and Barelwis of course argue that it doesn't. However, to the best of my knowledge, despite the fact that Barelwis deem it to be correct, they do not regard it as an essential and fundamental point of creed, such that if a person is not aware of it or chooses not to adopt it, he will not be excommunicated from Ahl al-Sunnah. In this sense, this issue of difference is independent of the fundamental ideology of Ahl al-Sunnah. Meaning, a person may not believe in it and he will still be regarded as a fully fledged member of Ahl al-Sunnah by both sides of the argument. Now my point is, if the public and all but the Aqeedah specialist Scholars refrain from believing that Nabi was noor, the Deobandis of course will be content but so must the Barelwis be (because even to them, it is not a fundamental belief to begin with and therefore not required by necessity). This will therefore unite the masses upon one belief on this issue and the same strategy can be adopted for the majority if not all the issues of difference between the Sunni factions, whether it be on the interpretation of Sifat of Allah, Hazir-Nazir, Ilm al-Ghaib, etc.
being Noor, now this may have a bearing on his being Sunni (depending on whether one agrees with the Deobandis or Barelwis) as you pointed out, but if he totally aviods it to begin with, he cannot be reproached by either side and he will not be violating any essential point of creed according to both Deobandis and Barelwis. This I believe can form the basis for theological unity and I hope I have clarified that I am not differing with your point.
Lets be real and not kid ourselves...consider the following 2 scenarios:
In any case keep this out of the West because apart from (minority) die-hard Deobandees/Barelwees 90% Muslims don't know and don't care!
All Praise be to Allah (SWT) for that
was noor or bashar, I would advise him to ask the questioner, ‘Is the belief that he is noor from the Dhurooriyaat al-Deen?’ and the answer would be, ‘No it is not’. so in that case the layman would say, ‘Then I have no need for it and I will suffice with only that which is established by necessity, i.e. that he was bashar.’ With this response, the questioner cannot reproach him in any way and his Aqeedah would remain safe. So remaining silent or saying ‘I don’t know’ never comes into it.
A person doesn't need to be either a Deoandi or a Barelwee to practise Islam, that's a fallacy to begin with. Muslims all over the world (and India) practised Islam just fine before 1866.
These groups came about due to peculiar circumstances and local situation and from there they got entrenched in their own rhetoric.
In the West we don't need to educate any Muslim (born or Revert) to this ideology nor do we need them to take sides.
In fact we simply need to tell them to make Dua for all of those who made sincere effort for the Deen of Allah Ta'ala and forgive the sins of those who errored. The problem will NOT go away any other way (in the West).
In the East (India/Pakistan) they have vested interests and they have to back their teachers, their institutes etc. If (Mufti) openly started picking faults with Deobandees he will be labelled a heretic and will land with a Fatwa so he has NO CHOICE but to tow the line. Similar is the case of a Barelwee.
I was born and raised in Pakistan, speak, read and write fluent Urdu and I have read books from both sides, my objection is to bring this (baggage) into the West as there is no need. Your typical (young) Muslim neither has the need nor should his (or her) life be complicated with this baggage at all. Nauman Ali Khan, Mufti Menk etc are all managing just fine without bringing Deobandi/Barelwee into the fray or talking about it.
It is the Deobandees & Barelwees who are obsessed with this issue! They seem to think that progress cannot be made without addressing these matters (imported from the East).
May Allah (SWT) reward you for your intentions but you are already displeasing Deobandees here and I am sure you will be displease Barelwees on the other side. Reason being is that these people have loyalties to their Hazrats.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
Please wait...
