Comments on: The Problem with Excommunication http://xrdarabia.org/2008/04/27/the-problem-with-excommunication/ Informed comment and commentary about Saudi Arabia, reform, and its relations with the US Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:41:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Saudi in US http://xrdarabia.org/2008/04/27/the-problem-with-excommunication/comment-page-1/#comment-12905 Saudi in US Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:31:10 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=4607#comment-12905 One more thing. The problem with the use of the word heretic against others is that the killing of that person becomes justifiable. This method has been used to justify the killing of civilians by suicide bombers in Iraq. This can get real ugly when used by radicals. Another, example of this is the famous Khomeini fatwa justifying the killing of Salman Rushdi, because he became a heretic when he wrote his book the Satanic Versus. One more thing. The problem with the use of the word heretic against others is that the killing of that person becomes justifiable. This method has been used to justify the killing of civilians by suicide bombers in Iraq. This can get real ugly when used by radicals.

Another, example of this is the famous Khomeini fatwa justifying the killing of Salman Rushdi, because he became a heretic when he wrote his book the Satanic Versus.

]]> By: Saudi in US http://xrdarabia.org/2008/04/27/the-problem-with-excommunication/comment-page-1/#comment-12904 Saudi in US Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:18:48 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=4607#comment-12904 Sparky, These words have been used very loosely lately that they get confusing. I will give you the definitions I use. - Takfir: is the act of identifying a follow Muslim as kafir (i.e.heretic) - Apostate: is a person that leaves the religion outright. (i.e. becoming an atheist or joining another religion) - Heretic: is a person deemed to step outside the boundaries of religion through acts or words. For example some radical Sunnah consider Shiia's as heretics, because they stepped beyond what they consider the boundaries of Islam. Since Shiia's do not declare themselves as non-Muslims they are considered heretics and not apostates under this ideology. The word heretic has been thrown around a lot lately. Especially against writers and intellectuals that may exhibit ideas that put them in conflict with an influential cleric. Sparky,

These words have been used very loosely lately that they get confusing. I will give you the definitions I use.

- Takfir: is the act of identifying a follow Muslim as kafir (i.e.heretic)
- Apostate: is a person that leaves the religion outright. (i.e. becoming an atheist or joining another religion)
- Heretic: is a person deemed to step outside the boundaries of religion through acts or words. For example some radical Sunnah consider Shiia’s as heretics, because they stepped beyond what they consider the boundaries of Islam. Since Shiia’s do not declare themselves as non-Muslims they are considered heretics and not apostates under this ideology. The word heretic has been thrown around a lot lately. Especially against writers and intellectuals that may exhibit ideas that put them in conflict with an influential cleric.

]]> By: Sparky http://xrdarabia.org/2008/04/27/the-problem-with-excommunication/comment-page-1/#comment-12902 Sparky Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:49:34 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=4607#comment-12902 I am confused between what a takfir, a heretic and an apostate is. Can someone explain...or are these all synonyms? Has it gotten to the point that the one who dares to question and think is a takfir? I am confused between what a takfir, a heretic and an apostate is. Can someone explain…or are these all synonyms?

Has it gotten to the point that the one who dares to question and think is a takfir?

]]> By: » isolated like a quarantined camel! John … Talk Islam http://xrdarabia.org/2008/04/27/the-problem-with-excommunication/comment-page-1/#comment-12881 » isolated like a quarantined camel! John … Talk Islam Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:07:14 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=4607#comment-12881 [...] like a quarantined camel! John links to an essay in Asharq Alawsat about the history of excommunication/takfir as a means for silencing [...] [...] like a quarantined camel! John links to an essay in Asharq Alawsat about the history of excommunication/takfir as a means for silencing [...]

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