Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Light
Then which is the Islam that was revealed by a prophet of God? If it is truth, then there can be only one truth. Which is it? Are you saying they (those who kill those who kill non-Muslims for not being Muslims) are in fact not Muslims and they are apostates?
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Sir, I would not make takfir on anyone unless they openly denied the shahada or practiced shirk - and even then I would not say someone has left Islam unless there was an important context or a very good reason.
In answering the question about "what is truth" I risk venturing into an area someone more scholarly than me might be better able to discuss - someone with more education than me in the historical development of Islamic practice as well as interpretations of source texts. I can only say that from my personal perspective the fundamental truth of life is tawheed, the truth of Islam is the shahada and the requirements of Islamic creed and practice are those listed in the hadith of Jibril. As I noted in an earlier comment, Muslims go off in many directions. Some Salafis say Sufis have a heretical view of tawheed; some "progressive" Muslims say chuck all the scholarship, I can figure it out on my own.
My personal goal is to walk the moderate path, gaining as much knowledge as I can from as many sources as I can. I used to think I knew it all but now I'm not so sure.
Again, I'm sorry if that sounds kumbaya or disingenuous, but to me it's just sensible.
(BTW, am I correct to assume most of you are familiar with the Arabic terms I'm using but not defining?)