“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.” (Qur’an 16:125)
Recently our brother Mohamed Hijab had a gentleman on his show from Algeria. This brother had identified as following the Ibadi school. The brother from Algeria mentioned many times that he was not a scholar or someone very learned concerning the school.
Brother, Mohamed Hijab professed not to know much about the Ibadi school yet, subsequent dialogue followed that he (Mohamed Hijab) had some cursory knowledge about some of the school’s theological perspectives.
The brother from Algeria mentioned time and again that his knowledge was so simple, yet, Mohamed Hijab proceeded to to delve into difficult questions.
So Shaykh Hatim Abdissalam extended a gracious offer for him to learn more about the school from our learned scholars if he was interested. It would go a long way in building bridges among Muslims.
By the way many of our brothers from the Sunni denomination have been invited to Oman and given a platform by people who are predominately of the Ibadi denomination. The exchange was always respectful and most courteous.
In fact respected Shaykh Mufti Menk spent some time with us in Oman. The very same Shaykh Hatim Abdissalam who extended the offer to Mohamed Hijab is seen in this beautiful and harmonious meeting with Shaykh Mufti Menk.
In fact many Muslims from diverse views among our brothers in the Sunni denomination have been invited to speak in Oman from, Shaykh Mufti Menk, to Shaykh Yusuf Estes, to Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, to Imam Khalid Yasin to Adnan Ibrahim.
Muslims from the Ibadi school have been very active in building schools and watering wells for our brothers and sisters all over East Africa and no one gives them literature saying, “You must be an Ibadi or you are astray.” No!
The Ibadi community in Ghana west Africa is quite large and they get on well there with our brothers from both the Sunni and Shi’a schools.
We should not try to intentionally misrepresent anyone else’s belief, be they Muslim or not Muslim because dishonesty is not honorable. Insh’Allah may Allah (swt) put more mercy, love, peace, respect and understanding between us all. Amin!
“And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them” (Qur’an 3:105)
“Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided” (Qur’an 16:125)
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.” (Qur’an 3:103)
Prima Quran 