Question:
I would like to know why people are classing others from the Ahlus Sunnah Wa’l Jammah as Tafdhilli Shi’a just as they have the opinion that Hazrat Ali A.S is the highest rank after Muhammad SAW. There is no Ijimah on this as many Shayouks have a difference of opinion. As a note to this what are your views on this. As I have studied majority of they Syed’s have this belief of Hazrat Ali A.S to be Afdhal.
Answer:
The greater consensus in Ahl al-Sunnah wa l-Jama’ah places superiority of Shaykhayn (Abu Bakr and ‘Umar), although there are some Sahaba and scholars who placed ‘Ali higher, but this is only an opinion. This matter is however not an Article of Faith that we must believe such a Companion to be preferred (Afdal) over another.
Our position is with the majority in Ahl al-Sunnah wa l-Jama’ah. We love, respect and honour every single person who is classified as Sahaba to the Prophet s.a.w. as they are the best of Muslims who have lived and met with the Prophet s.a.w. in person – this alone is a
Fadilah (favour) that is exclusive to them, and an honour. We do not accept any vilification/insult/disrespect/curse towards any Sahaba in any way or reason, and this includes the extreme Tafdili position that honours only ‘Ali k.w. and disrespects the others.
May Allah makes us lovers of all the Sahabas!
Abdul Shakur
