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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Mutual Respect & Peaceful Co-Existence Among Muslim (4) Status of the Sunnis in Shi‘a Fiqh By the Grand Ayatullah Sayyid ‘Ali Sistani Question: As-Salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. An independent [television] channel has repeatedly claimed that Sayyid Sistani (may Allāh protect him) has given the fatwa of kufr (infidelity) for one who does not believe in Imamate [of the Ahlul Bayt], and among such people are the Sunni brethren.

This is based on what has been quoted from Al-Abḥāthu ’l-‘Aqā’idiyyah website which is under the patronage of the respected Sayyid as claimed in the beginning of the “al-Hiwār aṣ-Sarīḥ” program of the channel. What is your response on their specific claims since they are repeating that almost every day since the beginning of the present month of Ramadhan [1431]. With thanks. Answer: In the name of Allāh, the Beneficent, the Merciful As-Salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.

The respected Sayyid Sistāni in the manual of his fatwas, Minhāju ’ṣ-Saliḥīn, vol. 1 (1st edition) p. 138 has clearly stated that a kāfir (infidel) is one who does not have a religion or follows a religion other than Islam or follows Islam but rejects what is known as an essential part of the Islamic faith (i.e., what has come from the Prophet [a.s.]) in a way that his rejection leads to belying the Prophet (a.s.) in what he has conveyed from Almighty Allāh.

By considering the fact that most of our brethren from Ahlus Sunnat wal Jamā‘at who deny the Imamate of the Twelve Imams (a.s.) believe that Imamate is not part of [the faith] that was brought by the Prophet (s.a.w.), therefore their rejection does not harm their Islam based on the view of the respected Sayyid. This is [also] clear from his other fatwas such as: His verdict on obligation of doing the funeral prayer on a Muslim even if he is of a different sect (madhhab) .

( Minhãju ’ṣ-Ṣãliḥīn , vol. 1, p. 106) And his verdict on validity of a Shī‘a lady marrying a Muslim from other madhhab. ( Minhãju ’ṣ-Ṣãliḥīn , vol. 3, p. 70) And his verdict that the Muslims can inherit from one another even if they differ in their madhhab, principals and beliefs. ( Minhãju ’ṣ-Ṣãliḥīn, vol. 3, p.