Shocking Explanations by Sheikh Osama al-Rifai on Takfir (Excommunication)…The Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Osama, attempted to explain who should be declared apostates.
He invoked the Sassanid dynasty, describing a segment of Iranian Shiites as Sassanids. According to him, Muslims must declare them apostates for matters related to Islamic doctrine, which I will not delve into.
However, the real tragedy is that Sheikh Osama permitted the excommunication of this group, which differs doctrinally from Sunnis, and even more alarmingly, sanctioned fighting against them!
This issue could extend to the Druze, Alawites, Ismailis, Murshidiyya, and others.It could even affect Christians who are not affiliated with or do not believe in Islamic doctrines at all.Have we entered a new phase of takfir (excommunication)?
I fully understand that Sheikh Osama, known for his moderate Naqshbandi-Ash’ari Sufi orientation, was placed in a predicament that was forced upon him.
But as the Grand Mufti of the Republic, I believe that what he was compelled to say is extremely dangerous and reflects the direction of Dar al-Ifta (the official body for issuing religious rulings), which is dominated by the hardline Salafist current close to the concept of jihad.
Therefore, we must recognize that this is a serious warning bell in Syria, which has fallen under the control of takfiri ideology.
By Father Spiridon Tanous
