Ali and Muhammed

Dear Editor,

In the current (June) edition of en, the writer of the South Asian interchange article states: “Sunnis believe in ‘Ali’ and Shias in Muhammed”.

This is incorrect on two levels.

Both Sunnis and Shias revere Muhammed as the final prophet and messenger of Allah and both revere him and hold him in the highest regard.

Ali was the son-in-law of Muhammed; Shias believe Muhammed appointed him as his successor and the first Iman and revere him accordingly, Sunnis hold that after the death of Muhammed his father-in-law Abu Bakr was elected to be the first Caliph. Sunnis respect Ali but do not accord him and his successors quasi divine status.

Thus Sunnis would be appalled to think they revered Ali at all, and over and above Muhammed, as the article implies.

To balance, the article by Andrew Marsay on the Bible and Qu’ran compared was excellent; I have never heard the teachings of the latter on the nature of Allah in relation to humanity explained so clearly and concisely.

Yours sincerely,
Ruth Gray
By email