Shia

I've been meaning to post something on this topic because there is such little awareness of the diversity of the Ummah's beliefs.

As progressives, we cannot move forward without understanding our own faith's basics. Yet there is still a nearly universal sense of Sunnism being somehow basic or natural Islam.

I'm not trying to knock Sunnism, as the majority of Muslims are Sunni, including most of my IRL Muslim friends (O HAI FASHION MUJAHID + BÉBÉ!). However, when people explain the basics of Islam, they always say

"the Five Pillars"

The 30th anniversary of Khomeini's return to Iran should be something we all take the time to reflect upon. From thinking about what the role of the US--and the West generally--has been in Persia, (supporting the Shah; hosting Khomeini...), to what the Iranian model and experience says about what the possibilities are in Pakistan, to what neo-purist interpretations of Islam have meant for the world at large today, the list is endless.

Here's a flashback from a BBC journalist:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7861000/7861357.stm

[First published at http://blog.iFaqeer.com]

I have so much to say and so little time to sit and type.  Chainsaws & yoga.  Master of the Jinn and Blue-Eyed Devil are both delightful, though in rather different ways.  (Thanks to Irving, Baraka Bob, and Mikail El.)  We have dandelion wine brewing.  Getting the garden cleared and planted. 

Just now, on Radio BBC, Mazin Younis of the Iraqi League was interviewed regarding a list of tips compiled for fleeing Sunni to pass as Shia and escape.   

I tried to find a link in google, but failed.

Sunni are advised to acquire ID which omits their tribe name.  Some tribes are solid Shia. Other tribes are solid Sunni.  Yet other tribes are mixed.  

Cell phones are routinely confiscated and examined for clues to Shia identity.  The tip sheet suggests having a Shia song and photo on the cell phone.

Taxi license plates reveal the town.  Avoid taking a taxi from a town that is known as Sunni.