من الضيق إلى السعة: ثقافة الاختلاف من منظور العرفان الصوفي

Abstract EN

Seen in the light of Sufi experiential knowledge, the use of independent reasoning in the interpretation of Islamic texts, the differing opinions and rulings to which it gives rise, and the resulting possibility for being "right" or "wrong" may be viewed as a manifestation of the divine mercy to the community of believers, since it is through such differences of perspective that hardship is relieved and greater freedom is attained.

These phenomena are consonant with the Qur'anic declaration that God "has laid no hardship on you in anything that pertains to religion" (Surat al-Hajj 22:78).

The Grand Shaykh once made an observation which is worthy of being adopted as a fundamental principle of textual interpretation, namely, that the divinely given law recognizes the rulings at which a conscientious interpreter arrives whether the ruling arrived at is correct or incorrect.

The reason for this is that of all possible interpretations, only one is perfectly correct, whereas there are numerous possible incorrect interpretations.

However, although only one interpretation represents precisely the ruling intended by God, other interpretations are nevertheless recognized by God given the fact that the scholars who have arrived at them perceive them as correct even though they have not grasped God's precise original intent.

Both correct and incorrect rulings, then, are legitimate and worthy of recognition.

To this principle we may add the criterion formulated by al-Sha'rani, on the basis of which different rulings are judged not to be conflicting but, rather, complementary.

The understanding and adoption of these two principles in light of the divine expansiveness and mercy and the purpose for the stewardship God has granted human beings on earth would reduce the tendency toward excess and extremism in both religious and social thought alike.

At the same time, it would contribute to the creation of a culture of constructive, fruitful dialogue in which a plurality of perspectives is allowed to interact in such a way that, abandoning the practices of labeling others as innovators and infidels based on a one-sided, closed view of the universe, members of society can develop a greater capacity for acceptance of the Different Other and for peaceful, magnanimous coexistence.