Salafi Jihadism and Excommunication of Shiites based on the Justice of the Companions: A Critical Review

The status and justice of the Companions are among the most important religious debates between Sunnis and Shiites. Zarghawi, one of the leaders of Salafi Jihadism, while following the majority of Sunnis by expanding the concept of Sahabi (companion), presenting superficial perceptions and opinion-oriented interpretation based on the appearance of some verses of the Quran and hadiths of the Holy Prophet (S), believes that the Sahaba (Companions) based on the Quran and tradition were just. However, after finding a reason for excommunicating the Shiites, he argues that the justice of the Companions is proven through divine verses and prophetic traditions. Therefore, denying the justice of the Companions leads to denying the Quran and tradition and, in turn, leaving the religion. Hence, he excommunicates the Shiites by accusing them of this denial and decrees Jihad against them. Examining the verses and narrations, not only rejects the claim of justice of the Companions but there are many religious texts in which the Companions are criticized. On the other hand, assuming that the verses and narrations indicate the justice of the Companions, denying their justice does not lead to leaving the religion and allowing excommunication, because the obstacles of excommunication, such as the necessity of the denied subject, the existence of certainty, the possibility of interpretation, and ignorance, have not been taken into account. Therefore, it is permissible to excommunicate the Shiites if only the denial of the justice of the Companions leads to a deliberate and conscious denial of the Quran and tradition, and results in the violation of Shahdatayn (two testimonies) or the fundamental Islamic beliefs and practices, and is considered apostasy from the religion.