Islam in Europe: perception and reality

[Drich]

Yes, of course I know they don't share the same Imams. At first I couldn't figure out why you'd think I didn't, but I see that the way I worded my first sentence could lend itself to that reading. I should have written, ". . . such as the role of Imams in Sunni Islam as contrasted with the role Imams play among the Shia." I trust that would have been clearer.

yes thank you.

My point of contention here is not that Sunni Muslims are saints or that a majority of them aren't in favor of Jihad (given the actual meaning of the word, as opposed to how it's thrown around in the media, it would be rather surprising if they didn't favor Jihad). It's that Sunnis and their Imams are not a monolithic group with a hive mentality. There is room within Sunni Islam for disagreement among clerics based on the schools of interpretation within Sunni circles, and therefore a certain degree of freedom among the Sunni faithful whether to endorse this or that position taken by this or that Imam and not all Sunni clerics support the efforts of ISIS, as evidenced by the Sunni clerics ISIS has executed for not supporting their brand of Jihad. Contrast that with Shia Imams whose authority is more strictly normative within their circles.

Like with priests their is a hierarchy with Imams in both the sunni and sheia sects. With the Sunni there are a hand full who have floated to the top and make the big calls for the whole religion. things like say jihad for instance. Once the call has been made by the guys on this list to go against it is akin to hersey. So then if an 'underling' imam speaks out against the Jihad the 'pope-ish' Imams declared is the will of allah then yes thier lives are forfeit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam

Again that is why I said you'll never hear a sunni (even here in the US) condemn the 9-11 attacks or what ISIS is doing and truly mean it. (they will say whatever to appease/avoid persecution) That's because their 'popes' have fully endorsed the Jihad being waged, and they know that for those who have been called it is their religious duty to Go Plus they know that at any moment they too could also be 'called' into Jihad as well.