Sheikh Hasan Al-Saffar, a Saudi Shiite leader, refused generalization of stereotypes among inter-followers, explaining that political conflicts and searching in history contributed in the rise of these classifications.
Al-Saffar said during Friday sermon on May 2 that “radical Sunnis or Shiites seek through discussing controversial issues to create a negative image against each other”. He rejected exchanging sectarian phrases between Muslims, calling to highlight stereotypes because it is considered a problem which needs to be addressed.
He pointed out that each one has his own perception toward Imams, indicating that people who insult them are outcast from Sunnis as well as Shiites. Al-Saffar denounced the rumors about Shiite, including distortion of Quran.
He said that “political conflicts, media and some religious discourse and fatwas as well as some curricula in the Arab countries promote stereotypes among Muslims”.
Al-Saffar added that stereotype existed even in coherent societies, explaining that some competing groups try to form negative image about each other.
He said that “the impression and the image which formed previously about certain community may encourage convergence or divergence”, stressing that Quran and Islamic teaching reject generalization of stereotypes according to religious differences.