Yasir Qadhi – Dealing with Theological Differences in the Real World

About this lecture

In this MSA National session, Sheikh Dr. Yasir Qadhi tackles the divisive issue of theological and ideological labels within Muslim student communities, arguing that while terms like "Sunni" have legitimate historical origins, they become harmful when weaponized for divisiveness. Drawing on Quranic examples, hadith, and the Prophet's ﷺ Seerah, he introduces the concept of "circles of cooperation" — a pragmatic framework for knowing when and how broadly Muslims should unite across their differences. He concludes with a clear message: the MSA must be a welcoming space for all mainstream Muslims, and theological debates belong in scholarly settings, not student organizations.