Shia or Sunni | Shaykh Yasir Qadhi and Shaykh Mahdi Rastani discuss their differences

Yasir QadhiJune 6, 2026103 min0 comments

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Sahaba Islamic History Imamah Ahlul Bayt Aqeedah Fiqh Unity of the Ummah Shia-Sunni Dialogue

About this lecture

In this landmark dialogue hosted by Noon in Dallas, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi (Sunni) and Shaykh Mahdi Rastani (Shia) sit down together to openly discuss the theological and historical differences between their two traditions — including the concept of imamah, the status of the Sahaba, and the legacy of Karbala — while modelling the civility and mutual respect they believe the Muslim community urgently needs. Rather than a debate, the event is framed as a mature, empathetic exchange aimed at helping both Sunni and Shia Muslims understand each other's perspectives without erasing real differences. Both scholars offer practical advice to young Muslims on how to navigate sectarian tensions, choose trustworthy voices of scholarship, and work toward a united ummah.

Shaykh Dr. Yasir Qadhi is one of the most influential Islamic scholars and intellectuals in the Western world. Born in Houston to Pakistani parents, he earned a degree in chemical engineering before studying for ten years at the Islamic University of Madinah, where he completed degrees in hadith and Islamic theology, and later earned a PhD in Religious Studies from Yale University. He served for years as Dean of Academic Affairs at AlMaghrib Institute, taught at Rhodes College in Memphis, and now serves as Dean of the Islamic Seminary of America and resident scholar of the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) in Texas. His lecture series on the seerah, "Lives of the Sahaba," and Islamic theology are among the most comprehensive in the English language.

All lectures by Yasir Qadhi →

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