Question:
When all the Muslim follow one and the same Qur’an then why are there
so many sects and different schools of thoughts among Muslims?
Answer:.
1. Muslims Should be United
It is a fact that Muslims today, are divided amongst themselves. The tragedy
is that such divisions are not endorsed by Islam at all. Islam believes
in fostering unity amongst its followers.
The Glorious Qur’an says:
"And hold fast,
All together, by the rope
Which Allah (stretches out for you),
and be not divided among yourselves;"
[Al-Qur'an 3:103]
Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It
is the Glorious Qur’an. The Glorious Qur’an is the rope of Allah
which all Muslims should hold fast together. There is double emphasis
in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it also
says, ‘be not divided’.
Qur’an further says,
"Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger"
[Al-Qur'an 4:59]
All the Muslim should follow the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith and
be not divided among themselves.
2. It is Prohibited to make sects and divisions in
Islam
The Glorious Qur'an says:
"As for those who divide
Their religion and break up
Into sects, thou hast
No part in them in the least:
Their affair is with Allah:
He will in the end
Tell them the truth
Of all that they did."
[Al-Qur'an 6:159]
In this verse Allah (swt) says that one should disassociate oneself from
those who divide their religion and break it up into sects.
But when one asks a Muslim, "who are you?", the common answer
is either ‘I am a Sunni, or ‘I am a Shia’. Some call themselves
Hanafi, or Shafi or Maliki or Humbali. Some say ‘I am a Deobandi’,
while some others say ‘I am a Barelvi’.
3. Our Prophet was a Muslim
One may ask such Muslims, "Who was our beloved prophet (pbuh)? Was
he a Hanafi or a Shafi, or a Humbali or a Maliki?" No! He was a Muslim,
like all the other prophets and messengers of Allah before him.
It is mentioned in chapter 3 verse 52 of Al-Qur’an that Jesus (pbuh)
was a Muslim.
Further, in chapter 3 verse 67, Al-Qur’an says that Ibrahim (pbuh)
was not a Jew or a Christian but was a Muslim.
4. Qur'an says call yourselves Muslim
If anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say "I
am a MUSLIM, not a Hanafi or a Shafi". Surah Fussilat chapter 41
verse 33 says
Who is better in speech
Than one who calls (men)
To Allah, works righteousness,
And says, ‘I am of those
Who bow in Islam (Muslim)?"
[Al-Qur'an 41:33]
The Qur'an says "Say I am of those who bow in Islam". In other
words, say, "I am a Muslim".
The Prophet (pbuh) dictated letters to non-Muslim kings and rulers
inviting them to accept Islam. In these letters he mentioned the verse
of the Qur’an from Surah Ali Imran chapter 3 verse 64:
Say ye: "Bear witness
That we (at least)
Are Muslims (bowing
To Allah's Will)."
[Al-Qur'an 3:64]
5. Respect all the Great Scholars of Islam
We must respect all the great scholars of Islam, including the four Imaams,
Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Humbal and Imam Malik (may Allah be
pleased with them all). They were great scholars and may Allah reward
them for their research and hardwork. One can have no objection if someone
agrees with the views and research of Imam Abu Hanifa or Imam Shafi, etc.
But when posed a question, 'who are you?', the reply should only be 'I
am a Muslim'.
6. Some may argue by quoting the hadith of our beloved Prophet from Sunan
Abu Dawood Hadith No. 4579. In this hadith the prophet (pbuh) is reported
to have said, "My community will be split up into seventy-three sects."
This hadith reports that the prophet predicted the emergence of seventy-three
sects. He did not say that Muslims should be active in dividing themselves
into sects. The Glorious Qur’an commands us not to create sects.
Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, and
do not create sects are the people who are on the true path.
According to Tirmidhi Hadith No. 171, the prophet (pbuh) is reported
to have said, "My Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three sects, and
all of them will be in Hell fire except one sect." The companions
asked Allah"s messenger which group that would be. Where upon he replied,
"It is the one to which I and my companions belong."
The Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses, "Obey Allah and
obey His Messenger". A true Muslim should only follow the Glorious Qur’an
and the Sahih Hadith. He can agree with the views of any scholar as long
as they conform to the teachings of the Qur'an and Sahih Hadith. If such
views go against the Word of Allah, or the Sunnah of His Prophet, then
they carry no weight, regardless of how learned the scholar might be.
If only all Muslims read the Qur’an with understanding and adhere
to Sahih Hadith, Inshallah most of these differences would be solved and
we could be one united Muslim Ummah |
