DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT?

 

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]

 

{“Or sab mil kar Khuda ki (hidayat ki) rassi ko mazbooti say pakray rehna or mutafarriq na hona”}

 

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]

 

{Allah ki ata’at karo or rasool (sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam) ki ata’at karo”}

 

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]

 

{“Bay-shak jin logo nay apnay deen ko juda juda kardia or groh-dar-groh bangaye, aap ka onsay koi ta’alluq nahi, bus inka muamla Allah Ta’ala k hawalay hai. Phir inko inka kia hua jatla dengay.”}

 

“Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular prayers and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah, – {31} Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects, – each party rejoicing in that which is with itself! {32}” [Al-Qur’an 30: 31, 32]

 

{“(Logo!) Allah s.wt ki taraf ruju hokar os say dartay raho or namaz ko qaim rakho or mushrikeen may say na ho jao. On logo may say jinhon nay apnay deen ko tukray tukary kardia or khud bhi groh groh hogaye, her groh os cheez per jo os k pas hay magan hay.”}

 

In these verses Allah (s.wt) 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 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

 

1. 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]

 

{Or os say ziada achi baat wala kon hay jo Allah ki taraf bulae or nek amal karay or kahay k may bayshak Muslimeen may say hoon.”}

 

The Qur’an says “Say I am of those who bow in Islam”. In other words, say, “I am a Muslim”.

 

1. 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]

 

{“to tum kehdo k gawah raho hum to Muslim hain.”}

 

And in Surah Hajj chapter 22 verse 78, The Qur’an says:

He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector – the Best to protect and the Best to help! [Al-Qur’an 22:78]

 

{“osi nay tumko bargazida banaya hay or Deen k baray may tum per koi tangi nahi dali, deen apnay baap Ibrahim a.s ka qaim rakho, osi Allah nay tumhara naam Muslim rakha hay, is Qur’an say pehlay or ismay bhi ta k payghamber tum per gawah ho jaye or tum tamam logo k gawah ban jao, pus tumhain chahiye k namazain qaim rakho or Zakat ada kertay raho or Allah ko mazboot thamlo, wohi tumhara mola hay, pus kia hi acha maalik hay or kitna hi behtar madadgar hay.”}

 

5. Respect all the Great Scholars of Islam

 

We must respect all the great scholars of Islam, including the four Imams, 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 hard work. 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’.

 

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 Umma 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.

 

Source: 4shared.com/postDownload/vM2PkQZB/why_r_different_sects_in_Islam.html