بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
The world has become confused when it comes to sects in our deen. Muslims and non-Muslims alike believe that separation in Islam is the norm, when in fact it isn’t. Allah says in the Qur’an, as mentioned in a previous post:
“He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus – to establish the religion and not be divided therein…” [42:13]
What we should concentrate on here is the fact that Allah ordained upon the people His religion in which division should not be an occurrence at all. Allah uses the word “tafaruq” which means to separate or divide, not to be confused with “ikhtilaf” which is a disagreement (mostly a small one which could be good or bad). Angels for example have ikhtilaf between them just as we humans do – the only tafaruq is between them and the jinn, for example.
As human beings we can have disagreements when it comes to the deen – there are various opinions within tafsir of the Qur’an and hadeeth and fiqh. However, if this ikhtilaf turns into division this is where the problem is – Allah says establish the deen and do not separate.
Today we are the complete opposite of this teaching. We take the smallest disagreements and make them the justification for our divisions. One mosque telling the people to avoid another mosque because they place their hands in a different position during salah – a ridiculous but real example. This completely goes against what Allah is teaching us here.
“Sects” only started forming after the death of our prophet (ﷺ) and they have now mostly become different religions teaching different things. We have been warned by our prophet (ﷺ) that even though these ayahs have come down there will be people that make sects; he (ﷺ) said: “My ummah will divide into 73 sects, all of them will be in the Fire except for one, and that is the Jamā’ah.” It was said, “And who are they, O Allah’s Messenger?” He responded, “That which I and my Companions are upon today.” [Tirmidhi]
There is only one Islam and it is formed around the teachings in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the prophet (ﷺ) and following these is what defines us as Muslims <- the only name we should be using. The prophet (ﷺ) was not a “Sunni” or a “Shia” or a “Suffi” etc. he was a Muslim, just as all previous prophets were – people who submit their wills to Allah and follow His guidance.
May Allah make us all one true ummah and guide all those who have fallen into deviated teachings to the right path.
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favour of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favour, brothers [and sisters]. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.” [3:103]
Allah knows best.