Why are Muslims Divided?

WHY ARE WE SO DIVIDED?

... Because of Shirk, innovations and leaving the Sunnah

All Praise is for Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) Lord of all the
creation and May His peace and Blessings be upon is last Prophet
Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) and upon the Prophet's
(sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) family and upon the companions and
on all those who follow the path of guidance until the last day.

We saw in last weeks issue that without doubt the Muslim Ummah
is in a divided and fragmented state and that this division is prohibited
in Islaam. Rather Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) has enjoined upon
us to hold onto the rope of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala), which
we established is the Qur'aan and the Sunnah as understood by the
Companions. But how did we reach this state in the first place,
what causes disunity?

Shirk - Associating partners in worship with Allaah
(subhaanahu wa ta'aala)

Without doubt one of the major causes for people splitting up the
religion and leaving holding on to the rope of Allaah (subhaanahu
wa ta'aala) is shirk. This is the grave sin of ascribing partners
with Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) in worship. Today throughout
the world there are numerous examples of shirk amongst the Ummah,
such as those who call upon the dead in the grave. Allaah (subhaanahu
wa ta'aala) says:

"And invoke not besides Allaah anything that will
neither profit you nor hurt you, but if (in case) you did so, you
shall certainly be one of the Dhalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers)."
[Surah Yoonus 10:106]

Verily Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) has created us to worship
Him alone, as He (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) says:

"And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except
that they should worship Me (Alone)." [Surah adh-Dhaariyaat
51:56]

So the one who gives worship to other than Allaah (subhaanahu wa
ta'aala) has he not committed the most severe sin. Allaah (subhaanahu
wa ta'aala) says:

"Verily! Allaah forgives not (the sin of) setting
up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills
sins other than that." [Surah an-Nisaa 4:116]

It is reported that Ibn Masood (radhi-Allaahu 'anhu) asked the
Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam):

"Which is the Greatest sin?"
The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "That you
set up a rival for Allaah, While He is the one who created you."
[Bukhaaree]

O noble reader it will not be hidden from you that throughout the
world Muslims are stooped in such practices of calling upon the
dead saint in the grave, asking him to remove their difficulty whether
it be Abdul Qaadir al Jeelanee or al Badawee or other people who's
graves have been made places of worship. How can unity be achieved
amongst the Muslims when some Muslims cannot unify their worship
for Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) alone? O noble reader consider
the following, how many Muslims:

Wear Amulets and charms, despite the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam) saying:

"Whoever wears an amulet has
committed shirk." [Ahmad]

Read astrology in magazines or go to fortune tellers, despite the
Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) saying:

"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller
and asks him something and believes in his words, will have his
prayers rejected for forty days." [Muslim]

So while all these non-Islaamic beliefs and practices are present
amongst the Muslims how can unity take place? Is not our first obligation
to give da'wah to those Muslims who are stooped in these practices?
Thereby calling to tawheed as all 124,000 Prophets from Aadam (alayhi-salam)
to the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) did. They all began
their call to the people with Tawheed - worshipping Allaah (subhaanahu
wa ta'aala) alone.

Having incorrect beliefs

Another major reason for disunity is the wide range of beliefs
prevalent amongst the Muslims. Despite us having the same Qur'aan
and the same Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), Muslims still
have different beliefs. Why is this? If we all are referring back
to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah in every matter then why the differences.
Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) says:

"(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves,
refer it to Allaah and His Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam),
if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and
more suitable for final determination." [Surah an-Nisaa 4:59]

So verily O noble reader, imagine if every Muslim acted upon this
ayah - would there be any differences then? NO,
except maybe in the issues of fiqh, such as the prayer. But our
beliefs and methodology would be one, so why is this not the case?
It is because many Muslims today do not refer every issue back to
Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) and His Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam), rather they ask their local Imaam or their parents or
refer it back to their madhab.

Know O noble reader that the first thing that all the Prophets
called to was the rectification of the beliefs, before calling to
the Islaamic state or to Jihaad, the first thing was purifying the
beliefs of the Muslim. So how can we have unity while there are
Muslims who believe:

That Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) is everywhere, despite Allaah
(subhaanahu wa ta'aala) saying:

"They fear their Lord Who is above them, and they
do what they are commanded." [Surah an-Nahl 16:50]

That the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was not human
and was made from light, despite Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala)
saying:

"Say (O Muhammad sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam): 'I
am only a human being like you. It is revealed to me that your Ilaah
(God worthy of being worshipped) is One Ilaah (God)." [Surah
Fussilat 41:6]

That the saying of an Imaam should be acted upon over the hadeeth,
despite Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) saying:

"And let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad
sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah) beware,
lest some Fitnah (trials i.e. shirk) should befall them or a painful
torment be inflicted on them." [Surah an-Noor 24:63]

That Imaan does not increase or decrease, despite the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
'alayhe wa sallam) saying:

"Imaan has seventy odd or sixty odd branches. The
most virtuous of them is the statement, 'There is none worthy of
worship except Allaah', and the slightest of them is to remove something
harmful from the road. And hayaa is a branch of Imaan." [Bukhaaree
and Muslim]

Bid'ah - Innovations in the religion

Another cause for disunity and not holding fast to the rope of
Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) is the occurrence of innovations
in this Ummah.

Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) has informed us in the Qur'aan that
He has completed this religion of Islaam for us as He (subhaanahu
wa ta'aala) says:

"This day, I have perfected your religion for you,
completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as
your religion." [Surah al-Maa'idah, 5:3]

Since the religion is complete how can it be that we need to add
new things and ways of worship to Islaam? Whatever was not part
of the religion at the time of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam) cannot be accepted as a part of the religion now. The
Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) has warned us against adding
new things to the religion when he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)
said:

"Whoever Innovates in this affair
of ours that which is not from it will have it rejected." [Muslim]

The people who propose unity at all costs have a saying that 'An
innovation that unites us is better than a Sunnah which divides'.

SubhanAllaah look at such a statement O noble reader, innovations
are grave and serious and a cause for entering the fire as he (sal-Allaahu
'alayhe wa sallam) said:

"... and every innovation is
misguidance and all misguidance is in the Hellfire." [Reported
by an-Nasaa'ee (1/224)]

So if someone said to you look there is a fire over there, lets
all hold hands and unify and then go in to it, you would think they
were crazy! So how can we come together upon something as dangerous
as innovations, such as the innovations of mystics, who practice
all kinds of weird and innovated invocations, which at times involve
switching off the lights or chanting one of Allaah's name so that
after some time what they are chanting is unrecognizable as a name
of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala). Or the innovations of those who
take their scholars as 'spiritual leaders' giving their allegiance
to them and 'selling' themselves to these 'scholars' obeying everything
they say. How O noble reader can unity occur amongst all the Muslims
as long as these practices, which have nothing to do with Islaam,
keep occurring?

Blind following and Partisanship

This is one of the most evil of occurrences today and a major cause
for disunity. Muslims are following their madhahab or their scholars
over and above the Sunnah of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa
sallam) despite Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) saying:

"And whosoever opposes the Messenger (Muhammad sal-Allaahu
'alayhe wa sallam) after the right path has been shown clearly to
him, and follows other than the believers' way, We shall keep him
in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination!"
[Surah an-Nisaa 4:115]

When you tell Muslims that 'you should do this because it says
so in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah', they reply 'well that's not what
it says in my madhab' or 'that's not what my Shaykh says'. SubhanAllaah,
O noble reader why did Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) send us His
final Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) if it was not to
teach us the religion of Islaam.

Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) says:

"But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until
they make you (O Muhammad sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) judge in
all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance
against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission."
[Surah an-Nisaa 4:65]

No Muslim will openly say I am disobeying the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
'alayhe wa sallam), but how many of us ask for the proof on issues
of beliefs and practices and look to see what is the truth.

Another problem is the setting up of groups and parties with members,
then being loyal only to that party, believing in the beliefs and
aims of that party - not questioning it. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala)
has warned against this:

"And be not of Al-Mushrikoon (polytheists). Of those
who split their religion, and became sects, each group rejoicing
in that which is with it." [Surah ar-Room 30:31-32]

Setting up groups is a cause for disunity and spreads hatred amongst
the Muslims so that a Muslim from one group will not give salaam
to a Muslim from another group just because they belong to different
groups. Or a group from one masjid will not like Muslims from another
masjid to come and pray in their mosque. All this stems from partisanship
and it divides the Ummah. Unity will not occur whilst Muslims are
in this state rather unity will occur when an end is put to partisanship
(hizbiyyah) and Muslims love each other because they are all have
the same aims, beliefs and practices.

The Means for Revival

Having looked at the reason why we are so divided, the question
now arises as to what the means for reviving this Ummah are. Allaah
(subhaanahu wa ta'aala) has given us the means for the revival of
this Ummah, when He (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) says:

"Verily! Allaah will not change the condition of a
people until they change what is within themselves." [Surah
ar-Ra'd 13:11]

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) also said:

"When you involve yourselves
in interest bearing business transactions, and you hold on to the
tails of cows, and you are pleased with agriculture (i.e. the land)
and you abandon making Jihaad in the Cause of Allaah, Allaah will
send humiliation down upon you. He will not remove it from you until
you return back to your Religion." [Abu Dawood and al-Bayhaqee]

So this humiliation that Muslims are under will not be removed
from us until we return back to the religion of Islaam. So what
is the religion of Islaam if not Tawheed, having the correct Aqeedah,
worshipping Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) correctly? So should
we not start our revival with these issues.

So just as the condition of the Arabs during the Days of Ignorance
(Jaahiliyyah) was not rectified except by the coming of their Prophet
Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) with revelation from the
heavens, which aided them in this world and which will save them
in the next, then know O noble reader the foundation that the Islaamic
revival must be built upon in this time, is nothing else but the
return to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, as implemented by the noble
companions.

We know from the Book of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) and the
Sunnah of His Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) that the
way towards realising this revival is only one way, and it is the
way which Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) has mentioned in His (subhaanahu
wa ta'aala) saying:

"And verily, this is My Straight Path, so follow it,
and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from
His Path." [Surah al-An'aam 6:153]

The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) explained
this to his Companions. Thus, one day he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa
sallam) drew a straight line for them on the ground and then drew
short lines on the sides of it. Then, while his (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe
wa sallam) noble finger moved up and down the straight line, he
(sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) recited the aforementioned verse.
Then he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) pointed to the lines that
were drawn on the sides of the straight line and said:

"This is the Path of Allaah and these are the (other)
paths. At the top of each of these (other) ways, there is a devil
calling towards it." [Authentic hadeeth, graded in Dhilaal-ul-Jannah
fee Takhreej-is Sunnah(16-17)]

Furthermore, Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) says:

"And whosoever opposes the Messenger (Muhammad sal-Allaahu
'alayhe wa sallam) after the right path has been shown clearly to
him, and follows other than the believers' way, We shall keep him
in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination!"
[Surah an-Nisaa 4:115]

In this ayah there is profound and extensive wisdom, for Allaah
(subhaanahu wa ta'aala), has connected the "the believers'
way" to what the Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)
came with. The Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) has (also)
indicated this point in the hadeeth about the splitting up of the
Ummah into sects. When he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was asked
concerning the saved sect, he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) responded:
"That which (adheres to what) I and my companions are upon
today."

What then is the wisdom behind Allaah's mentioning of "the
believers' way" in this ayah? And what is the significance
in the Messenger of Allaah's (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) linking
of his companions to himself in the previous hadeeth?

The answer is: These noble Companions (radhi-Allaahu 'anhum) were
the ones who received the two revelations (i.e. the Qur'aan and
Sunnah) from the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam),
having that explained to them by him (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)
directly, without there being any intermediary. They best knew how
to implement the Sunnah, so after knowing this O noble reader can
any Islaamic revival take place when the way of the Companions (radhi-Allaahu
'anhum) is abandoned and not adhered to, rather No it can not. For
us to revive Islaam and bring unity to the Muslims we must adopt
the way and example of the Noble Companions (radhi-Allaahu 'anhum).

Imaam Maalik (rahima-hullaah) said:

"The latter part of this Ummah will not be rectified
except by that which rectified its former part." [ash-Shifaa
of Qaadee 'Iyyaadh, (2/676)]

So it will be clear to the reader that the only way to revive the
Ummah is to return every affair of the Muslim back to the Qur'aan
and the Sunnah as understood and implemented by the best generation,
the Companions (radhi-Allaahu 'anhum). To believe as they believed,
to worship as they worshipped, to look like them, to give da'wah
in the way they gave it. Then only will we be united and have a
true Islaamic revival.

So dear noble brothers and sisters your Lord (subhaanahu wa ta'aala)
says....

"Has not the time come for the hearts of those who
believe to be affected by Allaah's Reminder (this Qur'aan), and
that which has been revealed of the truth." [Surah al-Hadeed
57:16]