A Single Ummah - Part 2

Society Religion & Philosophy
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<< In the name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful >>

[2] The Prohibition of Splitting

Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan – hafidhahullaah - said:
"Splitting up is not from the Religion, since the religion commands us with unity and that we should be a single Jamaa’ah and single Ummah upon the aqeedah (belief) of Tawheed (i.e. to single out Allaah alone for worship) and upon following the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Allaah - the Most High - said: “Indeed this Ummah of yours is a single Ummah and I am your Lord, so worship Me alone.” [Surah al-Ambiyaa 21:92].

And Allaah - the Most High - said: “And hold fast altogether to the rope of Allaah and do not become divided.” [Surah Aal-Imraan 3:103]

And Allaah - the Most Perfect - said: "Indeed those who split up their religion and become sects, you have no part with them in the least. Their affair is with Allaah Who will tell them what they used to do. [Surah al-An’aam 6:159].

So this contains a severe warning about splitting and differing. Allaah - the Most High - said: "And do not be like those who split-up and differed after the clear evidences came to them. For them is a tremendous punishment. [Surah Aal-Imraan 3:105]

So our religion is the religion of al-Jamaa’ah, and the religion of agreement and unity. Splitting is not from the religion, since the religion orders that we are a single Jamaa’ah and the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “The Believer to the Believer is like a building, one part supporting the other.” [Bukhaari]. And he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam also said: “The example of the Believers with respect to their mutual love, mercy and affection is like the example of a single body.” [Bukhaari]. And it is known that a building and body are a single cohesive thing, not disunited and fragmented - since if a building splits then it will collapse; and likewise a body, if it splits, then life will be lost. Thus there must be a unity and we must be a single Jamaa’ah whose foundation is Tawheed and whose methodology is the da’wah (call) of the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam; and which proceeds upon the religion of Islaam. Allaah - the Most High - said: “And this is My Straight Path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths that will separate you from His path.” [Surah al-An’aam 6:153].

So these groups, and this splitting which is present today, is not approved by Islaam. Rather, Islaam forbids it severely and commands uniting upon the ‘aqeedah (belief) of Tawheed and upon the methodology of Islaam, a single Jamaa’ah and a single Ummah, just as our Lord - the Most Perfect, the Most High - ordered. And splitting and their being many (differing) groups and parties is from the plots of the devils - from the jinn and mankind - against this Ummah.

So the kuffaar (disbelievers) and the munaafiqs (hypocrites) have never ceased, since olden times, introducing their poison in order to split the Ummah. The Jews said previously: "And a party of the People of the Book say: Believe in the morning in that which is revealed to the Muslims, but reject it at the end of the day, so they may turn back. [Surah Aal-Imraan 3:72]. Meaning that the Muslims will leave their religion when they see you leaving it. And the Hypocrites said: "Do not spend on those who are with Allaah’s Messenger until they desert him. [Surah al-Munaafiqoon 63:7].

“And as for those who erect a mosque by way of disbelief and seeking to harm and disunite the Believers …” [Surah at-Tawbah 9:107]."

… May Allaah subhaan wa ta’aala guide us All

[This message has been edited by Hasnain (edited April 15, 1999).]

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A single Ummah has been the cherished dream of muslims since time immemorial-- but it HAS NOT HAPPENED and WILL NOT HAPPEN; and, you know why - because we, muslims as a whole, are the most INTOLERANT and UNCOMPASSIONATE people on this planet.
Islam is a religion of consensus & nation building but that sounds good only on paper and in discussion - like this forum; but, proof is in the pudding! Islam - today rules out of the barrel of a gun; there is no room for dissension or plurality. Today, our minorities: Hindus, Christians, Ahmedias, Bahais live in fear & persecution. Today, our Muslims sects - those who differ in their interpretation of the Quran are bombed and machine-gunned in their mosques, while they are in sajjud (prostration) to Allah, by their own muslim brothers. Muslims who disagree or are seculars in their outlook get their throat slits by army of marauders who call themself the true believers. These acts are NOT committed by a few 'ignorant', 'misguided' people; these are pre-meditated acts of pogroms carefully planned & directed by educated leaders with popular backing & support.
One Ummah - you say; Sure, but first! Let's educate & properly feed ourselves; let's elect leaders who are educated and have a balanced view on life; let's give equal rights to our sisters & mothers who comprise half of the population; Let's treat our minorities as our SACRED TRUST which is what they are; and above all- Let's imbibe compassion & tolerance in our deeds, because after all, first & foremost: Islam is a religion of Compassion & Tolerance.

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To be united as an Ummah we will have to learn how to behave responsibly in all the facets of our lives. We must not forget that Islam is not just a "madhab" but a complete code of life that encompasses how we act in public as well as private. It involves the dynamics of human interaction beginning with our own family and extends out to the entire global community. Its a great blessing of Allah (Is-a-wajal) that he preserved for us the entire life of prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) which teaches us how to act as muslims and includes treatment of minorities as well. His life personifies the teachings of the holy Quran, and following his deeds holistically we can not only have a good life here but hereafter as well. Remember, he was not sent as a prophet confined within his own era, but for all times, all nations and people of all colors and all races. On the same note, his Shariat, i,e, the Quran is also to be implemented until the day of judgement. Unfortunately, we do not have the much-needed khilafat as prescribed by our deen, we must however strive for the cause of Islam on an individual level and collectively if we can.

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Hasnain

No doubt in order for us to to be united we must have a firm belief in tauheed and must do dawah in the way of prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Equally important, if not more, is the individual resposibility on all of us to reflect the way of Mohammad (peace be upon him) in our words and deeds. How will we unite when we all have different philosophies and different perceptions of what is right and wrong. Until our hearts are not ready to accept that only by following the Quran and sunnat will we be successful, we will not unite. We all want to acheive the past glory of Sahaba, yet we do not make any serious attempt at reforming our inner selves just like the sahaba did. When muslims disobey Allah, the wrath of Allah manifests itself in their bloodshed and destruction. We commit major sins without feeling the slightest of the remorse. We even go to great lengths in justifying our perverse actions by providing the lamest of excuse. This life is a trust from Allah and we spend it by satisfying our own base desires without any consideration to reckoning. And when we feel guilty we give our conscience the sleeping pill by saying that Allah is the most merciful. No doubt he is. But Allah has reminded us in the Quran time and again that the paradise is for people who bring Imaan and do good deeds. Yet most of us are negligent of performing salaat and when someone reminds us of that we either ignore them or become offended. I agree with you, however I beleive that until we start following the most basic injunctions we will definately not follow the more harder ones such as jehad and Dawah.

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Assalaamu ‘alaikum dear brothers in Islaam,

Abdulmalick,

Wow! I er ... I didn’t quite expect to receive such a passionate response Masha’Allaah! Sure, I agree Islaam is a religion of tolerance, and that we need to educate and cultivate ourselves.

As I mentioned previously in a post on the ‘Arts, Culture and Heriatage’ forum, we also need to correct our manners, not just toward one another, but more importantly toward Allaah (subhaan wa’ taala), His Messenger Muhammad (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa’sallam) and his companions (radhi Allaahhu ‘anhum).

Yusuf ibn Hunain said: “With good manners you understand the knowledge, and with knowledge your actions are corrected. And with actions wisdom is obtained. And with wisdom you understand zuhd (abstinence) and are granted the benefit of it. And with zuhd comes abandoning the world, and with abandoning the world comes the longing for the Hereafter. And with the longing of the Hereafter, the pleasure of Allaah, Azzwaajil is obtained.”

iqadeer,

Jazaak ‘Allaah khair for your response and more importantly your advice in which there was much wisdom Mash’Allaah. I actually found it quite inspiring to read your posts, and I have no choice but to agree with what you wrote, as one of the signs of a Muslim is that when the truth comes to him, he accepts it ... And Allaah Knows Best.

May Allaah guide everyone

wa’salaam