Since a couple of years, I politely decline or evade answering this question, especially when asked by non-muslims. I figured it is one way to show unity.
Are there any negative opinions on this choice of mine? I just want to make sure that I am not overlooking anything/something or being short sighted in ways that I don’t see.
Thanks.
You are doing the right thing, but it would be even better to try knowing the intentions of the questioner (if possible) before one replies.
Politely declining is good if the questioner's intentions are to mock / ridicule or make unnecessary/useless comparisons with other beliefs that give no practical benefit to either you or the questioner.
But, if the person's intentions are; sincere sharing and understanding of mutual beliefs and ideas, letting each other know about one's sect might be useful for him/her and even for yourself to discuss religion. This would also help both of you to not only have a healthy debate through sharing of good knowledge but also to keep in mind sensitive areas of the opponents beliefs before unintentionally hurting their feelings in issues where both of you might disagree.
I might be totally wrong, Allah knows BEST!
Re: Answering the Question "What is your sect?"
If a non muslim asks when your religion or sect something along the lines ..then you should not hide it because Islam and muslims are no longer in the minority ..
when the Prophet SAW first declared Nabuwwat .. the muslims who accepted hid their Islam but when Hazrat Umar Acccepted in such a beautiful and amazing way .. HAzrat Umar declared that we no longer need to hide our faith because we are a majority and Islam is growing ..
so my personal belief is that you should not hide ur faith /sect for unity .. there are other ways to unite ..and one of them is that you say to the non muslim that we have nothing against them and everyone has their own faith .. since we cant persuade them to accept nor can they ..
so personally to hide something which you shud be proud of ...is wrong .and if u hide it then i believe that that persons Imaan is not strong enuf to convince them selves that they are a strong beliver of Islam.
Re: Answering the Question "What is your sect?"
fbi786,
I was actually talking about sects not religion. I have no inhibitions in telling people that I am a muslim. Also, when I said unity, I was referring to Shia-Sunni unity.
Thank you both for your contribution.
Re: Answering the Question "What is your sect?"
oh ok.. ic .. even still i will still hold the same oppinion ..that you shudnt hide it .wether ur sunni or shia ..
Re: Answering the Question "What is your sect?"
Usually when non-Muslims ask for your 'religion' sect does not commonly come up at least in the west (it has been my experience). Sect tends to come up when people are talking politics, especially where Shia and Sunni are at odds. At those times, its a good idea to reaffirm solidarity in my opinion and state that the differences are largely political and based on the politics of that particular country, rather than ideology and that you consider yourself a Muslim outside the political realm.
Re: Answering the Question "What is your sect?"
I always say I'm a non-sectarian freelance Muslim.
Plain simple Muslim.
Other people class me as this or that based on whatever beliefs I feel are true but I don't classify myself.
Re: Answering the Question "What is your sect?"
It's not negative. I tell people I only consider myself a Muslim because I don't even want to be counted in an Islamic group or sect. There are a few versions of Islam which to my opinion are more accurate in following the real Islamic path, so I read their ideas more often, but why should anyone be labled as someone from this group or that sect, instead of just a Muslim?
A bit off-topic, but I have to say, with me, it's not a unity thing, I don't always feel one with all the Muslims (and when I see the characters of a lot of them, I don't even want to be part of some of their communities), I don't even feel a 100% Paki or a 100% Dutchy (I was born and raised in Holland). Why is it necessary to absolutely belong to a certain group or sect or whatever community? I know it's easier to grasp a situation when you have an idea of what or who someone **probably **is so you know what to do or say, but we can't know people just by sticking lables on them, "he/she belongs there so he/she is definitely this type of character and has that kind of life. "
Re: Answering the Question "What is your sect?"
What sect of Islam do you belong to ? (Shia, Sunni, ect ect)
After reading the following should our answer not be, "I am Muslim".
3:103 And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.
3:105 Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: For them is a dreadful penalty,
30:32 Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!
Re: Answering the Question "What is your sect?"
I very much dislike that question. Shows how divided we are, whereas we should be one united ummah.
So whenever somebody asks me that question, I just have a very simple answer:
'I am just a Muslim, period.'
And GenSec, Jazak'Allah khairan for pointing those verses out.