18.WHY ARE MUSLIMS DIVIDED INTO SECTS/DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ?

Question:
When all the Muslims follow one and the same Qur’an, then why are there so many sects and different schools of thought among Muslims?
Answer:

 

1. 1. Muslims should be United
      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]
      Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. The Glorious Qur’an and the authentic Hadith are 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’.
      The Glorious Qur’an further says,
      “Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger…”
      [Al-Qur’an 4:59]
      All the Muslims should follow the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith and be not divided among themselves. 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]

1. 1. a. If anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say, “I am a MUSLIM”, 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)?” This hadith reports that the Prophet (pbuh) 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 make sects. Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith and do not make sects are the people who are on the true path. According to Sunan Al Tirmidhi, Vol. 5, Hadith No. 2641, the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, “…My Ummah will split into seventy three sects. All of them will be in Hellfire except one sect.” The companions asked Allah’s messenger, which group that would be? Where upon he (pbuh) 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, In sha Allah most of these differences would be solved and we could be one united Muslim Ummah. [Al-Qur’an 41:33] The Qur’an says, “Say: I am of those who bow in Islam.” In other words, say, “I am a Muslim”. b. 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 Aali Imraan Chapter 3 Verse 64: Say ye: “Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah’s Will).” [Al-Qur’an 3:64]