At present there are numerous sects in the Ummah. The followers of every sect believe themselves to be on the true path and rejoice in their respective outlooks on Islam. As far as madhab and actions are concerned every sect is quite different from another, but inspite of tremendous dissimilarities there are certain common values on which all sects are united. And it is towards these values that all sects can be invited and thus united. Allah, the Exalted has also invited people sharing common values towards this particular fundamental so that they may assemble and unite. Allah, the Almighty Says:

Say: O People of the scripture! come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partners unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away then say: Bear witness, that we are Muslims.
(Surah: Aal-e-Imran, Verse: 64)

The gist of the above invitation is that Allah alone is to be worshipped and no one else beside Him enjoys this right. It is a fact that sectarianism originated from abandoning the teachings of Allah and His prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) and following others instead. When the respect and love for a person exceeds the limits i.e. when his words and deeds are considered to be the truth, rather the criterion of judging truth, then this is equal to worship.

This particular form of worship has been prohibited by Allah in the afore mentioned verse. The meaning of the above verse is clear. When a person is given such a position of respect that his words are considered to be ultimate then this is like taking him as one to be worshipped, whereas it is Allah whose words are final and who is to be worshipped.

Religious demarcations and decisions are the job of Allah and none is allowed to intervene or make any change in the boundary of religion.

We invite all the sects of this Ummah towards this doctrine of faith. All of Allah’s religious ordinances and instructions are complete and preserved in the Quran and Sunnah, which are common among nearly all sects.

Therefore we invite all sects to unite on these common values and act only on the Quran and Sunnah; abandon all sectarian-distinguishing names and call ourselves Muslims only; end all sectarian religions and only consider Islam to be our religion. Letting sectarian religions flourish is like establishing many Islam’s though the fact is that Islam is one and it can only be found in the Holy Quran and Ahaadeeth (traditions) of the prophet of Allah Our beloved prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) said:

O People! for sure, I am leaving among you those (two things), if you hold them firmly you would never astray. Those (two) things are Allah’s book and the tradition/way of His prophet.

(Reported by Al-Haakim. Sheikh al-Albani declared the Hadith to be Hassan)

When the Quran and Sunnah are necessary for following the straight path then we must hold these two fundamental sources of Islamic law (Shareeah) firmly.

Respecting a person to such a degree where his words are taken deemed to be conclusive and obligatory is the highest degree of exaggeration, which leads to nothing but worshipping him, which is of course Shirk.

This is how the Jews and Christians were acting, that is they were taking the words of their rabbis and monks as final without putting a check through the book of Allah. They involved their-selves in obeying the rabbis and monks to such a level that they started believing in prophet’s as they were the sons of Allah. Whereas in the meantime they also used to say that Allah alone is the lord. This has been indicated in the following Ayat.

The (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and monks to be their lords besides Allah and (they also took as their lord) Messiah, son of Mary.
(Surah: Taubah, Verse: 31)

Today similar is the case with this Ummah’s sects. They also verbally accept the fact that no one should be taken as lord besides Allah i.e. no one’s opinion and conjecture should be given the grade of divine law; only Allah’s commandments and His revealed way of life is obligatory but like the people of the book they act differently, leaving the entire doctrine value of Islam in a jeopardy. An evidence of this is the present day existence of sects. If they had accepted this fact practically and performed their deeds in the light of the Quran and Sunnah and should not have inserted any person’s opinion and interpretation into religion, then these sectarian divides would have never ever existed.

When one tries to diagnose the reason of the existence of these sects in Islam he immediately comes to a point that they have not submitted their-selves to the Quran and Sunnah though they accept that these are the two things which are the base of Islam. Otherwise one cannot find the reason as to what makes them to practice something which is against the Quran and Sunnah. When people of such sects are invited towards the base of Islam (Quran and Sunnah) they become redundant. They practically reject the divine commands in the presence of teachings of their religious scholars and heroes. This is exactly how the Jews and Christians were acting and now are acting. The question is whether such a person remains a Muslim or not ?

For sure the reply will be in negative. Therefore all those who accept that the Quran and Sunnah is the base of Islam must accept it from the core of their hearts and should apply it in their practical performance irrespective of the cost. Salvation can only be achieved by following the Quran and Sunnah, as these are the only source of law and way of life revealed by Allah for a Muslim. And hence anything followed other than the Quran and Sunnah leads to nothing but polytheism in which the Jews and Christians were involved and who were invited towards the common factors between them and the muslims i.e.:

1. Not to worship anyone besides Allah.
2. Not to commit any type of polytheism.
3. Not to take one another as lords besides Allah.

They commonly accepted these values verbally only while in reality they had made many pious people among themselves lords. The people of the book did not prostrate in front of their pious and religious personalities but they held their opinions and religious decisions to be a part of religion directly intervening in Allah’s decision and thus they were termed as polytheists. As a result, their verbal acceptance of Tauheed (monotheism) was not considered enough and they were invited to accept this doctrine practically as well.

 The verse from Surah Taubah, which was quoted on page 4, continues as follows:

(The people of the book took their rabbis, monks and Messiah, son of Mary to be their lords besides Allah) while they were commanded to worship none but one Ilah (and) there is no Ilah but He.
(Surah: Taubah, Verse: 31)

This part of the verse proves, that the people of the book worshipped/obeyed their religious heroes and since this is clearly Shirk i.e. polytheism Allah declared:

Be He glorified from all that they accept as partner (unto Him)
(Surah: Taubah, Verse: 31)

Reviewing above one can see that people of book did not appear to be polytheists at all. They had accepted monotheism verbally and did not believe in placing any one beside Allah as lord, yet they were idolaters. Why? Because they acted against their madhab of oneness of Allah though they were preaching monotheism.

The verse under review further clarifies that polytheism is not only to have a belief (hidden or declared) against oneness but any act against monotheism irrespective of its acceptability (verbal) is also polytheism. And thus obeying any individual to the level of worshipping is as polytheism as believing in Eesa (Jesus) being son of Allah, because Allah has termed “worshipping individual or associating any one to Him as son (or else wise)” as polytheism.

Sole devotion to any one other than Allah is the root cause of disagreement and dissension which results in originating and establishing sectarianism with complete shelter; thus the truth is rejected straight away which is Kufr.

Allah, the Exalted says:

And if Allah had so willed it, those who followed after them would not have fought one with another after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, some of them believing and some disbelieving.
(Surah: Baqarah, Verse: 253)

It is Allah’s law that people who reject the truth because of opposition and inequity will never bring faith in Him. This is a result of their Kufr (rejection) and it is a result ascertained by Allah. Isn’t this the state of the existing sects? Isn’t it that these people remain firm on their erroneous faith and deeds after getting clear proofs from the Quran and Sunnah which contradict their actions? Is it not that these people fashion the Quran and Sunnah in favor of their ancestral religions? Is it the quality of a believer to sacrifice the Quran and Sunnah for his ancestral religion?

Dissension in the absence of clear proofs is an indecent quality but sticking to dissension after getting clear proofs against it (dissension) is an unpardonable offence, which is Kufr (infidelity).

Isn’t worshipping other personalities irrespective of their status and inserting the words and opinions of ancestors in Allah’s religion polytheism? Of course, it is, then what is going on all around us? Is this the Islam which has been bestowed by Allah? We seek Allah’s refuge from such polytheism, ameen.

When one tries to take a look on the ancestral religions he immediately lands in a complicated position as to which of the sects is right and true! Certainly it is evident that all ancestral religions cannot be true. All the sects claim that they are right and are on the true path although there exist, tremendous differences of madhab, deeds, legalities and demarcations (Halal and Haram) among them. This situation demands that all sectarian religions and judgments of scholars and spiritual leaders must be judged in the light of the divine criterion i.e. Quran and Sunnah. Those found in accordance (proven) with this criterion should be considered acceptable otherwise rejected straight away. Here we invite our reader’s attention to a situation which is totally against the above fundamental, that is existing ancestral religions have been made the criterion to judge the Quran and Sunnah which is the divine rule and guidance. This is done only in order to suit the commandments and actions of each sect and make them acceptable to their respective followers. Isn’t it a crime and won’t it lead to hell? Will Allah excuse this? Can Allah’s religions remain intact in the presence of all these sects? Definitely not, hence this is the high time that we must put a check on our religious activities and ourselves. This is the only way to end disunity and come to a point to unite the Ummah as wanted by Allah in the following verse:

Follow that which is sent down unto you from your lord, and follow no friends beside it. Little do you recollect!
(Surah: Aaraaf, Verse: 3)

It is quite clear form the above verse that only divine revelations are to be followed and those are nothing but the Quran and Hadeeth (Sunnah). And one will agree that the words of ancestors are not at all revealed by Allah. Hence, all such religions and sectarian paths must be avoided as demanded by Allah in the above-mentioned verse. Leaving aside the path designed and bestowed by Allah is nothing but dissension and Dissension is Allah’s torment. Can one afford to enjoy Allah’s torment? We seek Allah’s refuge from His torment. Ameen.

Allah the Exalted says:

Says: He is able to send punishment upon you from above you or form beneath your feet, or to bewilder you with dissension and make you taste the tyranny one of another. See how we display the revelations so that they may understand.
(Surah: An’aam, Verse: 65)

It is very easy to understand from the above verse that sectarianism is Allah’s torment and hence, one must seek Allah’s refuge form sectarianism. May Allah have mercy on all of us and give us the right guidance to understand Islam (Ameen). Surprisingly a fabricated Hadith: “The disunity of my Ummah is a divine blessing” has been propagated by the leaders of such sects which is absolutely against the Quran and Sunnah-the divine law, which gives the lesson of unity in every respect and terms disunity as infidelity and Kufr.

It is clear that true Islam can only flourish after sectarianism is ended and as such one must escape from dissension and sectarianism and hold the Quran and Sunnah firmly.

Allah, the Exalted says:

And if your lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation. Yet they cease not differing. Save him on whom you Lord has bestowed His mercy, and for that He did create them. And the word of your lord shall be fulfilled: verily I shall fill hell with the jinn and mankind together.
(Surah: Hud, Verse: 118-119)

It is clear form the above verse that:

i. Allah wishes to see everyone as one group but He does not force people to unite.

ii. People will always remain in disunity and dissention.

iii. Only such people will be saved form disunity on which Allah will bestow His mercy.

iv. Allah has created people to bestow his mercy on them but they do not make themselves worthy of it and pave the way towards hell.

v. Allah will fill hell with dissentients.

Thus dissension is not at all divine blessing, rather it is a torment not only in this world but in the hereafter as well. And that is why the prophet said:

Do not dispute because the people before you disputed and were ruined.
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

When the prophet of Allah sent Hadrat Ma’az and Hadrat Abu-Musa towards Yemen he instructed them:

Remain united and do not dissent.
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

It is quite clear form the Quran and Sunnah that dissensions not Islam at all. Reviewing the above verses and traditions, if dissension is divine mercy (as per the fabricated Hadith) then where is unity to be placed? Is unity Allah’s torment? Of course not. Then we must unite and strive hard to end sectarianism and save ourselves from dissension which is Allah’s torment.

The prophet of Allah said, giving us the caution:

i. You would definitely tread the same path which was trodden by the people before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of a lizard you would follow them in this also.

The companions of the prophet asked:

Do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)?

The prophet replied: Who else (than those two religious groups)?
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

ii. Beware the people of the book split up into seventy-two sects, and this community will be split up into seventy-three: seventy-two of them will go to hell and one of them will go to paradise, and it is al-Jamaah.
(Reported by Abu Daawood and is saheeh).

From both the traditions mentioned above it is clear that:

a) This Ummah would follow the Jews and Christians.

b) This Ummah will also divide into sects as a result of following Jews and Christians.

The people of the book divided into sects and the reason was nothing but disunity as has been mentioned in the following verses:

And nor were the people of the scripture divided until after the clear proof came unto them.
(Surah: Al-Bayyinah, Verse: 4)

And those who (formerly) received the scripture differed only after knowledge came unto them, through transgression among themselves.
(Surah: Aal-e-Imran, Verse: 19)

Similar appears to be the fate of this Ummah as they also are rejecting the truth on the basis of disunity and inequity like the people of the book. When questioned, all the sects claim to be on the path of Quran and Sunnah but without proof. And surprisingly when proofs from Quran and Sunnah are presented to them against their dissension they refuse its acceptability as was the case of the people of the book.

Now all those people who believe that Allah’s bestowed religion is complete and intact must at the first stage say no to all sects and get adhered to that Jamaat whose entry to the paradise has been guaranteed and that for sure is Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen. The title of this Jamaat is not a fabrication rather the command of our beloved prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam):

Stick to Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen and their Imam (leader).

Hadrat Hudhaifa, the narrator of this Hadith asked:

What if there is neither Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen nor their Imam (what should I do in such a condition)?

The prophet of Allah replied:

Keep your self away from all those sects.
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

It is quite clear from this tradition that adherence to any sect is prohibited even if Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen does not exist. We are only to adhere to one Jamaat and that is Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen. May Allah haver mercy on us, what are we doing when the clear order is there to keep away from all sects? Hence it is obvious that all the sects must be terminated and that is only possible when they are abandoned and all the muslims adhere to Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen only. This way there will be no dissension and consequently no sects as well. Now we see the assessment of sectarianism by Allah and His advice in the Holy Quran.

The position and status of sectarianism:

Allah, the Exalted says:

And be not of those who ascribe partners (unto Him): of those who split up their religion and became schismatic, each sect exulting in its tenets.
(Surah: Rome, Verse: 31-32)

It is obvious from this verse that the branches of sectarianism converge on polytheism and the reason for this is clear. When a clear proof from the Quran or Sunnah reaches a follower of sects, he does not accept it. He only considers his religion and Imam, scholar or ancestor’s words and deeds to be the final authority and neglects the Quran and Sunnah. Isn’t this a sign of disbelief? Isn’t inserting one’s (Imam or ancestor’s) opinion into religion polytheism? Allah, the Exalted says:

Lo! As for those who sunder their religion and became schismatics, you (O Prophet!) have no concern with them, their case will go to Allah. Who then will tell them what they used to do?
(Surah: An’aam, Verse: 159)

What an advice from Allah which certifies and authenticates the advice of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam):

Keep yourself away from all those sects.
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Allah has forbidden this Ummah from dividing into sects like the people of the book as under:

And be not as those who separated and disputed after the clear proofs had come unto them. For such there is an awful doom.
(Surah: Aal-e-Imran, Verse: 105)

And hold fast, all of you together to the cable of Allah and do not separate
(Surah: Aal-e-Imran, Verse: 103)

This is Allah’s clear command/order, which reflects the importance of unity in Islam.

One cannot find any lead to the proof of the existence of any sects during the days of prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) through any source i.e. Quran or Hadeeth. Because sects bearing different names as Ahl-e-Quran, Ahl-e-Hadeeth, Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, Hambli, Fatmi/Shia etc. came into existence much and much after the prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam). As a matter of fact there was only one Jamaat formed by the prophet in his time which was named Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen. The following Hadith which at one hand signifies the importance of the attendance of women in Eid Prayer on the other hand it shows the value of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen. The Prophet said:

(Even) menstruating women should participate in Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen and their prayers and should keep away form their Musalla (praying place).
(Reported by Al-Bukhari)

It is quite clear form the above Hadith that all the believers at the time of the prophet were members of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen and hence the only Jamaat required to adhere to is Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen.

A humble request to all readers, please check, are you following the Imam who has been made a symbol by Allah to be followed and that is Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam), or else if not it is the high time to check your every action as regards to Islam – the deen of Allah!

Finally we request our readers to unite along with us on one nucleus; end all sects; and since a believer has been named a Muslim and has been commanded to associate with Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen, we invite you to come to Jamaat and check it’s activity and involvement and then decide. Dear readers, Please! do not follow any religion but ISLAM which gives you the clear command to obey none but Allah and His prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam).

Rise and break all idols of religious, national, tribal, lingual, sectarian, provincial and prejudicial devotion. Devote your lives for Allah only and love others for Allah only.

Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen is neither a sect nor it has any connection to any of the sects. It offers pure deen (religion) “Islam” – the religion of Allah and His prophet Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam). So come and join Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen and assist the cause of Islam.

Shahid Ali
May, 1997
(Muharram 1418)
Karachi-Pakistan
E-mail: shahidalihirani@yahoo.com