Lately, Muslimah2Muslimah has been thinking a lot about the whole separation of Islam and how it divides the Ummah. What we mean by separate is all of these different sects... Sunni, Sufi, Shia,...
Then, within these groups you have sub-groups; Tablighi Jamaat, Jamaat-e-Islami, Qadris, Ismailis, Akhbaris, Naqshbandis, Shaykhis, Wahhabis and Salafis, to name a few.
Then, there are the many schools of Fiqh (or law): Hanafii, Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali.
Now, what does all of this leave our Prophet Muhammad (SAW)'s beloved Muslim Ummah with? Pure and utter confusion, arguments, division, chaos and everyone thinking that they are right about this or that. We debate each other about things in which we have no solid proof about like which hadith is fake or not, what the Qur'an REALLY means in this ayat or that, how old Aisha (RAH) was when she married the Prophet (SAW), that brother is not a real Muslim because he allws his wife to go to school and/or work, this sister is not a real Muslimah because she wears colors and *gasp* no niqab or gloves???.... and so on and so forth...
It is really sad and shameful how we act towards one another. Muslimah2Muslimah went to certain masjid in Atlanta last Ramadan (the most blessed month) with the intention of making Tawarih prayer with our fellow Muslim sisters and we found ourselves getting the cold shoulder from sisters literally moving away from us while in the ranks and not wanting to pray with us shoulder-to-shoulder.Why? Perhaps to pray with the other sister who looks more like them. Islam is such a beautiful religion but yet some of us make it appear so ugly with the all of the negativity and seclusion form other Muslims because they have different upbringings or read a different hadith book.
As for the different sects and Sunni this, Shia that... which sect was Prophet Muhammad a part of, because we could have sworn that he was JUST A MUSLIM?????? Insha'Allah let us know your thoughts on this very important subject.
MaSalaama,
Najwa&Nadira
Muslimah2Muslimah
I am a Muslim, nothing more, nothing less and I am a Slave of Allah(Subhana wa Ta'ala)...
ReplyDeleteYou guys have a great blog! I just discovered it but plan to check it regularly. Great job, ladies. I have a blog too. give it a look when you get the chance.
ReplyDeleteSalaam
Although you make valid points I think you're over-simplifying differences between the groups mentioned. Some are matter of culture or taste such as Tabligh Jamaat or Jamaat Islami,Qadiriyyah or Naqshabandiyyah . Some are a matter of following things which are outright matters of deviation of the Qur'aan and sunnah.
ReplyDeleteFrom Shiah cursing the Sahaba, to Ismali claiming their Agha Khan is unfallibable to Salafi boycotting other muslims. Many of these things go against the principles found in Qur'aan and Sunnah.
As far as schools of Fiqh. I don't see a dividing as most scholars of particularly Madhhaab routinely agree on most things.
The different school of thought are within the Sunnah and are not a sect. Depending which country you come from or under which scholars you choose to study from, determine which of the 4 school of thoughts you follow.
ReplyDeleteAs for the division between sunni and shia, is historical and there is nothing really we can do about it. But, to accept our differences and accept our unity in the belief in Allah (swt).
I personally find being only 'just muslim' does not satisfy my need of becoming closer to Allah (swt) and learning my deen. I find that by following one of the 4 school of thought, allows me to know how to implement the teaching of the Qur'an and Sunnah (in my everyday life).
This is so true! I am a revert..recent revert and I was sitting with my friends who are also Muslims ...and one of them told me you are Sunni for sure - okay? And I was like in the Quran I have not once read about there being different Muslims! Amazing blog btw - it has helped me learn so much during my journey!
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