Pakistani1947
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Please spend five to ten minutes of your life for Allah's sake, for Islam sake and read the complete article below and then decide what we can we do to keep the Ummat united. Is there anything else other than Qur'aan and Sunnat صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) to keep Muslim united?
WHY ARE WE SO DIVIDED?
... Because of Shirk, innovations and leaving the Sunnah
All Praise is for Allah Lord of all the creation and May His peace and Blessings be upon is last Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) and upon the Prophet's (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) family and upon the companions and on all those who follow the path of guidance until the last day.
We saw in last weeks issue that without doubt the Muslim Ummah is in a divided and fragmented state and that this division is prohibited in Islam. Rather Allah has enjoined upon us to hold onto the rope of Allah, which we established is the Qur'an and the Sunnah as understood by the Companions. But how did we reach this state in the first place, what causes disunity?
Shirk - Associating partners in worship with Allah
Without doubt one of the major causes for people splitting up the religion and leaving holding on to the rope of Allah is shirk. This is the grave sin of ascribing partners with Allah in worship. Today throughout the world there are numerous examples of shirk amongst the Ummah, such as those who call upon the dead in the grave. Allah says:
Yusuf Ali 106:
"'Nor call on any, other than Allah.- Such will neither profit thee nor hurt thee: if thou dost, behold! thou shalt certainly be of those who do wrong.'"
Verily Allah has created us to worship Him alone, as He says:
Yusuf Ali 56:
I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.
So the one who gives worship to other than Allah has he not committed the most severe sin. Allah says:
Yusuf Ali 116:
Allah forgiveth not (The sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgiveth whom He pleaseth other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah, Hath strayed far, far away (from the right).
It is reported that Ibn Masood (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ) asked the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم):
"Which is the Greatest sin?" The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: "That you set up a rival for Allah, While He is the one who created you." [Bukhaaree]
O noble reader it will not be hidden from you that throughout the world Muslims are stooped in such practices of calling upon the dead saint in the grave, asking him to remove their difficulty whether it be Abdul Qaadir al Jeelanee or al Badawee or other people who's graves have been made places of worship. How can unity be achieved amongst the Muslims when some Muslims cannot unify their worship for Allah alone? O noble reader consider the following, how many Muslims wear Amulets and charms, despite the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) saying:
"Whoever wears an amulet has committed shirk." [Ahmad]
Read astrology in magazines or go to fortune tellers, despite the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) saying:
"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him something and believes in his words, will have his prayers rejected for forty days." [Muslim]
So while all these non-Islaamic beliefs and practices are present amongst the Muslims how can unity take place? Is not our first obligation to give da'wah to those Muslims who are stooped in these practices? Thereby calling to tawheed as all 124,000 Prophets from Aadam (alayhi-salam) to the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) did. They all began their call to the people with Tawheed - worshipping Allah alone.
Having incorrect beliefs
Another major reason for disunity is the wide range of beliefs prevalent amongst the Muslims. Despite us having the same Qur'an and the same Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), Muslims still have different beliefs. Why is this? If we all are referring back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah in every matter then why the differences. Allah says:
Yusuf Ali 59:
O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.
So verily O noble reader, imagine if every Muslim acted upon this ayah - would there be any differences then? NO, except maybe in the issues of fiqh, such as the prayer. But our beliefs and methodology would be one, so why is this not the case? It is because many Muslims today do not refer every issue back to Allah and His Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم), rather they ask their local Imaam or their parents or refer it back to their madhab.
Know O noble reader that the first thing that all the Prophets called to was the rectification of the beliefs, before calling to the Islaamic state or to Jihad, the first thing was purifying the beliefs of the Muslim. So how can we have unity while there are Muslims who believe:
That Allah is everywhere, despite Allah saying:
Yusuf Ali 50:
They all revere their Lord, high above them, and they do all that they are commanded.
That the Prophet was not human and was made from light, despite Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) saying:
Yusuf Ali 6:
Say thou: "I am but a man like you: It is revealed to me by Inspiration, that your Allah is one Allah. so stand true to Him, and ask for His Forgiveness." And woe to those who join gods with Allah,-
That the saying of an Imaam should be acted upon over the hadeeth, despite Allah saying:
Yusuf Ali 63:
Deem not the summons of the Messenger among yourselves like the summons of one of you to another: Allah doth know those of you who slip away under shelter of some excuse: then let those beware who withstand the Messenger.s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous penalty be inflicted on them.
That Imaan does not increase or decrease, despite the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) saying:
"Imaan has seventy odd or sixty odd branches. The most virtuous of them is the statement, 'There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and the slightest of them is to remove something harmful from the road. And hayaa is a branch of Imaan." [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Bid'ah - Innovations in the religion
Another cause for disunity and not holding fast to the rope of is the occurrence of innovations in this Ummah.
Allah has informed us in the Qur'an that He has completed this religion of Islam for us as Allah says:
Yusuf Ali 3:
This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Since the religion is complete how can it be that we need to add new things and ways of worship to Islam? Whatever was not part of the religion at the time of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) cannot be accepted as a part of the religion now. The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) has warned us against adding new things to the religion when he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"Whoever Innovates in this affair of ours that which is not from it will have it rejected." [Muslim]
The people who propose unity at all costs have a saying that 'An innovation that unites us is better than a Sunnah which divides'.
SubhanAllaah look at such a statement O noble reader, innovations are grave and serious and a cause for entering the fire as he (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said:
"... and every innovation is misguidance and all misguidance is in the Hellfire." [Reported by an-Nasaa'ee (1/224)]
So if someone said to you look there is a fire over there, lets all hold hands and unify and then go in to it, you would think they were crazy! So how can we come together upon something as dangerous as innovations, such as the innovations of mystics, who practice all kinds of weird and innovated invocations, which at times involve switching off the lights or chanting one of Allah's name so that after some time what they are chanting is unrecognizable as a name of Allah. Or the innovations of those who take their scholars as 'spiritual leaders' giving their allegiance to them and 'selling' themselves to these 'scholars' obeying everything they say. How O noble reader can unity occur amongst all the Muslims as long as these practices, which have nothing to do with Islam, keep occurring?
Blind following and Partisanship
This is one of the most evil of occurrences today and a major cause for disunity. Muslims are following their madhahab or their scholars over and above the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) despite Allah saying:
Yusuf Ali 115:
If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell,- what an evil refuge!
When you tell Muslims that 'you should do this because it says so in the Qur'an and the Sunnah', they reply 'well that's not what it says in my madhab' or 'that's not what my Shaykh says'. SubhanAllaah, O noble reader why did Allah send us His final Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) if it was not to teach us the religion of Islam.
Allah says:
Yusuf Ali 65:
But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.
No Muslim will openly say I am disobeying the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم), but how many of us ask for the proof on issues of beliefs and practices and look to see what is the truth.
Another problem is the setting up of groups and parties with members, then being loyal only to that party, believing in the beliefs and aims of that party - not questioning it. Allah has warned against this:
Yusuf Ali 32:
Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!
Setting up groups is a cause for disunity and spreads hatred amongst the Muslims so that a Muslim from one group will not give salaam to a Muslim from another group just because they belong to different groups. Or a group from one masjid will not like Muslims from another masjid to come and pray in their mosque. All this stems from partisanship and it divides the Ummah. Unity will not occur whilst Muslims are in this state rather unity will occur when an end is put to partisanship (hizbiyyah) and Muslims love each other because they are all have the same aims, beliefs and practices.
The Means for Revival
Having looked at the reason why we are so divided, the question now arises as to what the means for reviving this Ummah are. Allah has given us the means for the revival of this Ummah, when Allah says:
Yusuf Ali 11:
For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.
The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) also said:
"When you involve yourselves in interest bearing business transactions, and you hold on to the tails of cows, and you are pleased with agriculture (i.e. the land) and you abandon making Jihad in the Cause of Allah, Allah will send humiliation down upon you. He will not remove it from you until you return back to your Religion." [Abu Dawood and al-Bayhaqee]
So this humiliation that Muslims are under will not be removed from us until we return back to the religion of Islam. So what is the religion of Islam if not Tawheed, having the correct Aqeedah, worshipping Allah correctly? So should we not start our revival with these issues.
So just as the condition of the Arabs during the Days of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah) was not rectified except by the coming of their Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) with revelation from the heavens, which aided them in this world and which will save them in the next, then know O noble reader the foundation that the Islamic revival must be built upon in this time, is nothing else but the return to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, as implemented by the noble companions.
We know from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) that the way towards realising this revival is only one way, and it is the way which Allah has mentioned in saying:
Yusuf Ali 153:
Verily, this is My way, leading straight: follow it: follow not (other) paths: they will scatter you about from His (great) path: thus doth He command you. that ye may be righteous.
The Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) explained this to his Companions. Thus, one day he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) drew a straight line for them on the ground and then drew short lines on the sides of it. Then, while his (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) noble finger moved up and down the straight line, he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) recited the aforementioned verse. Then he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) pointed to the lines that were drawn on the sides of the straight line and said:
"This is the Path of Allah and these are the (other) paths. At the top of each of these (other) ways, there is a devil calling towards it." [Authentic hadeeth, graded in Dhilaal-ul-Jannah fee Takhreej-is Sunnah(16-17)]
Furthermore, says:
Yusuf Ali 115:
If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell,- what an evil refuge!
In this ayah there is profound and extensive wisdom, for Allah, has connected the "the believers' way" to what the Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) came with. The Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) has (also) indicated this point in the hadeeth about the splitting up of the Ummah into sects. When he (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) was asked concerning the saved sect, he (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) responded: "That which (adheres to what) I and my companions are upon today."
What then is the wisdom behind Allah's mentioning of "the believers' way" in this ayah? And what is the significance in the Messenger of Allah's (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) linking of his companions to himself in the previous hadeeth?
The answer is: These noble Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ) were the ones who received the two revelations (i.e. the Qur'an and Sunnah) from the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), having that explained to them by him (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) directly, without there being any intermediary. They best knew how to implement the Sunnah, so after knowing this O noble reader can any Islaamic revival take place when the way of the Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ) is abandoned and not adhered to, rather No it can not. For us to revive Islam and bring unity to the Muslims we must adopt the way and example of the Noble Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ).
Imaam Maalik (رحمة الله عليه) said:
"The latter part of this Ummah will not be rectified except by that which rectified its former part." [ash-Shifaa of Qaadee 'Iyyaadh, (2/676)]
So it will be clear to the reader that the only way to revive the Ummah is to return every affair of the Muslim back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah as understood and implemented by the best generation, the Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ). To believe as they believed, to worship as they worshipped, to look like them, to give da'wah in the way they gave it. Then only will we be united and have a true Islaamic revival.
So dear noble brothers and sisters your Lord (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) says....
Yusuf Ali 16:
Has not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.
Source: WHY ARE WE SO DIVIDED?
WHY ARE WE SO DIVIDED?
... Because of Shirk, innovations and leaving the Sunnah
All Praise is for Allah Lord of all the creation and May His peace and Blessings be upon is last Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) and upon the Prophet's (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) family and upon the companions and on all those who follow the path of guidance until the last day.
We saw in last weeks issue that without doubt the Muslim Ummah is in a divided and fragmented state and that this division is prohibited in Islam. Rather Allah has enjoined upon us to hold onto the rope of Allah, which we established is the Qur'an and the Sunnah as understood by the Companions. But how did we reach this state in the first place, what causes disunity?
Shirk - Associating partners in worship with Allah
Without doubt one of the major causes for people splitting up the religion and leaving holding on to the rope of Allah is shirk. This is the grave sin of ascribing partners with Allah in worship. Today throughout the world there are numerous examples of shirk amongst the Ummah, such as those who call upon the dead in the grave. Allah says:
وَلَا تَدْعُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَ ۖ فَإِن فَعَلْتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذًا مِّنَ الظَّالِمِينَ (Surah Yoonus 10:106)
"'Nor call on any, other than Allah.- Such will neither profit thee nor hurt thee: if thou dost, behold! thou shalt certainly be of those who do wrong.'"
اور الله کے سوا ایسی چیز کونہ پکار جو نہ تیرا بھلا کرے اور نہ برا پھر اگرتو نے ایسا کیا تو بے شک ظالموں میں سے ہو جائے گا
Verily Allah has created us to worship Him alone, as He says:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ (Surah adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56)
I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.
اور میں نے جن اور انسان کو بنایا ہے تو صرف اپنی بندگی کے لیے
So the one who gives worship to other than Allah has he not committed the most severe sin. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَ*ٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا (Surah an-Nisaa 4:116)
Allah forgiveth not (The sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgiveth whom He pleaseth other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah, Hath strayed far, far away (from the right).
بے شک الله اس کو نہیں بخشتا جو کسی کو اس کا شریک بنائے اس کے سوا جسے چاہے بخش دے اور جس نے الله کا شریک ٹھیرایا وہ بڑی دور کی گمراہی میں جا پڑا
It is reported that Ibn Masood (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ) asked the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم):
"Which is the Greatest sin?" The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: "That you set up a rival for Allah, While He is the one who created you." [Bukhaaree]
O noble reader it will not be hidden from you that throughout the world Muslims are stooped in such practices of calling upon the dead saint in the grave, asking him to remove their difficulty whether it be Abdul Qaadir al Jeelanee or al Badawee or other people who's graves have been made places of worship. How can unity be achieved amongst the Muslims when some Muslims cannot unify their worship for Allah alone? O noble reader consider the following, how many Muslims wear Amulets and charms, despite the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) saying:
"Whoever wears an amulet has committed shirk." [Ahmad]
Read astrology in magazines or go to fortune tellers, despite the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) saying:
"Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him something and believes in his words, will have his prayers rejected for forty days." [Muslim]
So while all these non-Islaamic beliefs and practices are present amongst the Muslims how can unity take place? Is not our first obligation to give da'wah to those Muslims who are stooped in these practices? Thereby calling to tawheed as all 124,000 Prophets from Aadam (alayhi-salam) to the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) did. They all began their call to the people with Tawheed - worshipping Allah alone.
Having incorrect beliefs
Another major reason for disunity is the wide range of beliefs prevalent amongst the Muslims. Despite us having the same Qur'an and the same Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), Muslims still have different beliefs. Why is this? If we all are referring back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah in every matter then why the differences. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَ*ٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا (Surah an-Nisaa 4:59)
O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.
اے ایمان والو الله کی فرمانبرداری کرو اور رسول کی فرمانبرداری کرو اور ان لوگوں کی جو تم میں سے حاکم ہوں پھر اگر آپس میں کوئی چیز میں جھگڑا کرو تو اسے الله اور اس کے رسول کی طرف پھیرو اگر تم الله اور قیامت کے دن پر یقین رکھتے ہو یہی بات اچھی ہے اور انجام کے لحاظ سے بہت بہتر ہے
So verily O noble reader, imagine if every Muslim acted upon this ayah - would there be any differences then? NO, except maybe in the issues of fiqh, such as the prayer. But our beliefs and methodology would be one, so why is this not the case? It is because many Muslims today do not refer every issue back to Allah and His Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم), rather they ask their local Imaam or their parents or refer it back to their madhab.
Know O noble reader that the first thing that all the Prophets called to was the rectification of the beliefs, before calling to the Islaamic state or to Jihad, the first thing was purifying the beliefs of the Muslim. So how can we have unity while there are Muslims who believe:
That Allah is everywhere, despite Allah saying:
يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ (Surah an-Nahl 16:50)
They all revere their Lord, high above them, and they do all that they are commanded.
وہ اپنے بالادست رب سے ڈرتے ہیں اور انہیں جو حکم دیا جاتا ہے وہ بجا لاتے ہیں
That the Prophet was not human and was made from light, despite Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) saying:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَاسْتَقِيمُوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ (Surah Fussilat 41:6)
Say thou: "I am but a man like you: It is revealed to me by Inspiration, that your Allah is one Allah. so stand true to Him, and ask for His Forgiveness." And woe to those who join gods with Allah,-
آپ ان سے کہہ دیں کہ میں بھی تم جیسا ایک آدمی ہوں میری طرف یہی حکم آتا ہے کہ تمہارا معبود ایک ہی ہے پھراس کی طرف سیدھے چلے جاؤ اور اس سے معافی مانگو اور مشرکوں کے لیے ہلاکت ہے
That the saying of an Imaam should be acted upon over the hadeeth, despite Allah saying:
لَّا تَجْعَلُوا دُعَاءَ الرَّسُولِ بَيْنَكُمْ كَدُعَاءِ بَعْضِكُم بَعْضًا ۚ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ يَتَسَلَّلُونَ مِنكُمْ لِوَاذًا ۚ فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (Surah an-Noor 24:63)
Deem not the summons of the Messenger among yourselves like the summons of one of you to another: Allah doth know those of you who slip away under shelter of some excuse: then let those beware who withstand the Messenger.s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous penalty be inflicted on them.
رسول کے بلانے کو آپس میں ایک دوسرے کے بلانے جیسا نہ سمجھو الله انہیں جانتا ہے جو تم میں سے چھپ کر کھسک جاتے ہیں سو جو لوگ الله کے حکم کی مخالفت کرتے ہیں انہیں اس سے ڈرنا چاہیئے کہ ان پر کوئی آفت آئے یا ان پر کوئی دردناک عذاب نازل ہوجائے
That Imaan does not increase or decrease, despite the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) saying:
"Imaan has seventy odd or sixty odd branches. The most virtuous of them is the statement, 'There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and the slightest of them is to remove something harmful from the road. And hayaa is a branch of Imaan." [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Bid'ah - Innovations in the religion
Another cause for disunity and not holding fast to the rope of is the occurrence of innovations in this Ummah.
Allah has informed us in the Qur'an that He has completed this religion of Islam for us as Allah says:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا ۚ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ ۙ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (Surah al-Maa'idah, 5:3)
This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
آج میں تمہارے لیے تمہارا دین پورا کر چکا اور میں نے تم پر اپنا احسان پورا کر دیا اور میں نے تمہارے واسطے اسلام ہی کو دین پسند کیا ہے پھر جو کوئی بھوک سے بیتاب ہو جائے لیکن گناہ پر مائل نہ ہو تو الله معاف کرنے والا مہربان ہے
Since the religion is complete how can it be that we need to add new things and ways of worship to Islam? Whatever was not part of the religion at the time of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) cannot be accepted as a part of the religion now. The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) has warned us against adding new things to the religion when he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"Whoever Innovates in this affair of ours that which is not from it will have it rejected." [Muslim]
The people who propose unity at all costs have a saying that 'An innovation that unites us is better than a Sunnah which divides'.
SubhanAllaah look at such a statement O noble reader, innovations are grave and serious and a cause for entering the fire as he (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said:
"... and every innovation is misguidance and all misguidance is in the Hellfire." [Reported by an-Nasaa'ee (1/224)]
So if someone said to you look there is a fire over there, lets all hold hands and unify and then go in to it, you would think they were crazy! So how can we come together upon something as dangerous as innovations, such as the innovations of mystics, who practice all kinds of weird and innovated invocations, which at times involve switching off the lights or chanting one of Allah's name so that after some time what they are chanting is unrecognizable as a name of Allah. Or the innovations of those who take their scholars as 'spiritual leaders' giving their allegiance to them and 'selling' themselves to these 'scholars' obeying everything they say. How O noble reader can unity occur amongst all the Muslims as long as these practices, which have nothing to do with Islam, keep occurring?
Blind following and Partisanship
This is one of the most evil of occurrences today and a major cause for disunity. Muslims are following their madhahab or their scholars over and above the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) despite Allah saying:
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا (Surah an-Nisaa 4:115)
If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell,- what an evil refuge!
اور جو کوئی رسول کی مخالفت کرے بعد اس کے کہ اس پر سیدھی راہ کھل چکی ہو اور سب مسلمانوں کے راستہ کے خلاف چلے تو ہم اسے اسی طرف چلائیں گے جدھر وہ خود پھر گیا ہے اور اسے دوزح میں ڈال دینگے اور وہ بہت برا ٹھکانا ہے
When you tell Muslims that 'you should do this because it says so in the Qur'an and the Sunnah', they reply 'well that's not what it says in my madhab' or 'that's not what my Shaykh says'. SubhanAllaah, O noble reader why did Allah send us His final Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) if it was not to teach us the religion of Islam.
Allah says:
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا (Surah an-Nisaa 4:65)
But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.
سو تیرے رب کی قسم ہے یہ کبھی مومن نہیں ہوں گے جب تک کہ اپنے اختلافات میں تجھے منصف نہ مان لیں پھر تیرے فیصلہ پر اپنے دلوں میں کوئی تنگی نہ پائیں اور خوشی سے قبول کریں
No Muslim will openly say I am disobeying the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم), but how many of us ask for the proof on issues of beliefs and practices and look to see what is the truth.
Another problem is the setting up of groups and parties with members, then being loyal only to that party, believing in the beliefs and aims of that party - not questioning it. Allah has warned against this:
مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ (Surah ar-Room 30:32)
Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!
جنہوں نے اپنے دین کو ٹکڑے ٹکڑے کر دیا اور کئی فرقے ہو گئے سب فرقے اسی سے خوش ہیں جو ان کے پا س ہے
Setting up groups is a cause for disunity and spreads hatred amongst the Muslims so that a Muslim from one group will not give salaam to a Muslim from another group just because they belong to different groups. Or a group from one masjid will not like Muslims from another masjid to come and pray in their mosque. All this stems from partisanship and it divides the Ummah. Unity will not occur whilst Muslims are in this state rather unity will occur when an end is put to partisanship (hizbiyyah) and Muslims love each other because they are all have the same aims, beliefs and practices.
The Means for Revival
Having looked at the reason why we are so divided, the question now arises as to what the means for reviving this Ummah are. Allah has given us the means for the revival of this Ummah, when Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ (Surah ar-Ra'd 13:11)
For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.
بے شک الله کسی قوم کی حالت نہیں بدلتا جب تک وہ خود اپنی حالت کو نہ بدلے
The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) also said:
"When you involve yourselves in interest bearing business transactions, and you hold on to the tails of cows, and you are pleased with agriculture (i.e. the land) and you abandon making Jihad in the Cause of Allah, Allah will send humiliation down upon you. He will not remove it from you until you return back to your Religion." [Abu Dawood and al-Bayhaqee]
So this humiliation that Muslims are under will not be removed from us until we return back to the religion of Islam. So what is the religion of Islam if not Tawheed, having the correct Aqeedah, worshipping Allah correctly? So should we not start our revival with these issues.
So just as the condition of the Arabs during the Days of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah) was not rectified except by the coming of their Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) with revelation from the heavens, which aided them in this world and which will save them in the next, then know O noble reader the foundation that the Islamic revival must be built upon in this time, is nothing else but the return to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, as implemented by the noble companions.
We know from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) that the way towards realising this revival is only one way, and it is the way which Allah has mentioned in saying:
وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ۚ ذَ*ٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (Surah al-An'aam 6:153)
Verily, this is My way, leading straight: follow it: follow not (other) paths: they will scatter you about from His (great) path: thus doth He command you. that ye may be righteous.
:
اور بے شک یہی میرا سیدھا راستہ ہے سو اسی کا اتباع کرواور دوسرے راستوں پر مت چلو وہ تمہیں الله کی راہ سے ہٹا دیں گے تمہیں اسی کا حکم دیا ہے تاکہ تم پرہیزگار ہو جاؤ
The Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) explained this to his Companions. Thus, one day he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) drew a straight line for them on the ground and then drew short lines on the sides of it. Then, while his (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) noble finger moved up and down the straight line, he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) recited the aforementioned verse. Then he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) pointed to the lines that were drawn on the sides of the straight line and said:
"This is the Path of Allah and these are the (other) paths. At the top of each of these (other) ways, there is a devil calling towards it." [Authentic hadeeth, graded in Dhilaal-ul-Jannah fee Takhreej-is Sunnah(16-17)]
Furthermore, says:
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا (Surah an-Nisaa 4:115)
If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell,- what an evil refuge!
اور جو کوئی رسول کی مخالفت کرے بعد اس کے کہ اس پر سیدھی راہ کھل چکی ہو اور سب مسلمانوں کے راستہ کے خلاف چلے تو ہم اسے اسی طرف چلائیں گے جدھر وہ خود پھر گیا ہے اور اسے دوزح میں ڈال دینگے اور وہ بہت برا ٹھکانا ہے
In this ayah there is profound and extensive wisdom, for Allah, has connected the "the believers' way" to what the Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) came with. The Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) has (also) indicated this point in the hadeeth about the splitting up of the Ummah into sects. When he (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) was asked concerning the saved sect, he (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) responded: "That which (adheres to what) I and my companions are upon today."
What then is the wisdom behind Allah's mentioning of "the believers' way" in this ayah? And what is the significance in the Messenger of Allah's (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) linking of his companions to himself in the previous hadeeth?
The answer is: These noble Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ) were the ones who received the two revelations (i.e. the Qur'an and Sunnah) from the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), having that explained to them by him (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) directly, without there being any intermediary. They best knew how to implement the Sunnah, so after knowing this O noble reader can any Islaamic revival take place when the way of the Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ) is abandoned and not adhered to, rather No it can not. For us to revive Islam and bring unity to the Muslims we must adopt the way and example of the Noble Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ).
Imaam Maalik (رحمة الله عليه) said:
"The latter part of this Ummah will not be rectified except by that which rectified its former part." [ash-Shifaa of Qaadee 'Iyyaadh, (2/676)]
So it will be clear to the reader that the only way to revive the Ummah is to return every affair of the Muslim back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah as understood and implemented by the best generation, the Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ). To believe as they believed, to worship as they worshipped, to look like them, to give da'wah in the way they gave it. Then only will we be united and have a true Islaamic revival.
So dear noble brothers and sisters your Lord (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) says....
أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ (Surah al-Hadeed 57:16)
Has not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.
کیا ایمان والوں کے لیے اس بات کا وقت نہیں آیا کہ ان کے دل الله کی نصیحت اور جو دین حق نازل ہوا ہے اس کے سامنے جھک جائیں اور ان لوگوں کی طرح نہ ہوجائیں جنہیں ان سے پہلے کتاب (آسمانی) ملی تھی پھر ان پر مدت لمبی ہو گئی تو ان کے دل سخت ہو گئے اور ان میں سے بہت سے نافرمان ہیں
Source: WHY ARE WE SO DIVIDED?
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