Sects in Islam, in the light of scripture

The motive of this post is not to highlight a certain sect but to believe in Tauheed ‘oneness’ of Allah subhanawatallah and the significance on standing united in faith rather then divided in sects.

The Glorious Quran says in Surah Ash-Shura, Chapter #42, Verse #13

The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

So the verse says all prophets had the same religion from Noah to Muhammad and its common knowledge for a Muslim that even Adam (AS) was also Muslim. Never have I read anywhere any of the prophets saying we are sunni, we are shia, we are hanafi, we are maliki, we are ahlay hadees. But all the prophet were Muslim.


It is further said in Surah Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #64)

say:”O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah.” If then they turn back, say ye: “Bear witness that we (at least) are muslims (bowing to Allah.s Will).

Here Allah Subhana Wa Ta Aala tells you to say to come to common terms. Not saying that Maliki’s do this, so they are not Muslims and Sunni’s have done this and Shia’s do that. The concept of sect does not even exist in Islam.

If someone were to question our beloved Prophet (pbuh) that who are you.
What did he say ?
Did he say I am hanafi or a sunni or a shia or a maliki or a Ahlay Hadees.

No, He said I am a Muslim but Allah in his divine knowledge knew that people are going to make sects and divide the religion into parts making a mockery out of the religion so Allah Subhana Wa Ta Aala says in Surah Al-Anaam Chapter 6 Verse Number 159

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.

Allah Subhana Wa Ta Aala says this 1400 years ago even before this concept of sect arrived that people who make sects Prophet Muhammad (Saaw) has nothing to do with them. The messenger that came with the message of Islam has been told not to do anything with people such as we see today that have divided the religion into sects.

And today exactly the same thing has happened which Allah Subhana Wa Ta Aala says in Surah Al-Mumenoon, Chapter 23 verse 53

But people have cut off their affair (of unity), between them, into sects: each party rejoices in that which is with itself.

 This is what we see today, every Sunni saying he or she is on the right path and others are wrong. Every Shia saying he or she is on the right path and others are wrong and others doing the same. Where it is clearly said in the Glorious Quran not to make sects. We see the unity the muslims had in the time of our beloved Prophet is not here today. Muslims killing Muslims and the Sunni Shia warfare. Why ?

An answers that come to my mind is lack of knowledge. No Aalim or the biggest scholar in the world can argue with the teachings of the Glorious Quran because it is the word of Almighty God without a doubt. It says in Surah An-Nisa, Chapter 4 Verse 82
Do they not consider the Qur’an (with care)? had it been from other Than Allah, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy.

So being born in a Sunni family or a Shia family or any other sect does not mean you a sunni or a shia. You still make that choice and Allah Subhana Wa Ta Aala has said this is lots of places not to make sects it says in Surah Ar-Room Chapter 60 Verse 31 and 32

Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular dprayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah,- Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!

You are told not to join partners with Allah Subhana Wa Ta Aala and not to make sects. This is how strictly it is forbidden and yet we see no less than 72 sects.

It says in Surah Hud Chapter 11 verse Number 17

Can they be (like) those who accept a Clear (Sign) from their Lord, and whom a witness from Himself doth teach, as did the Book of Moses before it,- a guide and a mercy? They believe therein; but those of the sects that reject it,- the Fire will be their promised meeting-place. Be not then in doubt thereon: for it is the truth from thy Lord: yet many among men do not believe!


The punishment for believing in sects is burning in hell.
It says in no less that 6 places, not to make sects and divide the religion

I question any Muslim out there, is there any Imaam any Shaikh or any Aalim who can disagree with this. Then why are they making sects in Islam.
Making sects in Islam is Haram and is biddat.

I question you, after reading this what do you call yourself. I am not of any sect and am proud to call myself a Muslim

This entry was posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm and is filed under Miscelleneous . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

16 Responses to “Sects in Islam, in the light of scripture”

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  2. M Junaid Khan on June 24th, 2008 at 4:40 am

    MashAllah it surely is an eye opener and i myself learned a lot from it. May Allah reward you for writing on this topic which has become very much controversial these days. I feel so bad when i see BBC, CNN and most of the other channels using words like Shia Muslim and Sunni Muslim. The irony of the matter is that we have also fallen to their trap to divide our religion Islam and to exploit it to make us weak.

  3. yeah seriosuly muslims were never like this ppl lets just open our holy Quran we have been misguided enuff..its high tyme to act as per the holy book

  4. M Junaid Khan on June 24th, 2008 at 7:00 am

    Agreed Hira!

  5. Waqas I have always thoroughly enjoyed all your debates regarding controversies in Islam , this one is phenomenal with out doubt ! SAY NOT TO SECTS !

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  8. a person makes a sect when he does not want to follow Islam. It is when a person wants to mold Islam according to his desires. A person belonging to some sect is a non-muslim. He is a mushrik.

    Waqas, you are confused with the 4 schools of thought and Sects. maliki, hanafi, shafi and hanbali are not sects. They all follow the sunna of Prophet. Let me give you an example. In prayer, Prophet Mohammad kept his hands in 4 different positions. Now, if everyone follows one position, then 3 sunnahs will get wiped out. We do follow the schools of thought. I’m sunni and hanafi.

  9. It doesn’t matter whether a person is hanafi, shafi, hanbali or maliki. They are all following the sunna of Prophet. It does matter if a person is not sunni

  10. Brother Mohammad, Islam does not allow sects, and being a Sunni is no exception to the rule =)

    First and for most, a person belonging a sect is not a non-muslim, there is a single Surah in the Quran that says if a person belongs to a sect he is a non-muslim nor have I read in any Hadith. If you know any hadith, please let me know.

    Secondly, I agree that malaki, hanafi, shafi and hanabli are school of thoughts but arent all sects different school of thoughts ? What is the difference between Shia’s, Sunni’s, Wahabis and e.t.c. They difference of thought. I know what your trying to state is that they are all sunnat’s of the Prophet that those 4 follow but that is still a division between muslim which is not suppose to be there =).

    Plus the Glorious clearly says, call yourself a Muslim so why call yourself a Sunni or hanabli ?

    I hope I have answered your quiries

    Assalam-u-alaikum

  11. Here brother Mohammad, Zakir Naik answers your question better then I ever can =)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVfTENzcKaU

    Assalam-u-alaikum

  12. love the lecture :D:D JAZAKALLAH KHAIR waqas for sharing it :D:D

  13. Dr. Zakir Naik is not an alim. His knowledge comes from books. There are 4 schools of thought which cover all the sunnahs of Prophet Mohammad. As i gave my example earlier, Prophet Mohammad put his hand in prayer in 4 different ways. The 4 schools of thought cover the 4 different ways. If everyone started putting their hand in prayer in one position then 3 sunnahs will get wiped from this earth. If tomorrow Dr. Zakir Naik tells me it is okay to jump from the top of a building i will not follow what he says blindly.

    The reason why i have to call mself a sunni muslim instead of just a muslim is to differenciate myself from the firqa(sect) people.

  14. All sects are not schools of thought. You are totally confused. Maliki, shafi,hanafi and hanbali are achools of thought. Qadianis, shias, boris,zikris,barelvis etc are sects, non-muslims who want to follow their own version of Islam. Some of them don’t even believe in Prophet Mohammad. Now you tell me, if a person does not believe in the second part of the kalimah
    Mohammadur Rasullulah, is he a muslim?

  15. ??

  16. Omer Asadullah Sipra on October 5th, 2008 at 9:30 am

    Dear. I have been searching for a site like this for almost 6 days. Now 3 months have passed since I faced this question from non muslims from various threads and couldn’t answer them satisfactorily. I will appreciate anyone’s help. Many people ask was it morally right for Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him to marry a nine year old Aisah Siddiqa May God be pleased with her. They also accuse him Nao zubillah of being a child molester. My own question is that was it an exceptional case of Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him. That is it right to make a law that any girl who reaches puberty will be allowed to marry according to this action of our beloved Prophet. Or will it be right to say it was an exceptional case like the 13 marriages of Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him where as Quran says 4 marriages at one time is allowed? What should be the minimum legal age of women for marriage in Islam. What verses of Quran of what Ahadidth will tell the minimum legal age. Even if ijtihad is done what books and sources are necessary to reach a conclusion? Thridly if somehow the conclusion reaches that a nine year old is ok to marry. Then I ask a question that is it right biologically. If a girl reaches puberty in the age of 10. Will it be right for her to marry. Will she be able to run a family. Will she be right to guide her children when she would herself be a child? These questions are very important. If anyone can answer these with references and a comprehensive discussion I will appreciate it. Please help its very important.

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