Sects in Islam

Sects in Islam

Bismillahirahmanirraheem,

Sectarianism in İslam implies a group or groups of muslims that incorporate innovation into their beliefs, teachings or practices that takes them out of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'at or the fold of Islam altogether while still claiming to be Muslims.

The Prophet pbuh said “My Ummah will split into 73 sects, one of which will be guided, the main body.” ( Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’at) People of the Sunnah )

The Prophet pbuh said:

"Stay away from sects even if you have to eat from the roots of trees until death overcomes you."

“Whoever accomodates an innovator will be cursed by Allah.”

“Whoever respects an innovator has helped to destroy the religion.”

Avoiding Sectarianism

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also described them in the following terms: “My ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of whom will be in Hell except one group.” They said: Who are they, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “(Those who follow) that which I and my companions follow.” This is mentioned in the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr which was recorded and classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi (2641).

Allah (the Most High) has commanded us with unity upon the truth, as He stated:

وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ

“And hold fast to the Rope of Allah, altogether and be not divided.” (Āli ‘Imrān: 103)

He also said:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا لَّسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ ۚ إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ

“Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects, you O Prophet, are not associated with them in anything. Their affair is left only to Allah and He will inform them about what they used to do.” (Al-An’ām: 159) And He, the Most High, stated:

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

“And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment.” (Āli Imrān: 105)

So Allah prohibited us from division and commanded us with unity and holding fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, as He said:

وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“And this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow the other paths, for you will be separated from His Path. Thus has He instructed you that you may become righteous.” (Al-An’ām: 153)

Allah (the Most High) stated:

وَلَا يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّك

“But they will not cease to differ except those whom your Lord has shown mercy.” (Hūd: 118-119)

In another narration:

It was narrated from Mu’aawiyah ibn Abi Sufyaan (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stood among us and said: “Those who came before you of the people of the Book split into seventy-two sects, and this ummah will split into seventy-three: seventy-two in Hell and one in Paradise, and that is the jamaa’ah (main body of Muslims).”

Narrated by Abu Dawood (4597)

Narrated Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman:

The people used to ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the good but I used to ask him about the evil lest I should be overtaken by them. So I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We were living in ignorance and in an (extremely) bad atmosphere, then Allah brought to us this good (i.e Islam); will there be any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I said, 'Will there be any good after that evil?" He replied, "Yes, but it will be tainted (not pure.)'' I asked, "What will be its taint?" He replied, "(There will be) some people who will guide others not according to my tradition. You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of some others." I asked, "Will there be any evil after that good?" He replied, "Yes, (there will be) some people calling at the gates of the (Hell) Fire, and whoever will respond to their call, will be thrown by them into the (Hell) Fire." I said, "O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them to us?" He said, "They will be from our own people and will speak our language." I said, "What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?" He said, "Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam (ruler)." I said, "If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam (ruler)?" He said, "Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state."

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7084

In-book reference : Book 92, Hadith 35

The majority of Muslims i.e Ahlus Sunnah adhere to the 4 madhabs in Fiqh but mainly the Hanafi school of Islam (Which is most popular & correct) and the Maturidi & Ash’ari school in Aqida.

If one testifies belief in the Shahada, 5 pillars of Islam and articles of faith & affirms the wassiyyah of Abu Hanifa RA and Aqida At Tahawiyyah of Imam Tahawi and believes according to the Ma’turidi school he is one of the Ahlus Sunnah, he may also believe according to the Ash’Ari school and practice according to one of the 4 madhabs (Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki or Hanbali) then he would also be considered one of the Ahlus Sunnah (people of the sunnah - the rightly guided group).

If one attains a high level of knowledge in Islam he or she can identify a sect and avoid them in sh Allah.

Rasulallah saw said “I have left behind 2 things the Qur’an and my Sunnah, whoever follows them will never go astray.”

May Allah protect the main body of muslims from all that would lead to the hellfire and keep us of them, Amin.

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These are some of the reported sects to beware of in the Islamic world, some are more guilty than others in innovation but all of these groups serious issues with Aqida and or practices, some Muslims are ignorantly are a part of these communities without knowing the inner realities of the group they ascribe to, and Allah will judge them according to what they knew.

Some of these groups are:

Shia

Alevi

Ahmadiyyah

Kharijites

Khawarij

Mu’tazilla

Jabariyyah

Hashwiyyah

Jahmiyyah

Qadiriyya

Falasifa

Barelvi

Deobandi

Feto

Many Sufi Tariqats (Many today are innovating in the religion and some are commiting major shirk and kufr, beware of people who say they are sufi and Judge what they do according to the Qur’an and Sunnah)

Wahhabis  (Anthropomorphic belief about Allah constituting shirk & incorrect understanding of what constitutes kufr and who is a muslim.)

Salafis  (Anthropomorphic belief about Allah constituting shirk & incorrect understanding of what constitutes kufr and who is a muslim.)

It is important to note that some people are born and raised into these communities and may be innocently learning and studying the Qur’an with them, this report is directed mainly at the admin and founders of these groups and those who knowingly follow them, those who don’t know must be warned and rebuked, if they do not listen then keep away as according to the advice of Rasulullah SAW & Allah knows best.

May Allah save the Muslims from sectarianism and have mercy upon us followed by guidance, goodness and beauty in this world and the next,

Amin