Muslims are supposed to work together towards a common goal set by the Quran and shown by the Prophet (PBUH). They are brothers and sisters because they are bonded by the common ideology of the unity of God and the unity of humankind.
The Quran is very clear about it:
Muslims are required to be merciful towards each other (48:29) and be like the body where if any part hurts the whole body should feel the pain (Hadith). But, are we Muslims practicing this injunction of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH)? Muslims and various Islamic organizations are working hard but it is frustratingly obvious that the above goals are ever so elusive. Instead of Muslims being united in mercy towards each other, they are, on the whole, far from it. Instead of feeling the pain and misery of Muslims suffering all kinds of oppression and tyranny, most of us are happily enjoying our material comforts of life.
Every day that passes brings more death and destruction to Muslims, only at a much wider scale. It is sad to see Muslim governments collaborating with non-Muslims to inflict damage and suffering against fellow Muslims. Many Muslim groups are also engaged in fighting against each other in many parts of the Muslim world. And in some countries where Muslims are in minority, their condition is even worse. As a minority they are systematically being subjected to discrimination, humiliation, persecution, torture, and rape. One wonders: is it ever going to end?
Probably, there are no people in the world today who are as divided as Muslims. They are divided along religious, political, ethnic, cultural, racial, linguistic, and sectarian lines. These divisions extend further into subdivisions. Status, wealth, fame, and fortune have also created social differences among Muslims. Muslims are divided at the root into Sunnis and Shias. Sunnis are further divided into Hanafi, Maliki, Shaafai, and Hanbali. Shias too are divided into Kesania, Zaidia, Imamia or Ithna ‘Ashari, Ismalia, etc. Sunnis are also divided into Ahle-hadith and Ahle-fiqha. In the Indian subcontinent (at least) Ahle-fiqha are further divided into Deobandis and Barelwis. Similar differences exist in other places as well. Are all these divisions and differences schools of thought as many Muslims claim? Whether or not we admit it, these differences and divisions do create physical, emotional, and psychological barriers amongst us.
Why is that despite clear warnings of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) against it?
Is it due to the prejudices that are the inevitable results of our divisions? With all these divisions and differences, can we progress in the world?
All these differences are anti-Qur’anic. Qur’an says that those who create differences in the Deen (Islam) are among the Mushrikun:
If we look at the global picture as a whole, we find that the number of Muslims has grown steadily to more than 1.6 billion today. Muslims possess the richest resources of the world and the most fertile lands of the earth. In spite of this, how ironic that the most vulnerable and the most dependent people on earth are also Muslims.
Coming to the religious level, we find that the number of mosques is growing everywhere. The number of Muslims going to mosques is also increasing. The number of Muslims performing the annual pilgrimage increases every year, and in fact, has to be controlled to restrict the number. The number of Muslim organizations has been growing steadily. Whenever some differences arise among Muslims in one organization, they create another one and build another mosque.
In spite of all the speeches and the sermons exhorting Muslims to unite, we see that the result is disappointing, to say the least. Why is that? The only way to diagnose this problem is to find the root cause.
Qur’an says:
“What can you accomplish by saying “la ilaha” with your tongue? If your heart is not a Muslim, then it is nothing.”
Iman must enter the depths of our hearts. Simply saying that I believe is not enough, according to the Quran:
Qur’an says the Momins have dignity and power over others:
How to revive and resuscitate the dead heart; it is only possible through Qur’an.
‘Aisha (R) said:
And our Prophet (PBUH) will complain to Allah on the Day of Judgment:
This is the foundation of Islam. The Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) require Muslims to work for the unity of the Ummah.
The Quran is very clear about it:
Muslims are required to be merciful towards each other (48:29) and be like the body where if any part hurts the whole body should feel the pain (Hadith). But, are we Muslims practicing this injunction of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH)? Muslims and various Islamic organizations are working hard but it is frustratingly obvious that the above goals are ever so elusive. Instead of Muslims being united in mercy towards each other, they are, on the whole, far from it. Instead of feeling the pain and misery of Muslims suffering all kinds of oppression and tyranny, most of us are happily enjoying our material comforts of life.
Every day that passes brings more death and destruction to Muslims, only at a much wider scale. It is sad to see Muslim governments collaborating with non-Muslims to inflict damage and suffering against fellow Muslims. Many Muslim groups are also engaged in fighting against each other in many parts of the Muslim world. And in some countries where Muslims are in minority, their condition is even worse. As a minority they are systematically being subjected to discrimination, humiliation, persecution, torture, and rape. One wonders: is it ever going to end?
Probably, there are no people in the world today who are as divided as Muslims. They are divided along religious, political, ethnic, cultural, racial, linguistic, and sectarian lines. These divisions extend further into subdivisions. Status, wealth, fame, and fortune have also created social differences among Muslims. Muslims are divided at the root into Sunnis and Shias. Sunnis are further divided into Hanafi, Maliki, Shaafai, and Hanbali. Shias too are divided into Kesania, Zaidia, Imamia or Ithna ‘Ashari, Ismalia, etc. Sunnis are also divided into Ahle-hadith and Ahle-fiqha. In the Indian subcontinent (at least) Ahle-fiqha are further divided into Deobandis and Barelwis. Similar differences exist in other places as well. Are all these divisions and differences schools of thought as many Muslims claim? Whether or not we admit it, these differences and divisions do create physical, emotional, and psychological barriers amongst us.
Why is that despite clear warnings of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) against it?
Is it due to the prejudices that are the inevitable results of our divisions? With all these divisions and differences, can we progress in the world?
All these differences are anti-Qur’anic. Qur’an says that those who create differences in the Deen (Islam) are among the Mushrikun:
The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said:
That is why Qur’an calls upon all Muslims to be united and hold on steadfastly to the rope of Allah (i.e. Qur’an) and gives a stern warning to them not to create any divisions (3:103) amongst themselves.
If we look at the global picture as a whole, we find that the number of Muslims has grown steadily to more than 1.6 billion today. Muslims possess the richest resources of the world and the most fertile lands of the earth. In spite of this, how ironic that the most vulnerable and the most dependent people on earth are also Muslims.
Coming to the religious level, we find that the number of mosques is growing everywhere. The number of Muslims going to mosques is also increasing. The number of Muslims performing the annual pilgrimage increases every year, and in fact, has to be controlled to restrict the number. The number of Muslim organizations has been growing steadily. Whenever some differences arise among Muslims in one organization, they create another one and build another mosque.
In spite of all the speeches and the sermons exhorting Muslims to unite, we see that the result is disappointing, to say the least. Why is that? The only way to diagnose this problem is to find the root cause.
Qur’an says:
Thus according to Qur’an, the disease of all our problems lies in our hearts and therefore, the cure should also begin there.
“What can you accomplish by saying “la ilaha” with your tongue? If your heart is not a Muslim, then it is nothing.”
Iman must enter the depths of our hearts. Simply saying that I believe is not enough, according to the Quran:
Also, Iman is not blind faith. The Qur’an clearly says that Iman becomes strong only with knowledge:
Therefore, the heart must be kept humble and open, so that Iman acquired by the mind (knowledge) may enter the heart. Iman cannot enter those whose hearts have disease and those who have sealed and hardened their hearts (22:53).
Qur’an says the Momins have dignity and power over others:
Obviously, if we as Muslims compare ourselves with these very clear verses of Qur’an, then we have to come to only one conclusion: that we are not among the Momins which the Qur’an talks about. Majority of our hearts are not open and humble. In fact, Qur’an tells us that instead of making the heart open and humble, there are some who let their emotions and ego control them. It says:
How many of us (besides practicing the five pillars) are willing to go deep down in our hearts and honestly admit that we follow our emotions more often than we follow Allah (i.e. Book of Allah)? Allah demands total and complete surrender of our wills:
Therefore, the problems which we Muslims are facing today are the outward symptoms of the root cause, i.e., the internal friction in our hearts between obedience to Allah and obedience to our own emotions and egos. And it is this internal conflict that is referred to as the disease of the heart by the Qur’an. Therefore, as long as we Muslims keep compromising the TRUTH contained in the Quran, there is no hope for a cure of our collective mental, psychological, and emotional ills. We do not know how many psychological, emotional, and mental idols we carry all the time in our hearts and minds. Qur’an demands us to cleanse and purify our hearts from all kinds of Ilah. These subtle forms of shirk are addictive and like a slow poison have a deadening effect on our hearts and minds.
How to revive and resuscitate the dead heart; it is only possible through Qur’an.
‘Aisha (R) said:
Thus the Sunnah is to live by the Quran and not just read it for earning reward for the hereafter.
And our Prophet (PBUH) will complain to Allah on the Day of Judgment:
Let us pray to Allah to unite our hearts in the path of Islam. It is Allah’s promise that if we do that, then we will regain our dignity, power, and glory (24:55). And Allah does not break His promise (2:80).
