Why are there so many different sects in Islam?!?!!

[dhameera]

Salam Alaikum my fellow Muslims.

As a Bani Israel woman, who is just really begining to learn her deen.

I want to know why are there so many different sects all claiming to be followers and believers in Allah (including Sunni) when Allah clearly states in Al Quran to steer clear of sects, and to not fall in schisms???

We all know the intent behind the word "Sunni" is to distinguish oneself from other sects. However, I'll say this again, Allah is the one to make the distinction as to whom the real believers are not us. To say you're Sunni Muslim is no different from saying you're a Shi'a, how so? Because to break up the religion into sects is all wrong..no matter if what you believe in is the truth. Allah says the believers are those who hears and obey, and not only that Allah gives characteristic over and over again of the believers in The Holy Quran.

Again Allah did not say the believers are those who are Sunni's, and again Allah warns us of these sects, because he knew what was going to happen. Alhumdulillah Allah knows his creation.


And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment." [Quran 3:100 - 3:105]

"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." [Quran 6:159]

[Talhah]

Sister, actually, the sects r formed as such: There is a group of Ulama and people who correctly follow the Path of the Prophet (SAW) and the Sahabah (RA). But then, there arise some so-called scholars who deviate and differ from this group, even on the fundamentals of Deen, either out of ignorance or out of deception. Now, some laymen, being convinced by the false arguments of such "scholars", start following the latter, thus, a sect is formed, which differs with the former group of scholars. Now when the former group of scholars/ulama see the laymen getting into the trap of deviant "scholars", they start refuting the latter scholars, hence, u see books written on the deviant sects. Naturally, the Deviant scholars (Ulama as-Soo') also try to defend their deviant beleifs, inturn, hence, u also come across books written by the latter.

This is the answer to ur wuestion that why r there so many sects in Islam.

Wallahu A'lam

Wassalaam

[dhameera]

Um brother, isn't Hanafi a sect?

[Talhah]

Um brother, isn't Hanafi a sect?

Hanafiyyah is the part of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah. The Ahlu-Sunnah comprises of four groups--Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali. Basically, they all are one, single sect, which differ only on some minor issues (Furu') but agree on the major, fundamental issues (Aqaa'id).

Wassalaam

[Sejuk]

The sunnis with the four sunni schools are the original group. All the others split off and made up their own beliefs.

[Ma'ruf]

Um brother, isn't Hanafi a sect?

No not at all, it's a school of law. You wouldn't call english common law a "sect". Or to take an example from the USA, politicians, lawyers and even (especially) supreme court judges have different views on how to approach the Constitution - would you say that "strict constitutionalists" are a sect?

[caynan]

Assalamu Alaykum,

Ma'ruf is right sister the mentioned above labels are schools come might even call it a approache but that approache does not go outside of the faith. Am just curious what else do you want to know about Islam? in especically what do you know about the majority of Muslims and their beliefs?

Wasalam

[Ma'ruf]

Salam Alaikum my fellow Muslims.

As a Bani Israel woman, who is just really begining to learn her deen.

And i must apologise for leaving out the greeting which is my duty, wa alaikum salam!

There's something really great which actually answers your question in a much better fashion than I could:

http://www.bogvaerker.dk/LettertoanewMuslim.htm

Please read it, inshallah it will be helpful to you!

[dhameera]

Maybe I wasn't specific enough, let me clarify I am not a "new Muslim" I am a Muslim who is just begining to truly practice her deen I have been a Muslimah for 26 yrs Alhumdulillah and Insha'Allah may Allah give me many more years to implement this beautiful deen in my life, and gain knowledge and understanding. I was born and raised a Muslim, grew up in an Islamic household in America.

However, I still don't understand where these schools of thought came from, did they come during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s), or did they come after him. And if so, why? I don't follow any school of thought, I follow the Quran and Sunnah, and if the Quran is backing the Hadith, I follow that as well, but all this other man made stuff (no offense to anyone) I just don't understand.

Please do clarify, and give me some history....not His-story...because Allah knows I really want to understand!

[Abdul Razak]

Maybe I wasn't specific enough, let me clarify I am not a "new Muslim" I am a Muslim who is just begining to truly practice her deen I have been a Muslimah for 26 yrs Alhumdulillah and Insha'Allah may Allah give me many more years to implement this beautiful deen in my life, and gain knowledge and understanding. I was born and raised a Muslim, grew up in an Islamic household in America.

However, I still don't understand where these schools of thought came from, did they come during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s), or did they come after him. And if so, why? I don't follow any school of thought, I follow the Quran and Sunnah, and if the Quran is backing the Hadith, I follow that as well, but all this other man made stuff (no offense to anyone) I just don't understand.

Please do clarify, and give me some history....not His-story...because Allah knows I really want to understand!

This takes a bit of time to explain thoroughly. Luckily, there is no need to reinvent the wheel since this topic has been written on extensively. If you sincerely want to understand this topic you need to do a bit of reading. The resources below from Masud Khan's website should tell you what you need to know.

What is a Madhab, why is it necessary to follow one?

Who are what is a Salafi, is their approach valid?

Would you advise individuals to study hadith from al-Bukhari and Muslim on their own?

Why Muslims follow Madhabs

Understanding the Four Madhhabs, the Problem of Anti-Madhhabism

Those are just a few resources. There are others. Insha'Allah, that should be enough to familiarize you with the problems of claiming to just follow the Quran and Sunnah through one's personal understanding without taking recourse to scholars who are experts and much more qualified to interpret the Quran and Sunnah. If reading those articles can't convince you, I won't try.