How Sects Got Created In Islam?

(Qur’aanic Verse 6.159:)

(Transliteration:)

159. Inna allatheena farraqoo deenahum wakanoo shiyaAAan lasta minhum fee shay-in innama amruhum ila Allahi thumma yunabbi-ohum bima kanoo yafAAaloona

(Translation:)

159. You have indeed no concern with those who divide their religion into sects. Their matter goes to Allah, Who will then tell them what they did.⁵⁸

(Study Note:)

58. This is a strong divine condemnation of those who cause divisions in the Allah-approved Religion of Islam. And yet there are divisions galore in Islam! How are these divisions caused and by whom? As far as my understanding goes, the first division was caused on the basis of the controversy over the ahaadeeth reporting the last sermon of the Prophet, peace be upon him. As per some ahaadeeth, the Prophet was reported to have said that he was leaving behind his Sunnah, besides the Qur’aan. There are some who dispute this and say that it was not the Sunnah, but Ahle-Bayt. Thus arose the two sects, Sunnis and Shias, the latter sect adopting the very word, Allah Ta’ala used to condemn the schism, to identify themselves by! Herein lies a clear pointer to the answer to the question, how and by whom. It is through the man-influenced, error-prone ahaadeeth that Satan has helped Muslims bring about the divisions! When will the Muslims realise this and save themselves from certain doom?

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Click here to go online to the just-published Qur’aanic Studies - Volume XV, from which the above extract, on Verse 6.159, is taken. This Volume has link to the preceding Volume and so on to the first published Volume I. You may also get access to all these Volumes online through my website islam-n-interst.com. The first Volume of these Studies in print is available at this link

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18 Responses to “How Sects Got Created In Islam?”

shamsuddin Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 12:28 am

As salaam alaykum good evidnce Quran and good point. we pray Allah that we today’s muslims and believers learn from the errors of the history and not repeat it. That we hold on to the rope of Islam as a solid cemented wall and follow the guidance from Qur’an and the life of the last Prophet of Allah Muhammad (SAWS) amiin and that we by Allah’s Mercy so good deeds by with and for the pleasure of Allah Amiin and may Allah forgive us our errors sins lapses and neglects and cause all of us to correct our posture and strive for the pleasure of Allah. Amiin.

Jonah Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 1:44 am

Sorry, but I could not exactly get your point….What do you mean by sects? Do you condemn those school of thoughts(Mazhaps) of sunnah?Or what?

Syed-Mohsin Naquvi Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 3:51 am

THis statement about sects in Islam is totally topless and tail-less. In that I mean, there is no introductory remarks about the two versions of the famous hadeeth of TWO WEIGHTY THINGS, neither are there any refences at the end.

You are picking up the story in the middle. Either begin it at the beginning or at elast show some references to make it a rational discussion.

Thank you.

Zahid Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 11:59 am

I need more information, input on ” How to be a Muslim, without being linked to any sect”. Is it possible? if yes, what to do to perform prayers and others basics? I mean from where to get guidance. Thanks

mjaga Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 4:38 pm

Wa alaykum-as-salaam, Brother Shamsuddin!

I am glad you got the point. May Allah Almighty give us the strength to be steadfast on His Straight Path. Amen!

mjaga Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

With reference to Jonah’s comments above:

The exact point is that Allah Almighty disapproves of His approved Religion of Islam being divided into sects like Sunnis and Shias - whether you call the sects as Mazhabs or whatever.

mjaga Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 6:10 pm

It appears Brother Syed-Mohsin Naquvi has paid attention to neither the top nor the tail of my post. That is why he finds it ‘topless and tail-less’.

The top makes reference to the Qur’aanic Verse 6.159, the ONE WEIGHTY THING in the matter. And the tail clarifies that the post is an extract from an online book, Qur’aanic Studies - Volume XV.

The simple point made in the post is that Allah Almighty strongly disapproves of any divisions in His approved Religion of Islam. The divisions, like the Sunni and Shia sects, were the creation of the man-influenced, error-prone ahaadeeth. That is the beginning, and the end, of the point.

mjaga Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

Yes, Brother Zahid, it is indeed possible ‘to be a Muslim, without being linked to any sect.’ Sects are not created by Allah Almighty. They are man-made. Allah’s Guidence is the only true guidance. So, study the Qur’aan every day, little by little. Take your time. And as and when you learn anything therefrom, shed your sect-given deviations, one by one, in the light of your own learnings. Allah promises to guide those who fear Him. Do have trust in Him.

Syed Sadqain Kazim Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 2:44 am

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Your story really do not have the top and the tail. First question is, when did Muslim fight about the quoted hadith was it in the time of Rasool Allah? Is shia a sect? Do we find the word “shia” or “sunni” in Quran? What is the meaning of Shia? I understand that meaning of Sunni is who follow the Sunnah.
Yes, I agreed with you that we should not divide our religion in sects but we need to find out who started it. The sects were not created after the interpretation of the hadith. If you go into the history you will find out that the sects were made right after the demise of Rasool Allah (SAW).

Read the history of Ghadeer-e-Khum read the actual last sermon of Rasool Allah and then read about Saqifa Bani Sa’da and the first meeting of Muslim in Saqifa Bani Sa’da. After which Hazrat Abu Bakar became first Khalifa.

mjaga Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Assalaamu alaykum, Br. Syed Sadqain Kazim!

The top of my simple story is that Allah Almighty strongly disapproves of His approved Religion of Islam being divided into sects. And its end is that, despite the divine disapproval, Islam stands divided into many sects like Sunni and Shia.

I have given my assessment as to what caused this division. If you disagree with my asseessment, Allah is the Infallible Judge between the two of us, Brother!

But, before signing off, let me also give my assessment of points raised in your comments:
1. The Arabic word Shia, meaning sect, is mentioned in the very Qur’aanic Verse quoted in my post.
2. The ahaadeeth came to be first codified in writing at least 150 years after the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
3. The Sects came to be recognised, as such, only after the ahaadeeth were codified.
4. Before that, there of course were disputes on the choices for the Khalifah. but those disputes had not assumed the form sects.
5. There is no mention of the ‘Sunnah of the Rasool’ in the Qur’aan, but ‘Sunnah of Allah’ is indeed mentioned therein. “Sunnah’ essentially means practice.
6. The documents you have mentioned are based on man-influenced, error-prone ahaadeeth. Those cannot be as sacrosanct as the Word of Allah.

And, finally, since you agree that Islam should not be divided into sects, let us stop identifying ourselves as ’shias’, ’sunnis’, etc. and just call ourselves Muslims, i.e., those who submit to Allah’s Will. We can do so by strictly adhering to what the Qur’aan says.

Roberto (Sulaiman) Solano Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 2:42 am

See Sura 26 ayat 28 and 57:65 where some “sects” are really Islam when folowed the teachings of Ibrahim, Moses or Jesus (peace be upon them).
See also 30:32; 42:15-16; and 45:64-65

mjaga notes:
The relevance of Verse 26:28 to the subject matter here is not understood.
There are no Verses like 57:65, 45:64-65.
Verse 30:32 is of course relevant and describes how every sect thinks it is the only right one, and vainly rejoices at that thought. Verses 42:15-16 describe how disputes in Allah-approved Religion of Islam invite Allah’s wrath and His punishment.

Asad Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 6:22 am

The below links are being given only for those people who want to some research :

Who are Ahl-al-Bayt ?

http://www.al-islam.org/mot/14ahlbayt.htm

Sahih Version of Hadith alThaqalayn

http://www.al-islam.org/thaqalayn/nontl/Versions.htm

Various Occasions Related to Hadith alThaqalayn:

http://www.al-islam.org/thaqalayn/nontl/Occasions.htm

The Even of the Ghadir

Asad Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 6:23 am

The Event of Ghadir in the Qur’an, Hadith, History

http://www.al-islam.org/ghadir/

mjaga Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Ref: Asad’s two comments dated 11th April, 2008:

The information in the links given are all based on the man-influenced, error-prone ahaadeeth. As a result of following such ahaadeeth it is that the Allah-disapproved sects came into existence. The only remedy, to get rid of the sects, is to ignore the ahaadeeth and follow the Allah-protected divine Message of the Qur’aan scrupulously. Insistence on following the ahaadeeth will further alienate the Muslims from His Straight Path.

Zahid Says:
April 13th, 2008 at 12:46 am

I wonder why we hesitate thinking about basics. If Allah orders” Dont divide your deen into sects”, then why we feel helpless to break this chains. If there are Hudoods given by Allah and Prophet…then why we consider traditions and cultural things to form basis of ethnicity and sectarianism.
If it is prdicted that there will be many sects..then..it is ordered not to divide into sects.
Quran illustrates … and remeber the blessing of Allah, that He created love in your heart for each other by giving you (Islam) and you were on the brink of fire…..
If religion has become a reason of hate and violence, then there is something wrong with our understanding of Islam….. I believe Islam takes its roots from Quran and then Hadith and thereafter what ever comes is to be seen with open minds and should not take priority over Quran and hadith. 

durain Says:
April 13th, 2008 at 8:14 am

Who was Rasool Allah ?sunni or shia, allah says follow the prophet, follow the Quran , do not make sects of your religion. I am glad that you have raised this point, indeed if we were altogether as one we wld not be killing eachother, & other nations wld not be able to misuse us, if you read the Quran daily in a lanuage you understand then you wil realize the truth. that not to belong to any sect, when we are asked who we are ? we reply ” a muslim” no I mean what sect indeed the reply again is ” a muslim” period

Yakubu Suleman Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm

Praise be to Allah for this opportunity,

I would like to know if Groups such as Tijania, Kadriya, Ahmadia etc are all sects. If yes, is their a sect one cannot leave going by what has been discussed above so far?

I sincerely want to know more about Tijania. Are their practices sectoral. I asked those questions to put me into the right footings of not belonging to what is not Islamic.

mjaga Says:
April 19th, 2008 at 11:39 am

Ref: Yakubu Suleman’s comments dated 17th April, 2008

For a Muslim to say that he/she belongs to any particular group is a sectoral behaviour. He/she is simply a Muslim, believing in pristine, Allah-approved Religion of Islam as delineated in the Qur’aan. A Muslim should shun all practices contrary to the Qur’aanic teachings. 

http://mjaga.muslimblogz.com/2008/04/08/how-sects-got-created-in-islam/