Tuesday, November 10, 2009

On Different Kinds of Muslims

My position is that unless we learn to love other Muslims DESPITE and WITH all that we might disagree with them upon, we can't be united. The Saudi approach--and that of other neo-purists--is to say "No, no, no; there is only one thing here--we are all Muslims." and then only allowing what and how they understand things to be as what that "one thing" is. Too often it is these very people who will be quickest to say--maybe because they understand Islam in a very narrowly-defined unitary whole--that this or that practice is "not Islam" and therefore Sufis, say, or Shias are not Muslims. That's what's gotta change if we are to be united; we have to recognize that there will be those who are more in tune with the metaphysical side of the bigger picture (such as the Sufis), and others that will look at things rationally (such as those who follow Kutub or Maududi), yet others who revere the personal link to The Prophet (as the Shias do) and yet respect (and not even just tolerate) them all as different interpretations within Islam.

Forcing people to believe as one never works, and only creates harder divisions.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can someone please tell me the literal meaning of the word 'sharia'? Doesn't it mean "a wide path that leads to Haq"? In my opinion, a narrow minded approach on a wide path shouldn't make sense to anyone. I wish more and more 'Muslims' could see religion the way you do, my friend!

Anonymous said...

Well I kind of agree with broader sense of more tolerance by every Muslim towards fellow Muslims and other Human beings at large, yet I do disagree that we leave the interpretation of Sharia and Haq to everyone.

This will lead to anarchy, factionalism and further division in the Ummah.

Prophet PBUH use to say in his every sermon, that Innovation in religion leads to Hell fire, and yet if we subscribe to the idea that we shall leave the religious practice to personal preferences of individuals, it kind of defeat the purpose of the final revelation and the entire efforts of the Prophet PBUH.

We must at least be practicing the Muhkmat from Quran unanimously across the Muslim Ummah. I pray from Almighty that He give us understanding of His final message and bring the Ummah togather. Ameen