OVERCOMING THE DILEMMA OF CONFUSION

It does happen that at times a person who desires to embrace Islaam or a person who has just embraced Islam is faced with the dilemma of the existence of many different sects and groups all claiming to be the repositories of Islam. The newcomer is thus thrown into confusion, not knowing which group is the true representative of Islam. Which is the true group which constitutes the Ummah of Rasoolullah (SAW) or the believers in the Islam brought by Muhammadur Rasoolullah (SAW)? Rasoolullah (SAW), himself answered this question and eliminated the confusion of the baatil sects. Rasoolullah (SAW) said:

“Bani Israeel(the Jews) split up into seventy two sects and my Ummah will split into seventy three sects. All, excepting one, will be in the Fire.” The Sahaabah asked: ‘Which is that(one sect) O Rasoolullah?' Rasoolullah(SAW) said: “That group which is on my path and that of my Sahaabah.”

“Those who will live after me will witness great dispute. Therefore, my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Khulafa Raashideen are incumbent upon you. Hold onto it firmly with your jaws (i.e. adhere to the Sunnah with determination) and beware of innovation, for verily every act of innovation is bid'ah. And every bid'ah is deviation.

[Tirmidhi and others]

It is abundantly clear from the explicit explanation and prediction made by Rasoolullah (SAW) that baatil sects will appear among the Muslims and plod the path of falsehood and anarchy. The statement of Nabi-e-Kareem(SAW) further clarifies that of the numerous deviated sects which will spring up under cover of Islam, only one group will be the true Ummah of Rasoolullah (SAW). Every deviated sect lays claim to be that group which is on the Path of Rectitude. But, Rasoolullah (SAW) has stated the clear sign by which the true Ummah may be recognized. That sign of recognition of the truth is Rasoolullah 's(SAW) statement that the group which follows his Sunnah and the Sunnah of his Sahaabah is the group of Haqq—the Ummah of Islam.

The newcomer to Islam and anyone who is faced with the dilemma of confusion regarding the many sects should, therefore, judge any sect on this Standard of Recognition stated by Rasoolullah (SAW). A group which denies the Sahaabah; a group which criticizes the Sahaabah; a group which minimizes the rank and authority of the Sahaabah; a group which does not accept the Sahaabah as the highest authorities of Islaam after Rasoolullah (SAW) and a group which does not consider the verdicts and Sunnah of the Sahaabah as obligatory and binding on the Ummah, is a deviated group plodding the baatil path of kufr. So beware of such a sect.

A common factor with all sects which deviated from the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (SAW) is their refutation of the rank and authority of the Sahaabah. While some baatil sects overtly refrain from abusing the Sahaabah, some other sects openly revile and slander the Sahaabah. Even those deviated groups who overtly abstain from vilifying the Sahaabah, do not assign to the Sahaabah the pedestal of authority which Rasoolullah (SAW) bestowed to them. The only group which holds the Sahaabah in the highest esteem and submits to the verdicts of these illustrious authorities of Islam is the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah which consists of the four Math-habs of Haqq.

Since the Ahlus Sunnah is the only group which follows the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (SAW)'s Sahaabah, there is absolutely no doubt in the fact that the one group which is on the Path of Rectitude according to Rasoolullah 's(SAW) statements is the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah. A group which does not accept the authority of the Sahaabah can never be the group on Rectitude. Such a group is without doubt in the fold of the seventy two sects of deviation which will be in the Fire according to Rasoolullah (SAW).

The following are the salient features by means of which one may recognize a sect of baatil:

128. It rejects the authority of the Sahaabah.

129. It rejects the Islaam ic concept of Taqleed. A baatil sect, therefore, refutes the validity of the Four Mathaahib (Hanafi, Shaafi, Maalike and Hambali).

130. It casts aspersions and creates doubts regarding the authentic Ahaadith of Rasoolullah (SAW) and attempts to wreck the grand superstructure of the Shari'ah which the Fuqahaa (the Jurists of Islam) raised on the authentic Ahaadith and Qur'aan.

131. It exhorts people to formulate their own opinions by a self-study of the Qur'aan.

132. It places greater emphasis on political aims. Spiritual reformation, the Aakhirah and the Pleasure of Allah are assigned secondary roles and made subordinate to political goals.