Question
I would like to ask what has happened to the Muslim world nowadays. Has modernization changed the perspectives of Muslim individuals causing them to breakup into sects? What has happened to Muslim unity and understanding? I just hope that Muslims nowadays could unite under one true religion that is the pure form of Islam, to follow the rules of God, the ways of the Prophets, the Qur’an and the Hadiths. Stop with the sects and differences in opinions, stop terrorism that gives Muslims a bad name and unite under one true pure religion of Islam. Follow what is true, not what you think is true, and believe in it.
We should put our trust and believe in God.
Wassalam.
Answer
I fully share your concern regarding the breaking up of the Muslim community into intolerant sects. However, I do not understand how can truth be separated from one’s understanding of it. The Qur’an has clearly directed Muslims to ponder over God’s signs – ayahs – whether in the physical universe or in the Qur’an and take guidance from them. It is obvious that a difference of opinion can exist in the understanding of two or more people. It is, in fact, not the mere existence of differences of opinions or in understandings, which has enflamed sectarian spirit and has weakened the unity of the Muslim community. On the contrary, it is actually intolerance for the other’s opinion and considering one’s own opinion as the very word of God, which has developed an atmosphere of hate and enmity between the various groups.
Thus, you will see that an honest difference of opinion is generally brushed aside by the moderates as a movement of modernizing Islam and a manifestation of one’s bad intentions, while the not-so-moderate immediately come up with the declaration of declaring the others as non-Muslims and pass verdicts of killing them.
If you look closely at the prevalent situation, you will see that one of the primary reasons for the prevalent situation is, in fact, a lack of academic approach in understanding Islam more than anything else.
There can, however, be a difference of opinion regarding the causes of the prevalent situation.
Regards,
Moiz Amjad
October 3, 2001