Are there sects in Islam?

Islam is one path, has one direction, and is based on one methodology -- that which prophet Muhammad taught according to the instruction he received from god. the religion god ordained for mankind was meant to be a unifying factor. in fact, he addressed mankind in the Qur'an, saying:

" and this is my path, which is straight, so follow it, and do not follow [other] ways for they will separate you from his way." [1]

This divine command emphatically makes it binding on all muslims to be united as one community of believers; thus, all forms of schism and sectarianism are un-islamic.

The prophet's companions and following generations adhered very closely to the path of god, and thus he protected them from separating in this manner. but with later generations certain factors led to the emergence of divisions and divergence, among them: increasing concern with worldly affairs, the influence of non-Muslim cultures, and political rivalries. initially, some small groups split off from the path adhered to by the majority of Muslims. they introduced innovations into the religion and followed opinions differing from the original teachings of the prophet.

These schisms were rejected and opposed by the recognized scholars of Islam and the majority of Muslims, which meant that initially they were contained and that their influence did not become widespread during the major part of Islamic history. the majority of Muslims remained on the sunni [2] path, and whenever forms of deviation emerged among them, the pious scholars always hastened to oppose them and point out their error.

Prophet Muhammad foretold that such divergences would emerge. he warned against schism and instructed Muslims to remain within the main body of Islam.

Nevertheless, over the centuries a number of people have deviated and corrupted their religion, forming sects that claim to belong to Islam but whose stated beliefs are clearly contrary to it. some have distorted the concept of god and attributed to him what is unfitting or incompatible with his divine status - claiming, for example, that everything in existence is god or that he is incarnate or present within his creation, while the Qur'an states that he is superior to his creation and distinct from it. and some have been misguided regarding various major tenets of Islam to the degree that they no longer submit to god and obey him, while others have innovated and changed some of the prescribed forms of worship.

Those sects which deviated from mainstream Islam are not the same as the schools of Islamic jurisprudence [3] which developed within it and are based on the immutable principles of the faith. these eminent schools of thought have provided a vision of the highest degree of scholarship for Islamic legislation and serve to complement one another. differences and disagreements within the framework of Islam do not become matters of partisanship and intolerance except among the extremely ignorant.

Islam recognizes the individuality of human beings and that not all diversity of opinion and difference in analysis is negative. however, the kind of dissension that leads to divisions and sectarianism has been denounced in the qur'an:

"indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects -you, [o Muhammad], are not [associated] with them in anything. their affair is only [left] to Allaah; then he will inform them about what they used to do." [4]

Although Muslims now appear to be divided more than ever before, the number of divisions in Islam remain fewer than in other religions. one can still find many Islamic associations calling people to truth, proclaiming god's original message, and naming against that which is contrary to it. salvation does not depend on affiliation with any specific group but rather on true faith proven by obedience to god and upright conduct in the manner revealed by him.

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Footnotes:

[1]  6:153 the subtitle change in the verse from first to third person expresses the progressive process of distancing oneself from god’s path.

[2]  a Sunni is one who takes his religion from the Qur'an and Sunnah, i.e., the authentically narrated teachings of prophet Muhammad as practiced by him and his righteous followers.

[3]the hanafi, maliki, shafi'i and hanbali schools and a few others less known.

[4]  6:159

Isn't Islam fatalistic?

Muslims know that all things are from god and occur by his will. thus, they tend to worry less about material matters and view the life of this world in proper perspective. a Muslim believer relies completely on god and knows that whatever happens is always for the best, whether he recognizes it or not, so he graciously accepts whatever cannot be changed.

However, this does not mean that a Muslim sits around awaiting destiny and takes no positive action in life. on the contrary, Islam demands action and effort to change every undesirable situation, and this is a requirement of the faith. it totally rejects the teaching that one should not go to a doctor when ill but only pray to god for cure. if human beings had no ability to act, god could not justly expect them to do and not to do certain things. far from being "fatalistic," Islam teaches that man's main obligation in life is to exert effort in obedience to god, which includes seeking benefit and avoiding harm.

Islam teaches that human beings should take positive action in life and supplement it with prayer. some people are lazy and careless and then blame the negative result on destiny or fate. some even say that if god had willed, they would not have sinned or committed crimes. all this is entirely incorrect because he has provided complete guidance and instruction on how to live and has ordered upright conduct at all times. god has not ordered anything that man cannot do or prohibited anything he cannot avoid because his justice is complete and perfect. each individual is held responsible within the limits of his own ability, but not beyond it.

Although our deeds and our destiny are decreed by god and known to him, it does not mean he compels us to do anything. rather, he willed to give us options about our course of action; and thus, whatever decisions we make are within the framework ill his will. god knows what every person will choose to do and then allows him to do it, while not necessarily approving of his choice. while he does not call anyone to account for what is beyond his control, human beings are indeed responsible for every free choice they make, and they will find the consequences of their choices and actions in both this life and the next.

"Cause and Effect" is a natural law created by god to be utilized by his creatures. it is the law by which one's destiny is determined. so the destiny of each individual is predetermined by god, but it is also the direct result and consequence of his or her own choices and actions, and this is what the creator has willed and decreed.

Why should someone be a Muslim? Can't we follow any religion we please?

There are many people who follow the teachings of a religion as best they can and others who believe in god in some way without practicing any formal religion.[1] many have abandoned the thought that there could be any true religion because nearly all religions claim to be true. and some allow that all religions are legitimate paths to god and are acceptable to him. so how is Islam different from other religions?

Islam has several unique features which can be confirmed through deeper study:

• Islam is the only religion whose sources have remained free of human alteration and interference.
• Its divinely revealed scripture is in harmony with established facts of science, clearly bearing the signature of the creator of this universe.
• Islam provides answers to the essential fundamental questions which occur to the mind of every intelligent person, those related to the purpose of creation and life, and concerning a further existence after death.
• Islam is the only religion which insists upon worship of the creator alone and completely rejects the worship of any aspect of creation.
• Islam dispenses with all intermediaries between man and god and allows every individual to contact him directly, thus eliminating religious hierarchies and other sources of exploitation which have characterized the history of religions throughout the ages. In Islam no cleric or establishment can come between a person and his creator.
• While monotheistic faiths share a fundamental belief in god, their understanding of him differs greatly. Islam declares that god is unique and in no way similar to any of his creation; nor does he merge with it in any form. his attributes are those of complete and absolute perfection without the slightest deficiency or limitation.
• Unlike other religions and ideologies which emphasize some aspects of human nature at the expense of others, Islam accommodates the physical, intellectual and spiritual aspects of man. Islamic beliefs and practices are natural and appeal to common sense. they present a balanced program of life that fulfills both physical and spiritual needs.
• Islam prohibits blind following without knowledge and is based upon evidence and logic. the rational mind is the basis for religious accountability and responsibility. all aspects of Islamic belief are clear, without any obscurity or ambiguity. it contains no tenet that contradicts reason or observable reality, and it calls on people to study and contemplate as a means of strengthening faith.
• Islam's religious, moral, economic, political and social ethics are permanent and remain constant. they are governed by a set of unchanging principles which include such universal values as justice, freedom, equality, brotherhood and social responsibility. history provides an outstanding example in the model Islamic society established by prophet Muhammad and his companions and maintained for decades by devoted Muslims, where truth and transparency, justice, and compassion were implemented as a vital expression of the religion.

Islam also declares that it is the religion of truth, for this is stated unambiguously in the Qur'an. however, the creator does not force his preference on anyone. he wants people to accept right guidance by their own choice and free will because that is what makes them worthy of his approval and reward. the Qur'an states:

" there is no compulsion in [accepting] religion. the truth has been made distinct from falsehood." [2]

"had allah willed, he would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [he intended] to test you in what he has given you; so hasten to [all that is] good. to allah is your return all together" [3]

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Footnotes:

[1]anyone to whom god's message was not adequately conveyed yet believed in him and tried to worship him with sincere intention will be judged by god according to what is in his heart and mind, for he is the ultimate judge of all affairs. the Qur'an states that god never punishes a people until after he has sent them a messenger with the clear order to worship their creator alone without any associates. it also states that he does not punish for what people are unable to know or what is beyond their capability.

^[2]2:256.   

^[3]5:48.

Are the Good Deeds of Non-believers Rewarded?

Prophet Muhammad disclosed that god rewards according to the intention of each individual. the non-believer expects to be rewarded for his deeds in the present life because he denies or doubts the existence of another life after his death. thus, he is keen that people should recognize what he does; when he is praised and his deed publicized, he is pleased, for this is the reward he sought. he might also obtain a sum of money in payment for it or a prize. this is the compensation he likes most, and god grants it to him. but he is not given additional reward in the hereafter simply because he neither desired it nor worked for it.

The believer, on the other hand, is not duly concerned with compensation in this life because he is striving for the greater eternal reward of the hereafter. he does so by worshipping god as he stipulated and by working patiently, honestly and correctly to the best of his ability, even when no person appreciates his efforts. because his deeds are done seeking god's acceptance, they are appreciated by him and rewarded.

Islam teaches that there are two conditions for god's approval and reward of any deed: 

1) that it is done explicitly for his acceptance and approval and 

2) that it is consistent with the methods ordained by him. in other words, a person must work for god according to the terms he has specified and not according to his own preferences or those of other people. in order to know exactly what god expects of his servants, it is necessary to refer to the legislation revealed by him in its final form through Muhammad, the final prophet.

What is the Purpose of our Creation?

Non-believers are unable to provide any convincing reason for the existence of this universe or of human life. people who believe there is a creator assume that creation occurred by his will. but in a world where everything is shown to have a purpose, it is natural for a human being to wonder about the purpose of his own creation. one is surely justified in expecting the creator who put us on this earth to inform us why he did so and what he expects of us.

The qur'an informs us that he did just that. it says god created us for a test here on earth, conveying his words:

"then did you think that we created you uselessly and that to us you would not be returned?"  [1]

A non-believer might decide that the objective of his life will be to collect wealth, obtain position or pursue pleasure to the greatest extent possible. but none of this will benefit him in the long run. according to his final scripture, god created man to test him with certain responsibilities [2]. he did not intend life on this earth to necessarily be comfortable or satisfying but merely a trial of limited duration, the punishment and rewards of which will be due in the hereafter.

As mentioned previously, most of creation is "Muslim" in that it is programmed to obey the physical laws set by god, and (his is why the universe functions with balanced equilibrium. man, however, was given a free will and the ability to either obey or disobey. but god will not allow his universal balance lo be upset indefinitely by defiant, corrupt and sinful people, so he only grants human beings a measure of freedom in a temporary world. the scheme of birth, development, decline and death provides each with the opportunity to prove to himself without a doubt what he will deserve on the day of judgement, which god created for the manifestation of his ultimate justice.

This life is very meaningful and purposeful to the believing Muslim because he realizes that it will determine his outcome and permanent position in the next life. he lives to earn the approval of his creator in preparation for the final return to him.

We all recognize that people make things to perform specific functions for them, in other words, to serve them. god has made us to serve him, but with one major difference; it is not for the benefit of the creator himself but for the benefit of us, his creation. the purpose of our existence is thus stated in the qur'an:

"i did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship me.” [3]

But man's worship of god is not automatic like the vast majority of created beings but by his own choice and effort, and this is what entitles him to honor and reward.

"how should one worship god in order to fulfill that purpose?" this question can undoubtedly best be answered by him. god has provided every element of his creation, living and inanimate, with guidance. we can thus expect that he would provide us with guidance as well. his revelation instructs humanity what to do, what to avoid, and the reason for it. it informs man what is expected of him, how to accomplish it, and the results of continual positive effort. through prophet Muhammad, god revealed to man the ways of worship suitable to his physical and psychological nature and individual talents, and in harmony with his particular role on the earth. these, in combination, are what enable him to fulfill the purpose of his creation.

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Footnotes:

^[1]23:115-1 16.

[2]as stated in 18:7, 67:2 and 76:2.
[3]51:56