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1. SOLUTION TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFIED MUSLIM WORLD.
AN APPROACH TO ISLAMIC UNITY.
Whenever someone offers "Islam" as the
only possible solution to the myriad problems afflicting the Muslim
ummah, the question that immediately props up is: "Whose Islam?"
This is a valid question, and all the different sects and factions,
especially all those groups and parties who are working for Islamic
revival, must arrive at a consensus in this regard. Otherwise, it is
obvious that the sectarian and partisan approach which is quite
prevalent today among the Muslims, especially in our part of the
world will remain the biggest impediment in the establishment of a
true Islamic State.
The realization is growing that Islam is,
in fact, the only solution to the evil remains of Colonialism and
the only answer to the threat of New World Order. But, regrettably,
there is very little cognizance of the biggest hurdle in achieving
this goal: our own internal strife and the menace of sectarianism.
Any meaningful progress towards the establishment of a unified
Islamic ummah is impossible unless we find a solution to this issue.
There is a tremendous onslaught of
Zionist hegemony under the guise of the New World Order. The Arabs
are practically in their pocket. It is only our part of the Muslim
world consisting of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, as well as the
Russian and Chinese Turkistan that has a potential for offering a
substantive resistance to their nefarious designs. How can we unite
the diverse people inhabiting this region? The only cement that can
bind them is Islam. But again, all efforts to create a solid Islamic
bloc in this region are going to be unsuccessful unless a lasting
and workable solution to the problem of sectarianism is found.
AN APPROACH TO END SECTARIANISM
The most fundamental point that needs to
be noted in this regard is the distinction between Deen and Shariah.
According to the Holy Qur'an, all the prophets and messengers
throughout human history have taught the same Din Islam the essence
of which is to accept Almighty Allah (SWT) as the sovereign and
ruler of the universe and the prophets as His representatives. Thus,
we see that all the messengers demanded two things from their
respective nations: worship Allah and obey me. It means that, during
the days of Prophet Noah, Islam consisted of worshipping Allah and
obeying Noah (AS). In the times of Prophet Hud, Islam consisted of
worshipping Allah and obeying Hud (AS). During the age of Prophet
Moses, Islam consisted of worshipping Allah and obeying Moses (AS).
Similarly, now that the institution of Prophethood has concluded
after reaching its zenith in the person of the last messenger,
Muhammad (S), the essence of Islam for all times to come will
consist of two things: to worship Almighty Allah (SWT) and to obey
Prophet Muhammad (S).
We know that the Shariah or the code of
life given by Almighty Allah (SWT) to Prophet Moses (AS) and through
him to his people was very different from the one given to Prophet
Muhammad (SAAWS), even though both of them taught the same Din,
i.e., Islam. It follows that it is possible for different messengers
to have different teachings regarding the details of law, rituals,
customs, etc., but that all these differences remain well within the
broader circle of Deen, which has remained unchanged throughout
human history.
Consider the implications of this basic
fact taught by the Holy Qur'an. It means that, irrespective of how
divergent their views and practices may be, as long as the different
Muslim sects agree to worship Almighty Allah (SWT) and obey Prophet
Muhammad (S), all of them will remain inside the broader circle of
the Muslim Ummah. Unless there is a categorical refusal by a group
of people to submit before the clear injunctions of the Holy Qur'an
and those of Prophet Muhammad (S), any schism or cleavage won't
happen. Since all the different sects and (Madhahib) in Islam
whether Hanafi, Shafa'i, Maliki, Hanbali, Zahiri, Salafi, or Jafari
are unanimous that the commandments of the Qur'an and the Sunnah are
binding upon them, none of these represent any defection from the
fold of Ummah.
Although various schools of thought among
the Muslims differ concerning the principles or rules of
interpreting the Divine law, all can be united on the basis of the
original sources of guidance, the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of
Prophet Muhammad (S). Just as the same Deen can manifest itself into
a number of different codes of life for example the Shariah of Moses
(AS) and the Shariah of Muhammad (S) it can also manifest, at a
secondary level, into numerous schools of jurisprudence, all of
which are in agreement regarding the fundamentals but differing in
minor issues of detail.
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