03-23-2007, 02:16 AM
Bismillah: Assalamo Alikum.
Quote:How does one know what teachings are authentic when there's so many variations out there?
Simply by following the Companions of the Prophet pbuh, who were neither Sunnis nor Shi'is. They were also neither Hanafis, nor Shafi'is, nor Malikis, nor Hanbalis. <b>They were only Muslims</b>. They believed in Allah and His Messenger, <b>they accepted and understood the Qur'an and the Sunnah</b> and they strived to live their lives as best as they could following these two sources. This is all what is required in Islam, we do not have to put any other label upon ourselves beside Islam. So if you decided to be a Muslim one day (<i>Insh a Allah</i>), Just call yourself a Muslim and don’t worry about other names, labels or groups.
May Allah always keep us among the one group that follow the Prophet Muhammad pbuh and his companions. Ameen.
Salam
Wael.