Sunni or Shia?

[Curious Christian]

Don't mean to open a can of worms here but I am "curious."


What is the difference betweent Sunni and Shia?


Are there theological differences in what they believe about Islam?


Why don't they get along?


Are all Muslims either Sunni or Shia (does a Muslim have to be one or the other?)?


Which are you? And why?

[wel_mel_2]

Don't mean to open a can of worms here but I am "curious."


What is the difference betweent Sunni and Shia?


Are there theological differences in what they believe about Islam?


Why don't they get along?


Are all Muslims either Sunni or Shia (does a Muslim have to be one or the other?)?


Which are you? And why?

Am Muslim


I don’t like calling myself anything but Muslim. But to give you clear picture of this issue I would sadly say that it is It is a fact that Muslims today, are divided amongst themselves. The tragedy is that such divisions are not endorsed by Islam at all. Islam believes in fostering unity amongst its followers.


The Qur’an says:


"And hold fast,


All together, by the rope


Which Allah (stretches out for you),


and be not divided among yourselves;" [Al-Qur’an 3:103]


Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the Glorious Qur’an. The Glorious Qur’an is the rope of Allah which all Muslims should hold fast together. There is double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it also says, ‘be not divided’.


Qur’an further says,


"Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger" [Al-Qur’an 4:59]


All the Muslim should follow the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith and be not divided among themselves.


The Glorious Qur’an says:


"As for those who divide


Their religion and break up


Into sects, thou hast


No part in them in the least:


Their affair is with Allah:


He will in the end


Tell them the truth


Of all that they did." [Al-Qur’an 6:159]


In this verse Allah says that one should disassociate oneself from those who divide their religion and break it up into sects.


But when one asks a Muslim, "who are you?", the common answer is either ‘I am a Sunni, or ‘I am a Shia’. Some call themselves Hanafi, or Shafi or Maliki or Humbali. Some say ‘I am a Deobandi’, while some others say ‘I am a Barelvi’.


One may ask such Muslims, "Who was our beloved prophet (pbuh)? Was he a Hanafi or a Shafi, or a Humbali or a Maliki?" <b>No! He was a Muslim</b>, like all the other prophets and messengers of Allah before him.


It is mentioned in chapter 3 verse 52 of Al-Qur’an that <b>Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim</b>.


Further, in chapter 3 verse 67, Al-Qur’an says that <b>Ibrahim (pbuh) was not a Jew or a Christian but was a Muslim</b>.


SO………………


a. If anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say <b>"I am a MUSLIM</b>, not a Hanafi or a Shafi". Surah Fussilat chapter 41 verse 33 says


"Who is better in speech


Than one who calls (men)


To Allah, works righteousness,


And says, ‘I am of those


Who bow in Islam (Muslim)?’ " [Al-Qur’an 41:33]


The Qur’an says "Say I am of those who bow in Islam". In other words, say, <b>"I am a Muslim".</b>


b. The Prophet (pbuh) dictated letters to non-Muslim kings and rulers inviting them to accept Islam. In these letters he mentioned the verse of the Qur’an from Surah Ali Imran chapter 3 verse 64:


Say ye: "Bear witness


That we (at least)


Are Muslims (bowing


To Allah’s Will)." [Al-Qur’an 3:64]


We must respect all the great scholars of Islam, including the four Imaams, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Humbal and Imam Malik (may Allah be pleased with them all). They were great scholars and may Allah reward them for their research and hardwork. One can have no objection if someone agrees with the views and research of Imam Abu Hanifa or Imam Shafi, etc. But when posed a question, ‘who are you?’, the reply should only be ‘I am a Muslim’.


Some may argue by quoting the hadith of our beloved Prophet from Sunan Abu Dawood Hadith No. 4579. In this hadith the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "My community will be split up into seventy-three sects."


This hadith reports that the prophet predicted the emergence of seventy-three sects. He did not say that Muslims should be active in dividing themselves into sects. The Glorious Qur’an commands us not to create sects. Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, and do not create sects are the people who are on the true path.


According to Tirmidhi Hadith No. 171, the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "My Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three sects, and all of them will be in Hell fire except one sect." The companions asked Allah’s messenger which group that would be. Where upon he replied, "It is the one to which I and my companions belong."


The Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses, "Obey Allah and obey His Messenger". A true Muslim should only follow the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. He can agree with the views of any scholar as long as they conform to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. If such views go against the Word of Allah, or the Sunnah of His Prophet, then they carry no weight, regardless of how learned the scholar might be.


Without being disrespectful to people who call themselves “Muslims Shi’a” I can see clearly that they are far away from the teaching of the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad pbuh, and that’s why almost 85% of the Muslim population in today’s world are called Muslim “SUNNI” or those who follow the Sunnah of prophet Muhammad pbuh.


so i dont call myself Sunni or Shi'a... am only a MUSLIM.


Salam


Wael.