We receive many questions about Islamic leadership for instance the different sects in Islam, which is the right sect? Why is Islam divided into 73 sects?
First and foremost, if anyone claims to be a Muslim, no matter what sect or belief they have, then they are a Muslim! We cannot and must not, decide who is a Muslim or not. This is totally unIslamic. It is for Allah and Allah alone to judge whether or not a person is a Muslim. Our beloved Prophet, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made this very clear with the incident with Usama, when he killed a person after that person recited the Kalima (attesting being a Muslim). The Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) kept repeating, “did you see inside his heart?” In other words, how did Usama know what the person really believed, only Allah can see inside our hearts.
Of course the Holy Qur’an is very clear that we should not have sects, Islam is about unity and oneness, Allah is One and there should be One brotherhood and One sisterhood. But sadly, from very early on in the time of Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) that changed and a sect was created and then you have the two major sects of Sunnis and Shi’ite and of course these have now so many different sects in each major party.
Our beloved Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) knew that Islam would be divided and described the state of Islam that:
”Verily, the Israelites were divided into 72 sects, but my people will be divided into 73 sects. All of them will be in the Fire except one.”
The Companions asked, ‘Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?’.
The Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“They are the people who will follow my Sunnah (practice) and that of my companions,” (Tirmidhi)
So with so many sects in Islam, the question is which sect is the correct sect that will lead us to the Unity promised by the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?
We know that Allah will keep protecting His faith over time, it is understood from Hadith that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said “Verily God will continue forever to raise for this Ummat (nation) in the beginning of every century one who will restore for it its faith”
(Abu Daud – Kitabul-Fitan)
From this tradition which supports the verse of the Holy Qur’an:-
“We Ourself have sent down the Exhortation and We Ourself are its Protector”
Al-Hijr, Ch 15, verse 10,
we can see that Allah will not only protect His Qur’an but will also protect His faith by sending spiritual reformers at the beginning of every Century. Alhamdulillah, during those 1300 years we have had great reformers like Hazrat Junaid of Baghdad, Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani, Shaikh Shahab-ud-Din Naqshbandi, Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, Kwaja Moin-ud-Din Chisty, Hazrat Shah Wali Ullah of Dehli and others. These great scholars helped rejuvenate Islam, despite some of them being rejected and persecuted. But who was the reformer for the 1400 Century? There was only one claimant – Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad - http://www.alislam.org/topics/messiah/index.php
We also see that the Holy Qur’an warns us, that despite these great men coming:
“O my Lord, my people indeed treated this Qur’an as a think abandoned.”
Al-Furqan, Ch 25, verse 31.
The warning of ‘the latter days’, a time that would be so bad that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)has said:-
“A time will come when nothing will remain of Islam except its name and nothing will remain of the Qur’an except its script. Mosques will be full of worshippers, but as far as righteousness is concerned they will be empty and deserted. Their ‘Ulama’ (religious scholars) will be the worst of creatures under the canopy of the heavens. Evil plots will originate from them and to them will they return.” (Mishkat)
So we know from such Hadith and from the Holy Qur’an, that when the Latter Days, so will the Promised Messiah & Mahdi to bring the Muslims back to the true teachings of Islam and bring it back to Unity again. This is again a prophecy found throughout the Holy Qur’an about the Promised Messiah and Mahdi -
“He it is Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it prevail over every other religion, even though the idolaters may resent it” Holy Qur’an Ch9, v33 – see also 48:29, 61:10.
This victory of Islam where it will prevail over all other religions, will happen in the latter days. That can only happen if Islam is One – not 73. That unity can only happen if Allah chooses someone to unite the Muslims – The Promised Messiah & Mahdi.
If Muslims choose a leader to unite them, well there is no way a Sunni will accept a Shi’ite and vice versa, likewise there is no way a Wahabbi will accept an Ahle-Hadith as a leader etc. So the only answer has to be if Allah chooses that leader, now if Allah chooses, then all Muslims should look into that claim and then if it is true, accept that leader. That leader will be Guided by Allah – thus he will be the Al-Mahdi – the Guided One. Through accepting this leader of the Muslims, then the Muslims can unite and the promised victory of Islam can be achieved, which is the role of the Promised Messiah. So our understanding is that this two titles – Mahdi and Promised Messiah will be actually the same person, having to different roles, as supported by the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
“the Mahdi is none other than the Messiah” (Sunan Ibn-e-Majah. Kitabul Fitan)
This will not be achieved through the sword, but through the pen i.e. the beautiful teachings if Islam being practised and explained. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has told us
“By Him in Whose hands is my life, the son of Mary will soon appear among you. He will administer justice. He will break the cross, kill the swine, abolish war (for the sake of religion, under Divine guidance) distribute wealth, but no one will accept it. In those days one prostration before Allah will be better than the world and what it contains.” (Bukhari)
Again the Holy Prophet has said
“Beware, there will be no prophet or messenger between Jesus, the son of Mary, and me. Remember, he shall be my Caliph after me to my people. Remember, he will kill Anti-Christ, break the Cross, abolish the taking of Jizia (tax collected from defeated people), as there would no longer be any war. Remember whoever meets him should convey my greetings to him.” (Tabraani)
So we understand by these Hadith that fighting, terrorism etc. will not bring about this victory. It will be through peaceful methods.
Again the Holy Prophet has said
“What a (wretched) state you will be in when the son of Mary will descend among you while he will be your Imam (religious leader) from among you? Or ‘He will lead you from among you.’” (Bukhari)
Finally, the importance of accepting him when he comes is related in this Hadith
“When you find the Mahdi, perform bai’ah (Pledge of allegiance) at his hands. You must go to him, even if you have to reach him across icebound mountains on your knees. He is the Mahdi and the Caliph of Allah.” (Ibn Maajah)
A similar question often asked is about the Islamic leadership. Should we follow leaders if they are behaving unjustly?
Islam came to establish rights and freedom, and so it is important that if we want to be true, pious Muslims then we should always follow the Holy Qur’an and strive to serve Allah as best as we could. The Holy Qur’an is very clear on being just, even if it is against yourselves, still we must be just. Sometimes there is bad leadership, but they are worldly leaders and Allah is more concerned with your spirituality, how you are behaving? The main thing is having the right to worship Allah, if that is not there, then Allah informs us that the world is vast, move somewhere else and worship Allah there.
But if we chose to stay in a Country, then we should be obedient to the authority in everything Islamic, for the sake of Allah. Our beloved Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has said:-
“Hear and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave whose head is like a grape is placed in authority over you” (Bukhari).
Again the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has said:-
“Your best rulers will be those whom you love and who love you, and for whom you pray and who pray for you; and your worst rulers will be those whom you hate and who hate you, and whom you curse and who curse you.”
We asked: “Messenger of Allah, shall we not boycott them?”
He said: “Not so long as they maintain the Prayer services; not so long their maintain the Prayer services.” (Muslim).
Everyone will be answerable to Allah for what they do, therefore we should ensure that Allah is always pleased with our own actions, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) has said:
“If a person is in charge of the affairs of the Muslims and does not strive diligently to promote their welfare, he will not enter Paradise with them.” (Muslim).
So always strive to follow the Holy Qur’an and strive to win the blessings of Allah.
Another question which is raised is “can you tell us briefly about Democracy in Islam?”
In Islam there are many different forms of Government, but generally the best type of Government is the Khilafat System. After the death of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) he was succeeded by four rightly guided Khalifahs (Caliphs) – Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, may Allah be pleased with them. These were all elected in different ways, but the principal was the same. That being that the Muslims chose and agreed the Khalifa (although we say that they were inspired by Allah). No person must desire an Office, especially the Khalifa, therefore in Islam there should be no canvassing. If you are appointed to an Office, then you should try your best to fulfil your duties – putting your full trust in Allah and being answerable to Allah.
Next to the Office of Khalifa, we have the Shura (consultation). The Holy Prophet would consult with his companions, find out their opinion and then he would make a decision. He may agree, disagree or change, but he will find out public opinion first.
Finally you must act with justice. It should not be ‘party politics’ where you agree with people, as they are on your side. You should base all your decision on what is right – even if it goes against your own interests – seeking the pleasure of Allah. You should not pursue your idea, but listen to others and then make the best decision for all concerned.