'Ummah': Unity in Diversity

 

In his Friday Sermon of 30 December 2022~ 06 Jamadi’ul Aakhir 1444 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius begins a series of reflections on forging unity within the global Muslim Ummah. As the existential conditions of the Muslims around the world are characterized by deep diversity- languages, races, regions, nations and peoples, etc.-and the Ummah is virtually split into numerous sects and factions, with each group claiming monopoly over the Truth; formidable challenges confront the tasks of Muslim unity.

Through this discourse, Hazrat Muhyiuddin (aba) addresses this vital question of Islamic unity by calling attention to the foundational guidance of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) on the role of sincerity and humility in religious relations. People are prone to 'worship' their own ideas and inherited notions, customs and practices; preferring their own position, wealth and power and other passions of the self. On the other hand, overcoming the inclinations of the self and preferring others to one's own dictates is the path to spiritual progress and God realization. For the sake of Divine approval and pleasure over the Ummah as a whole- rather than seeking fringe benefits and cheap sectarian victories-, people have a strong basis in religious sincerity and humility for remaining united for collective welfare and attracting Divine blessings, points out Hazrat Saheb (aba).      

'Khalifatullah': The Rope of Allah

 

‘Hold fast to God’s rope all together; do not split into factions. Remember God’s favour to you: you were enemies and then He brought your hearts together and you became brothers by His grace; you were about to fall into a pit of Fire and He saved you from it– in this way God makes His revelations clear to you so that you may be rightly guided. Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right, and forbids what is wrong: those who do this are the successful ones. Do not be like those who, after they have been given clear revelation, split into factions and fall into disputes: a terrible punishment awaits such people.’ [3:104-106)

Elects of God appear to call people to the Right Path- providing them with true and clear guidance to discriminate between good and the bad; reforming their communities through Divinely-gifted teachings; laying solid foundations for great nations by unifying hearts in Divine worship and urging adherence to the higher values of life. It is those sublime teachings established by the Prophets through their noble personal examples that constitute the Rope of Allah for their nations to cherish and act upon in all their lives. Hence, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) left behind a treasure-trove of eminently-sensible, behavioural principles and practical guidance in the form of the Holy Qur’an and the sacred traditions of Holy Practices for the Muslims to hold on for all times. If only people follow the teachings of God in the way in which they are expected to be followed: it would benefit the believers in their individual and social lives, and would also profit them in the world to come, Insha Allah.

When Prophets leave this world, their spiritual successors are elected by the assembly of the Pious to carry on and establish the heavy tasks of Faith in all its divine sanctity and purity. And then comes a time in the life of the community- especially when error and deviance impact people’s lives in profoundly negative ways- when Allah (swt) in His infinite wisdom raises His Elect in the community to repeat the cycle of spiritual renewal once again. Islamic history bear witness to this grand Divine principle and established practice. After the death of the Holy Prophet (sa), the Muslim Ummah witnessed the presence of righteous Caliphs in the early days, and also, in later centuries, the advent of a series of Mujaddidin who appeared to guide and rejuvenate Islam at times of difficult fortunes for the Ummah. In our own times, to renew the original teachings of the Prophet (sa), Allah (swt) has raised a Muhyiuddin, a Khalifatullah, a Mujaddid, a Mahdi, a Dhul Qarnayn in our midst. Indeed, with all the aforesaid spiritual titles and more, the Divine Manifestation in the person of Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius is here to revive and restore sublime Faith in the Prophetic Path as an enduring, living, thriving Highway to God. It is by recognizing and following such pure servants of God that believers can cling to the Rope of Allah in this era, and access felicity and progress in both the worlds. 

Beliefs and Practices in Shi‘a Islam

The Shi'a belief on 'Imamat'

The Shiites believe that after the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and this till the end of the world, Allah has nominated twelve Imams. According to them, those twelve Imams had been nominated by Allah through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The first Imam according to them is Ali (ra), the second one, his son, Imam Hassan, the third one Imam Hussein and the rest of the nine Imams being found in their bloodline.

From the first Imam (i.e. Ali) till the eleventh Imam (Hassan Askari), all died a natural death like the rest of mankind. As for the twelfth Imam, the son of Hassan Askari, he mysteriously disappeared in this youth and went into hiding in a cave. Now till the end of the world, according to the Shiites, he alone has the exclusive right to reign upon the world. The belief in Imamat is obligatory (Farz) for a Shiite and the one who does not believe in it shall see himself being rewarded hell as resting place. In one of their books, Al-Kafila there is the mention that if the earth (i.e. the world) remain without an Imam, it shall sink. Still according to this book, the (Shiites) Imams are selected by Allah just like Allah chose the prophets.

The Origin of the Sect

Shia in itself is not a religion; it is a sect in Islam. After the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (ra) and during the caliphate of Hazrat Uthman (ra), Islam propagated in several countries outside Arabia, such as Persia, etc. Many people accepted Islam at that time. Many entered the fold of Islam sincerely while many others entered therein hypocritically.