Unity In Islam

By Aisha Begum

Division of Sects

Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:

"O humanity! Indeed, we created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware." Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13

Allah has made it clear and firmly axed all false perceptions of superiority, born of racial arrogance in order to understand the notion of human equality. The whole Ummah are the descendants of Adam and Hawa (AS) and have been asserted equal in the sight of Allah. Due to this being declared by Allah, how are you, as a slave of Allah, able to take pride or degrade others based on skin colour, social status, ethnic background, descent, rank, or wealth. Instead you should be looking at the way the person fulfils their obligations to Allah, and his moral uprightness. The Ummah is a unit, a force together. The division into nations, tribes and races is meant only to give a better identification of one another.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"Indeed, you 'O Prophet are not responsible whatsoever for those who have divided their faith and split into sects. Their judgment rests only with Allah. And He will inform them of what they used to do." Surah Al-An'am 6:159

Allah speaks about the emphasis placed on the division of sects and how following personal desires and own beliefs (own religious ideas, mixing culture with Islam) causes the outcome of adding innovations to Islam that originally were not there, entirely removing oneself away from the religion of Islam and the Prophet's teaching, leading to Bid'ah (an addition to the deen not found in the sunnah of the Prophet). When this division occurs, it creates animosity between the Ummah, completely splitting the Ummah and deviating away from Allah's commands and the Prophet's teachings, leading to an antagonistic attitude.

The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other." He illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands. Sahih al-Bukhari 2446

This Hadith gives the example of bricks to show how when they are put together it has more power as they are stronger together. This is how the Ummah should be; all Muslims no matter the background, race, or culture, should work together in being united unlike how we see the Ummah now: divided due to individuals' own backwards mentality, own selfishness, driving the Ummah apart and passing down the wrong mentality and teachings to future generations.

Science On Unity vs Qur'an & Hadith

The most amazing thing about Islam is that Allah has already ordained what strengthens the Ummah in the Qur'an 1400 years ago as well as the Prophet (ﷺ) who continuously emphasises the broadness of Unity. Whereas science is only discovering the importance of working together to achieve an end goal and having guidance in place (Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy).

The Holy Qur'an states:

"And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided." Surah Al-Imran 3:103

Are we as an Ummah remembering the sufferings of our brothers and sisters around the world? What are we doing as an Ummah to help? The Prophet (ﷺ) already knew the importance of the Ummah being united as one as Rasulullah (ﷺ) said:

"You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it." Sahih al-Bukhari 6011

The Qur'an and hadith evidently show that having the mentality of 'me, myself & I' is not an option as the Ummah has to have the quality of being selfless, being there for our Muslim brothers & sisters, and taking action, whether that is through charity, checking up on our neighbours, or most importantly making du'a.

How to Strengthen Unity

In order for change to come about, it is essential to look at ourselves and think of our actions and whether we are on the side of strengthening Unity or are we on the side of causing divisions and sects? If we can modify our behaviour and change ourselves then this will slowly affect the people we are with, the environment we go into, causing a fluctuation in behaviour and attitude within society which is needed.

Here are a few points in order to help make this change:

1. Wish for your brother what you wish for yourself.

It is easy to be selfish in a world where everyone only thinks of themselves.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself." Sahih al-Bukhari 13

To get along with people and form a bond, it is important to get rid of all ill-feelings within the hearts and to remove any seedling of arrogance. Think about what you would want for yourself. When you know the good you want for yourself you should then want this for your Muslim brothers and sisters too as this helps pass goodness and staying away from evil.

2. Be a guide for each other.

In The Holy Qur'an Allah says:

"The believing men and women are protecting friends of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong." Surah At-Tawbah 9:71

Looking out for one another, through simply instructing what is right and refraining from evil through good relationships.

3. Always seek ways to benefit others.

Jabir (RA) reported:

"The Messenger of Allah never said 'no' to anyone who asked him for anything." Sahih al-Bukhari 6034

To make society a better place, the best possible example to follow is the Prophet (ﷺ) who always put other people's needs before his own and would always help at any chance he could.

Prophet's Last Sermon

Unity within the Ummah is regarded as a core foundation within Islam and was reiterated once again by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in his last sermon as he said:

"Arabs have no superiority over non-Arabs and Non-Arabs have no Superiority over Arabs, you are all equal except by piety and good actions. I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray." Farewell Sermon of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ)

For the Prophet (ﷺ) to mention the importance of Unity and Equality of all Muslims in his last sermon, it shows the great importance placed in it and how the Prophet (ﷺ) tried to urge the Ummah to recognise the value of it, as through this, love and respect is created with one another and most importantly, following the words of the Prophet (ﷺ) ensures that you will never go astray as there is no doubt in the words of the Prophet (ﷺ). Not only will this create a harmonious effect within the Ummah, but it also establishes the force of the Ummah as everyone is bonded through the ideology of the Oneness of Allah and validates the importance of following the Holy Qur'an, shown by our beloved Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Aisha Begum

University graduate and Alimiyyah student of Shaykh Faizulhaq Abdulaziz حفظه الله