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How to settle differences among the Ummah? |
Mankind was
once one single nation but then differences arose.
وَمَا كَانَ النَّاسُ إِلا أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَاخْتَلَفُوا
All mankind were once but one single community, and only
later did they begin to differ...
Al-Qur'an, 010.019 (Yunus [Jonah])
كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً
All mankind were once single
community...
Al-Qur'an, 002.213 (Al-Baqara [The Cow])
Allah sent His
Messengers (a.s.) to give them glad tidings provided
they lived together as one family and to warn them
about the consequences of a disintegrated society
and resolve their differences in accordance with the
revealed book.
فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ
Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and
with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people
in matters wherein they differed...
Al-Qur'an, 002.213 (Al-Baqara [The Cow])
After
departure of the Messengers (a.s.) who had
accomplished their appointed tasks, their followers
again created differences amongst themselves because
of their selfish rivalry, in their desire to outdo
and out-strive each other.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ
None but the very people who
were given it (i.e. the Scripture) differed about it
after clear arguments had come to themٍ
because of their selfish rivalry (in their desire to
outdo and out-strive each other)...
Al-Qur'an, 002.213 (Al-Baqara [The Cow])
Those who call
themselves Muslims have done the same. The Messenger
of Allah, Muhammad (a.s.) founded them into one
nation, who would then make the whole world into one
single community again. But instead of making the
whole world one, they themselves became divided into
numerous political and religious factions. This division was because of nothing but
the selfish rivalry among their so-called religious
and political leaders which seeped down to commoners
as well. In doing so
Muslims have violated Allah's Clear Command, which
is:
وَلا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَأُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And be not like those who became divided and differed after
clear arguments had come to them, and these it is they who
shall have a grievous penalty.
Al-Qur'an, 003.105 (Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran])
The terrible retribution
Muslims are having by the
hands of those whom they call non-Muslims, is indeed the
grievous penalty of which Allah warned them if they
would become divided and differ. This is their
punishment in this world and surely they will get
punishment in the hereafter as well.
The only way to get rid of this punishment
is to become united once again by settling their differences, and
the only way to settle the differences is to decide matters
according to His Revealed Book.
وَمَا
اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ
Whatever it be wherein you
differ, the decision thereof is with Allah
Al-Qur'an, 042.010 (Ash-Shura [Council, Consultation])
Allah is
أَحْكَمُ الْحَاكِمِينَ Ahkam-Al-Hakimeen,
the most Just of all the judges [11:45]. His judgment and
decisionحُكْمًا is
in His revealed Book.
أَنْزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا
...We revealed it to be a judgment of authority in
Arabic...
Al-Qur'an, 013.037 (Ar-Rad [The Thunder])
So, in order to resolve their differences, Muslims should decide
all their matters according to Allah's Book, about which
Allah has claimed that there is no inconsistencies or
discrepancies
اخْتِلافًا
in it.
أَفَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلافًا كَثِيرًا
Do they not reflect upon the Quran? Were it from anyone
other than Allah they would have found many inconsistencies
or discrepancies therein.
Al-Qur'an, 004.082 (An-Nisa [Women])
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