Following the Paths of Satan
The Prophet (SAWS) informed that his community would divide into groups and parties and that it would follow the ways of those communities that proceeded it. He (SAWS) said:
"You will follow the ways of those before you even if they would enter a lizard's hole you would follow them." The companions replied, "The Jews and the Christians?" The Prophet (SAWS) said, "Who else?" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
If you would investigate the principles that led those heretical sects to deviate (from the way of the Prophet) you will find that those principles were taken from either the Jews or the Christians.
Indeed the Prophet (SAWS) informed that the schisms in his community would be more numerous and more severe than what occurred aforetime among the Jews and the Christians. He (SAWS) said:
"The Jews and the Christians divided into 72 groups, and this community will divide into 73 groups all of which will be in the fire but one." The companions asked, "Who is the saved group, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied (SAWS), "They are those who are upon like what I am upon today and my Companions." [At-Tirmithi, At-Tabarani in his Mu'jamus-Saghir, and al-Uqayli in his Du'afa. This narration is hasan.]
This statement is among the signs of the Prophethood of Muhammad (SAWS). For we have witnessed such schism and differences and we have been stung by its bite. Indeed, with each passing era, the Muslims witness greater schism and more severe differences than the previous era. This is what the Prophet (SAWS) alluded to by his statement:
" Whoever lives among you after me will witness much disagreement. It is upon you to follow my sunnah and the sunnah of my rightly-guided-successors (in belief and deed) after me. Cling to these with all your might. And beware of all introductions (into the religion), for every introduction is a deviation..." [This narration is sahih and has been reported by at-Tirmithi and others.]
Those among the Prophet's Companions who did live a long time (after the Prophet) did come across the first occurrences of disagreement within this community. The witnessed the appearance of the Khawarij, the Mu'tazilah, the Rafidah, and the planting of the seeds of Sufism.
The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) did not only diagnose the disease but also prescribed its cure. Disagreement is a disease and its cure is to hold to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah as understood by the early righteous Muslims of this community.
It was for this reason the Messenger (SAWS) also emphasized the importance of clinging on to the sunnah of his rightly-guided successors.
For their sunnah does not deviate from his sunnah, nor does their path diverge from his path. They stood upon the truth and spoke the truth and by them truth was established and spoken. Allah chose them to be the companions of His Prophet (SAWS). Allah is pleased with them and they with Him.
Innovation in the religion is the source and root of all corruption. It was for this reason the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) warned against innovation. He said:
"And beware of all introductions (into the religion). For every introduction is a heresy and every heresy is a deviation."
Remarkably, it has been claimed by some that the existence of numerous jama'at (groups) participating in the field of da'wah is a sign of the health of the community. To them, I say that the numbering of the jama'at is a sign of the illness of the community; for it is a result of the many differences that exist between the Muslims. Differences are always evil. Evil can never bring with it any good.
This becomes more apparent, if we remember that many of these contemporary jama'at (groups) have principles that link them to certain historical heretical sects. For example, charging individuals as infidel due to their acts of disobedience and their sins, denial of the ahad hadith reports, rejecting much of the sunnah due to their reasoning and following of their whims; and denial of Allah's attributes.
Many of these contemporary jama'at have been based on truth and falsehood. Whenever they cling to the truth, that is with them, they draw closer to the straight path. Whenever they distance themselves from the truth they draw closer to the 72 astray sects that the Prophet (SAWS) forewarned us of.
For this reason, it becomes imperative that we recognize falsehood, its proponents and their methodologies for this is the only way we may guard ourselves form such falsehood and take caution from its proponents and their methodologies.
It is also equally imperative that we learn the path of those whom Allah has blessed, as they are the only saved group. This can only take place by possessing correct knowledge based upon the clear evidences and proofs draws from the Book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah as understood by the early righteous Muslims of this community.
I emphasize again the importance of understanding the Book of Allah and the Sunnah according to the understanding of the early righteous Muslims, for they were the most knowledgeable of all Muslims concerning Allah and His Messenger (SAWS). They alone implemented the Qur'aan as Allah is pleased with. The Prophet (SAWS) testified that they were the best of mankind. He (SAWS) said:
"The best of mankind is my generation, then those who followed them, and then those who followed those. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
No difference of opinion is known to have existed among the early righteous Muslims in matters of belief. One should not pay attention to the claim of some that the Prophet's Companions differed in matters of Creed.
For this reason the call to purify the beliefs of the Muslims and rectify their methodologies for understanding and acting upon Islam is the Dawah of the Messenger (SAWS); as it is also the Dawah of every authentic Dawah. If differences in matters of shari'ah are unacceptable, how much mores with matters of belief? One cannot imagine that the Muslims will be unified without first correcting their beliefs.
For Allah does not send His victory to people who practice shirk and adhere to falsehood.
Allah will give victory to those who give Him Victory. Indeed, Allah is Strong, Mighty.