sunni vs shia't

[Locky]

salaam brothers and sisters. This is going to be a very complicated topic, but i would like to know some answers.

why is it that we have so many sects in our religion when Islam claims to be the true religion? well, some of u might say that compared to other religions Islam has few sects. my point is, how will a non-muslim believe that Islam is true when we the muslims r fighting amongst each other.

Is it true that some people didn't like Abu Bakker(PBUH) to lead the muslim umma after the death of prophet muhammed (PBUH)? This people wanted Ali(PBUH) to lead the umma so they formed groups and hence the name shia't.

can anyone tell me the major differences between sunni and shia't muslims? and who r this wahabis?

[Abdur_Rahman]

Good question sister, i will get back on this when I am a little free.
Salam

[mahdi]

bsmil rabil noor,
assalamu alaikum,
there are two main topics in your question.
1-the view of non-muslims on us based on having various sects
2-the position of sects.
the first question can be answered simply by saying that although we have many sects, but they all have the same fundementals that is
a-unity of the creator
b-prophethood(all from adam a.s. to mohammad s.a.w.
c-day of judgement
they all share the same pillars such as zakat, haj, salat etc
also, they all have the same book.
clearly, this is not shared by any other belief.
one cannot negate the belief due o the fact that there are variations. this would be the same as denying a prophet because there have been false prophets, or to deny the creator by saying that there have been many who have claimed to be god.
the answer to the second question needs more time but one thing is important to note. we must hear from each sect what they claim and not what another sect gives as representation of another sects belief. by default any oe sect would claim to be the right one and would use all instruments to reject others. if the leaders of that sect have less piety then they would not stop at calling others mushriks either. we have seen in recent years many examples of that, where the so called leaders of a sect have for themselves issued summary versions of another sects belief(totally false) and then issued fatwas that they are kafars etc.
therefore, my humble advice based on qur'an is to ead about each sect frmotheir own books and find out the truth, that way you never go wrong. after all qur'an teaches us to listen and obey the good(alazdena estami'ool qa'wl wa ettabi'oo ahsana)
wasalam,
mahdi

[Abdur_Rahman]

Originally posted by Locky:
salaam brothers and sisters. This is going to be a very complicated topic, but i would like to know some answers.

AR:
Indeed this may be very complicated lets pray to Allah (SWT) that it becomes clear as we move.

Lucky:
why is it that we have so many sects in our religion when Islam claims to be the true religion? well, some of u might say that compared to other religions Islam has few sects. my point is, how will a non-muslim believe that Islam is true when we the muslims r fighting amongst each other.

AR:
Actually there is only one truth, and if you really look for it and are sincere you will surely find it because truth is inbuilt in humans. Why do we have so many sects? very complicated question, which has many answers.
1. we as muslims have something wrong with our Iman (faith)?
2. we are too arrogant to find out the truth, becasue we are so sure that 'I am right and you are absolutely wrong', which means that I am not prepared to listen to anyone else even though they may say things that are backed by heigher sources such as the Quran and the well established authentic hadiths.
3. Our establishment has kept us deliberatley in the darkness, becuase it is through this that they can rule and have their selfish interest upheld.
4. the enemies of Truth and Justice have a major power in this. The enemies of Islam have always been our enemies, this is also a historical fact, and the way they have been active against the Muslims are (a) military action (b) economic sanctions, (c)devide and rule (d) cultural domination, b, c, and d are things that they are active even as we speak.
They have bought with money and positions some so called 'Maulanas and Alims' from amongst us who give out verdicts that suits their masters and not that which has been commanded by Allah (SWT) and the holy Prophet (Saw).
It is through these Munafiks (Hypocrites) that the enemies of our dear Islam strike and they have been somewhat successful due to our inactive participation in religion and our own selfish interests.
Yes I have to admit we are a very bad example to other people, just look at the lives of our fellow 'muslims', they do business that are haram i.e. sell alcohol, they lie for a small thing, they cheat the benefit system, they fight literally in the mosques over leadership, they devide themselves in classes which is something that the Noble Prophet (Saw) banned, for he said if there is a class then that is the class of the pious and God fearing.
Never mind the Shia Sunni business 'we' are a bag full of rubish which if the Prophet (Saw) was here would definately have thrown away in the dustbin


Lacky:
Is it true that some people didn't like Abu Bakker(PBUH) to lead the muslim umma after the death of prophet muhammed (PBUH)? This people wanted Ali(PBUH) to lead the umma so they formed groups and hence the name shia't.

AR:
It is true to an exent. There was and still is a group of people who never gave their alligiance to (H)Abu Bakr, umar and Uthman.
Before I go into this let me tell you a tragic story that occured during the last day (s)of the Great Prophet(Saw) of Allah (SWT).
The tragedy of Black Thursday:
While the Prophet (Saw) was very ill in the last moments of his life he ordered his companions to bring him INK and PAPER so that he can write something which if followed the Muslims will NEVER go astry. At this juncture a group of his leading companions objected and said the "the prophet has gone delirious (mad)due to illness he does not no what he is talking about and in anycase he have hte Book of God and thatis sufficient for us, we do not need anything else..." Another group of the leading companions in anger said something like " how dare you, this is th eprophet of Allah ordering us to write soemthing which will ensure our safety and guidence untill the day of Judgement..." and so the companions started a major, shouting and screaming at each other, seeing this the Prophet (saw)got very hurt and angry and he told off his companions and said " it is not fitting for you to shout above the voice of your prophet" and he ordered them all to leave.
The group that wanted to bring the Ink and Paper were said to be backing Imam Ali while the other who disobeyed the prophet were backing Abu Bakr. And it was huzrat Umar who burst out saying that the Prophet had gone 'delirious' (Nauzubillah) and thus was the main person to disobey the Holy Prophet (Saw). This story in clearly written in all major history books and Hadiths including the authentic hadiths according to Bukhari and others.
One explanation given for Umar saying what he said was that the prophet was so ill that he the prophet should not be disturbed...etc but the arguement against it is that the Prophet (Saw) was about to officially write down his successor before he leaves the people, they say he was about to write down the Name of Imam Ali as his successor and it is for this reasont that Umar and AbuBakr objected.

When the great leader of all creation Muhammad (Saw) passed away, his immidiate family and some companions were busy with his holy funeral meanwhile reat of the muslim community got toghether at the Prophet's Mosque and were busy fighting over who should lead the muslims since the Prophet passed away.
The Ansars (Helpers)of Medina decided put forward a proposal, which was that the leadership be divided between the Ansars and the Quraish in a powersharing deal, this was rejected by AbuBakr and Umar and there is even a report a Ansar's candidate was killed by the opposition.
After the rejection of Ansars proposal then Caliph Umar proposed that AbuBakr should lead since he lead a prayer of the Prophet, he selected and proposed it to the muslims in the mosque saying that the Chalip should be Abu Bakr, selection got more backing first fromt hr Meccans specially yhe Quraishis and then the Ansars also followed and thus Abu Bakr was selected and then elected by majority vote to lead the Muslims. This was happening whle the Prophet's Body was still being buried!

A little later after the Funeral, some people came to the Ahlul Bait (the family of the Prophet Saw)lead by Umar and he demanded that Ali (Husband of Fatima, afther of Hassan, Hussain, the Cousin of the Prophet (Saw) should offer his alligience to Abu Bakr since the muslims have unanimously elected him to be the Chaliph.
Imam Ali refused immidiately saying word tot he effect that "your election was illigal, the leadership belongs to us the family of the Prophet" nad he Ali did not give his alligiance until 6 months after AbuBakr's election. Some of the famous suporters opf Ali and his claim to the Leadership included great companions of the Prophet (Saw): Abu Dhar Ghifarri, Salman Farsi, Mikdad, Ammar Yasser etc this group has been refered toas the Shias, meaning the followers of Ali ( shia/s literally means the partisan or followers of Ali).
Supporters of Ali never acknowledge the Chaliphate to this day they insist that it was a right only for the Ahlul Bait and Imam Ali was the first.
They base their arguements from both the Quran and the Sunna, not only from thier own sources but they use our Sunni sources too back their claims.

can anyone tell me the major differences between sunni and shia't muslims? and who r this wahabis?

lets say what we have in common first!
shias and sunnis bt belive in :
Oneness of Allah (Swt)
Prophet Muhammad (Saw) was the last Prophet of Allah (Swt)( Seal of the Prophets)
Quran being the literal words of Allah(Swt)
Day of Judgemnet (Akhirat)
Hell and Heaven
etc etc etc etc etc.............

the main difference is based the the question of Chaliphate, the sunnis say it was rightly decided by concencious (election)
the shias say No it is baseed ont he commandments of our dear Prophet who said it was Ali.
The Shias belive in Immamate that after the Phrophet Muhammad (Saw) there will be no other prophet but there will be Innocent and sinless people who will rule the univesse in pure Justice of Allah (Swt).
The Shia Imams are considered as Infallible. they have 12 in number from Imam Ali to Imam Mahdi who is in occulation (hidden by the decree of Allah Swt) and will be apparent to the general muslim masses when time is right, again these claims are based on sound hadiths. I will give these if you want them.

From this post do not make any judgement about me I am born form a strict Sunni family
and what I belive is that in Allah the supreme being, the Prophet Muhammad (Saw) and all that they have said nothing less or nothing more.
I take no pride in just hear say and I am keen to meet the truth where ever it may be even if it hurts.!
Salam sister

[BOY_4ROM_BENGAL]

Salaam Mahdi.Your answer was excellent.

[Locky]

thanks to brother Mahdi and Abdur Rahman. Is it true that Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said.. Israil is divided into 72 parts and after my death, my Ummah will be divided into 73 sects and from them only one sect will go to heaven and the rest will go to hell? if this is true, it is so worrying.

[Abdur_Rahman]

salam
Yes there exist a hadith to that effect and I think it is suppose to be Authentic, this is defininately worrying and therefore we better start asking ourselves some serious questions and try our best to find out the truth!