Islam, a universal religion
As we mentioned the Prophet Muhammad was not the only one who came with message of Islam, but what was so special about the message with which he brought? What made him unique amongst all the other prophets and messengers?
The rulings in which Islam came with were all encompassing, and were mixed in with mercy for all human beings. A way of life which was easy for people to follow and was based on the mercy from Allah SWT. It was the middle way and the easiest way.
If we look at the law of the beni-Israel at that time, whoever sinned against Allah SWT the recompense for that sin, was death- the most extreme. If you were to sin against Allah SWT with your eye, i.e. you looked at that which was haraam, the way you would be forgiven would be to remove your eye. It was a very harsh and stern way of life.
Whereas the Prophet Muhammad came with a law that was fit for all people, from all races, from all nationalities, with all different tongues and it was embodied in mercy. This is why Allah (swt) says in the Quran, to Prophet Muhammad: "We sent you only as a mercy to mankind".
So now, you have entered in to Islam and you have seen many differences.
1 - First point is to know that the Muslims today, in general, are not the true example of what it is to be Muslim. So you entered Islam based on belief, which is what Habib is explaining. You didn’t enter Islam as a part of a group, or political party. You entered Islam to make a link between you and Allah, as a servant.
2 - Secondly, Muslims today in general need to believe in the following to be classified as Muslim- Believing in all the messengers from Prophet Adam to Prophet Muhammad- you have to believe in all, and not leaving out any of them.
So now we need to explain 2 points- differences and division.
a) We see differences amongst the Muslims, amongst any people, any followers of certain ways. The Sunnah of Rasoolullah is that there are differences of opinion, different ways of doing things. For example, I like green, he likes blue, I like white- this adds spice to life. There must be difference in opinions for life to go. Imagine we all liked the same colours, same cars; life would be boring. The main point here is that differences in opinions should not lead to division amongst us as a people. Whoever reaches a point where he sees the differences of opinions and divisions between someone, and then separates himself from them, then this person is nothing but an ignorant person.
1 - Looking at the point more specifically, whoever of you who have seen divisions amongst Muslims today, we ask you to look at Islam from the very beginning, not at just what the situation is today. Don’t judge Islam based on the time and place in which you are living. Look at the history, understand Islam has a grand history, it has its heroes. We need to get back to how we were. Look back to get a complete judgment and a better picture.
2 - Look at the first generations of Islam. The Salaf- those who passed the early period of Islam. The Sahaba- the companions of the prophet. The Taabi'een- the generation after the companions and then the Taba Taabi'een- the generation after the taabi'een. Look at following great Imam's- Imam Shaafi, Imam Abu Hanfia, Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal- they were all of the first generation after the companions. They all had minor differences of opinions in the applications of the law, application of the Quran, the sunnahs, the minor affairs, yet they all were united on Laa ilaaha il allah- creed. In the fiqh, law, shariah, there were slight differences in the small areas. For example, one is their understanding in their differences in the Quran. This doesn’t mean that there is more than one true explanation of a particular verse; no this means that there are multiple meanings from these different verses, and truth is all encompassing, and wide. There is room for interpretations, from those who are qualified to interpret- which is not just any man. They were united because they all appreciated that all of this came from one source. The sahaba for example lived at the time when the revelation was coming down, and they had the master who was explaining the meanings to do. All the 4 Imams recognised where the revelations came from- and were united. They all knew it was a mercy for all of mankind. So Islam came with the shariah which cancelled any other law before hand. When you look today at those people who come up with different ways to do with finance, or social systems, or whatever system exists which comes from those who don’t have a link with Allah, you will see these systems fail- just like we have the financial crisis now. Many of them are now saying we should go back to the Islamic financial system because none of these systems were linked to Allah SWT. They were not linked to any revelation sent from Allah. When it's linked to revelation, obviously it's linked to the truth, and Allah knows what is best for us. The Prophets were linked to Allah through revelation. Those who have hatred in their hearts and jealousy, they don’t see the wisdom in the shariah.
3 - So therefore, be people who follow one of the 4 schools of thought- they are of the ahlul sunnah wa al jamaa' - the people of the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad and the majority. Therefore they are on the true path for a number of reasons.
1- All are in agreement in their aqeedah, their belief. Belief in Allah, belief in the prophets, the angels, the day of judgement- these beliefs never change.
2- They are all linked with an unbroken chain, going back to the Prophet Muhammad saw. For example Imam Shaafi, all of his teachers are linked all back to the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Habib Hussain can also tell you that all his teachers, going back to the prophet Muhammad SAW. This is a blessing for us. No other religion has this chain of connection like we do. Between Habib Hussain and the Prophet Muhammad are 38 teachers, who have massed on the linked message. This is not like hearing something from Habib Hussain and then going and teaching it to someone else, no, this is the ijaaza, which is the sheikh giving you permission to teach what you have learnt. This ensures that the understanding is correct, according to what the Prophet SAW wanted us to understand. Therefore you cannot get your knowledge; you cannot learn Islam from Google or the internet because two people will read the one thing and then their understanding will be different. This is where the division starts and the arguments and the first start. You best look for somebody that has the unbroken chain and ijaaza going back to the Prophet saw to learn from. The third point is that the greatest leaders of the ummah, all follow this system of unbroken chain going all the way back to the Prophet SAW. Just pick a name of any great known scholar, and you will see that they have an unbroken chain going back to the Prophet SAW.
To give an example of the differences of opinion yet unity as one- Habib Hussain in fiqh, follows Imam Shaafi, where as I (the translator) follows Imam Abu Hanifa's fiqh- yet we are all united as brothers, as one, all with the same belief.
With the followers of Imam Shaafi, there are certain conditions for wudu, which could be more or less than Imam Abu Hanifas opinion. Or the fiqh salaah of Imam Abu Hanfias fiqh, could be more or less strict in one area than Imam Shaafis- however if we got together in one masjid, we would all pray behind the imam as one. There is no difference there, because the unity is more important than anything else. Don’t judge Islam because of those few people who insist on difference and those who insist on division. People kill each other because of differences in skin colour, different race colour, and even different soccer teams. You see this as nothing but ignorance, in the same vein, don’t become so extreme just because he puts his hands here and she puts her hands there- we are all worshipping Allah, we are all united in that sense. For those people who are so strict on following a certain sheikh, or group, and doesn’t want to be a part of any other group and they claim they are right and everyone is wrong, this is where the division of the ummah starts and ignorance.
These issues are important. Habib Hussain wants you to think about what he was talking about. He mentioned some names of different groups, whether they are Waafit, Shia, Wahaabi, Sufi- all the different names you can think of. They are nothing but names at this stage, you need to go to the three points we explained earlier. If you want to analyze and do a test of these different groups, ask if these groups have the 3 points we mentioned? Especially ask do they have the unbroken chain going back to the prophet Muhammad? The differences maybe differences in aqeeda/belief, if this is spoilt or you're in doubt of it, then you are in danger of stepping outside of Islam. Aqeeda shouldn’t change. For example, if you don’t believe in Salaam or the crossing over the bridge on the day of judgement, or the judgment before Allah- then you are outside of Islam. These differences in aqeeda is where the danger lies, and you have left the ahlul sunnah wal jamaa, and puts himself in danger. There are 2 ways a person puts himself in danger. 1- Foundations. These foundations, if a person has doubts in his belief when it comes to the foundations such as tawheed (oneness of Allah), the angels, or one of the prophets- then this person has stepped outside of Islam. Whereas a person who differs on some of the small points of aqeeda, then we call him a mubtada, an innovator.
The difference between a kaafi and a mubtada. A kaafir is someone who is not on the path. An innovator is someone who was on the path and then deviated on to a wrong path.
The best thing to do is take on a sheikh, so you don’t loose the way, who is ahlul sanad, because he can help you and difficult for him to deviate. Whoever wants to know the truth just look at who you are sitting with and who you are taking the knowledge from? Don't look down at people and judge people, take a look at yourself and don’t busy yourself with the affairs of other people- this is not the way of the Prophet SAW. The sheikh who says I'm right, everyone else is wrong, they're kaafir- this is incorrect, this is complete deviation from the Prophet SAW. Does your sheikh remind you of the Prophet SAW? The one whom you sit with who guides you to be gentle, not to judge, give people a change, a thousand chances, why do you judge him? If Allah doesn’t judge him until his very last breath. If your sheikh is calling you onto the way of the Prophet SAW and he reminds you of the prophet SAW, then know that he's authentic.
The rulings in which Islam came with were all encompassing, and were mixed in with mercy for all human beings. A way of life which was easy for people to follow and was based on the mercy from Allah SWT. It was the middle way and the easiest way.
If we look at the law of the beni-Israel at that time, whoever sinned against Allah SWT the recompense for that sin, was death- the most extreme. If you were to sin against Allah SWT with your eye, i.e. you looked at that which was haraam, the way you would be forgiven would be to remove your eye. It was a very harsh and stern way of life.
Whereas the Prophet Muhammad came with a law that was fit for all people, from all races, from all nationalities, with all different tongues and it was embodied in mercy. This is why Allah (swt) says in the Quran, to Prophet Muhammad: "We sent you only as a mercy to mankind".
So now, you have entered in to Islam and you have seen many differences.
1 - First point is to know that the Muslims today, in general, are not the true example of what it is to be Muslim. So you entered Islam based on belief, which is what Habib is explaining. You didn’t enter Islam as a part of a group, or political party. You entered Islam to make a link between you and Allah, as a servant.
2 - Secondly, Muslims today in general need to believe in the following to be classified as Muslim- Believing in all the messengers from Prophet Adam to Prophet Muhammad- you have to believe in all, and not leaving out any of them.
So now we need to explain 2 points- differences and division.
a) We see differences amongst the Muslims, amongst any people, any followers of certain ways. The Sunnah of Rasoolullah is that there are differences of opinion, different ways of doing things. For example, I like green, he likes blue, I like white- this adds spice to life. There must be difference in opinions for life to go. Imagine we all liked the same colours, same cars; life would be boring. The main point here is that differences in opinions should not lead to division amongst us as a people. Whoever reaches a point where he sees the differences of opinions and divisions between someone, and then separates himself from them, then this person is nothing but an ignorant person.
1 - Looking at the point more specifically, whoever of you who have seen divisions amongst Muslims today, we ask you to look at Islam from the very beginning, not at just what the situation is today. Don’t judge Islam based on the time and place in which you are living. Look at the history, understand Islam has a grand history, it has its heroes. We need to get back to how we were. Look back to get a complete judgment and a better picture.
2 - Look at the first generations of Islam. The Salaf- those who passed the early period of Islam. The Sahaba- the companions of the prophet. The Taabi'een- the generation after the companions and then the Taba Taabi'een- the generation after the taabi'een. Look at following great Imam's- Imam Shaafi, Imam Abu Hanfia, Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal- they were all of the first generation after the companions. They all had minor differences of opinions in the applications of the law, application of the Quran, the sunnahs, the minor affairs, yet they all were united on Laa ilaaha il allah- creed. In the fiqh, law, shariah, there were slight differences in the small areas. For example, one is their understanding in their differences in the Quran. This doesn’t mean that there is more than one true explanation of a particular verse; no this means that there are multiple meanings from these different verses, and truth is all encompassing, and wide. There is room for interpretations, from those who are qualified to interpret- which is not just any man. They were united because they all appreciated that all of this came from one source. The sahaba for example lived at the time when the revelation was coming down, and they had the master who was explaining the meanings to do. All the 4 Imams recognised where the revelations came from- and were united. They all knew it was a mercy for all of mankind. So Islam came with the shariah which cancelled any other law before hand. When you look today at those people who come up with different ways to do with finance, or social systems, or whatever system exists which comes from those who don’t have a link with Allah, you will see these systems fail- just like we have the financial crisis now. Many of them are now saying we should go back to the Islamic financial system because none of these systems were linked to Allah SWT. They were not linked to any revelation sent from Allah. When it's linked to revelation, obviously it's linked to the truth, and Allah knows what is best for us. The Prophets were linked to Allah through revelation. Those who have hatred in their hearts and jealousy, they don’t see the wisdom in the shariah.
3 - So therefore, be people who follow one of the 4 schools of thought- they are of the ahlul sunnah wa al jamaa' - the people of the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad and the majority. Therefore they are on the true path for a number of reasons.
1- All are in agreement in their aqeedah, their belief. Belief in Allah, belief in the prophets, the angels, the day of judgement- these beliefs never change.
2- They are all linked with an unbroken chain, going back to the Prophet Muhammad saw. For example Imam Shaafi, all of his teachers are linked all back to the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Habib Hussain can also tell you that all his teachers, going back to the prophet Muhammad SAW. This is a blessing for us. No other religion has this chain of connection like we do. Between Habib Hussain and the Prophet Muhammad are 38 teachers, who have massed on the linked message. This is not like hearing something from Habib Hussain and then going and teaching it to someone else, no, this is the ijaaza, which is the sheikh giving you permission to teach what you have learnt. This ensures that the understanding is correct, according to what the Prophet SAW wanted us to understand. Therefore you cannot get your knowledge; you cannot learn Islam from Google or the internet because two people will read the one thing and then their understanding will be different. This is where the division starts and the arguments and the first start. You best look for somebody that has the unbroken chain and ijaaza going back to the Prophet saw to learn from. The third point is that the greatest leaders of the ummah, all follow this system of unbroken chain going all the way back to the Prophet SAW. Just pick a name of any great known scholar, and you will see that they have an unbroken chain going back to the Prophet SAW.
To give an example of the differences of opinion yet unity as one- Habib Hussain in fiqh, follows Imam Shaafi, where as I (the translator) follows Imam Abu Hanifa's fiqh- yet we are all united as brothers, as one, all with the same belief.
With the followers of Imam Shaafi, there are certain conditions for wudu, which could be more or less than Imam Abu Hanifas opinion. Or the fiqh salaah of Imam Abu Hanfias fiqh, could be more or less strict in one area than Imam Shaafis- however if we got together in one masjid, we would all pray behind the imam as one. There is no difference there, because the unity is more important than anything else. Don’t judge Islam because of those few people who insist on difference and those who insist on division. People kill each other because of differences in skin colour, different race colour, and even different soccer teams. You see this as nothing but ignorance, in the same vein, don’t become so extreme just because he puts his hands here and she puts her hands there- we are all worshipping Allah, we are all united in that sense. For those people who are so strict on following a certain sheikh, or group, and doesn’t want to be a part of any other group and they claim they are right and everyone is wrong, this is where the division of the ummah starts and ignorance.
These issues are important. Habib Hussain wants you to think about what he was talking about. He mentioned some names of different groups, whether they are Waafit, Shia, Wahaabi, Sufi- all the different names you can think of. They are nothing but names at this stage, you need to go to the three points we explained earlier. If you want to analyze and do a test of these different groups, ask if these groups have the 3 points we mentioned? Especially ask do they have the unbroken chain going back to the prophet Muhammad? The differences maybe differences in aqeeda/belief, if this is spoilt or you're in doubt of it, then you are in danger of stepping outside of Islam. Aqeeda shouldn’t change. For example, if you don’t believe in Salaam or the crossing over the bridge on the day of judgement, or the judgment before Allah- then you are outside of Islam. These differences in aqeeda is where the danger lies, and you have left the ahlul sunnah wal jamaa, and puts himself in danger. There are 2 ways a person puts himself in danger. 1- Foundations. These foundations, if a person has doubts in his belief when it comes to the foundations such as tawheed (oneness of Allah), the angels, or one of the prophets- then this person has stepped outside of Islam. Whereas a person who differs on some of the small points of aqeeda, then we call him a mubtada, an innovator.
The difference between a kaafi and a mubtada. A kaafir is someone who is not on the path. An innovator is someone who was on the path and then deviated on to a wrong path.
The best thing to do is take on a sheikh, so you don’t loose the way, who is ahlul sanad, because he can help you and difficult for him to deviate. Whoever wants to know the truth just look at who you are sitting with and who you are taking the knowledge from? Don't look down at people and judge people, take a look at yourself and don’t busy yourself with the affairs of other people- this is not the way of the Prophet SAW. The sheikh who says I'm right, everyone else is wrong, they're kaafir- this is incorrect, this is complete deviation from the Prophet SAW. Does your sheikh remind you of the Prophet SAW? The one whom you sit with who guides you to be gentle, not to judge, give people a change, a thousand chances, why do you judge him? If Allah doesn’t judge him until his very last breath. If your sheikh is calling you onto the way of the Prophet SAW and he reminds you of the prophet SAW, then know that he's authentic.