Factions in Islam

Ildiko Polgar

I am a novice in Islam, embracing the Holy Qur'an for its pure and uncomplicated simplicity. Thus, I continue to be amazed when I hear Islam repeatedly twisted and diverted away from what I believe God intended for us. Why is it that people work so hard to make something so simple so complicated?

  ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِلْمُتَّقِينَ(2: 02)

(2: 02)This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah.

It is not a far reach to recognize distortions in Islam according to Sunni and Shi’ite ideology. One only has to embrace what God tells us in the Holy Qur'an to hear Islam according to Allah’s words.  For me, Allah’s command cannot be clearer. Given this clarity, I do not understand why others need to flip the meaning of the Qur'an and transform it to something unrecognizable. With a “new and improved” Qur'an interpretation, they divide themselves into different groups under the guise of Islam, and continue to call themselves Muslim.    

  .. وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَإِيَّايَ فَاتَّقُونِ(2: 41)

(2: 41)Believe in what I have sent down, confirming what is with you. Do not be the first to reject it and do not sell my signs for a paltry price. Have fear of me alone.

Today I heard about a splinter group of Shi’ite Islam: Isma‘ilism.  A Christian friend of ours was telling us how his daughter was marrying an Ismaili Muslim, and according to him, a “more westernized faction.” My thoughts ran in so many directions:

 (1) What does an Ismaili Muslim translate to?

 (2) How do western values get filtered into Allah’s words?

 (3) Why is just being Muslim not enough?

  وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا .. (3: 103)

(3: 103) Hold fast to God’s rope altogether; do not split into factions. . .  

While I did some basic research, I won’t spend time deciphering the specifics of Isma’ilism. More importantly, I will focus on what I humbly view as the key question – Why do Muslims work so hard to form faction groups, and then develop a group doctrine based on misrepresenting and invalidating Allah’s words? 

  شَرَعَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ .. (42: 13)

The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein ..

  مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ * مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ(30: 31-32)

(30: 31-32)Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah,- * Those who split up their Religion, and become Sects, - each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!

I am only a novice in Islam, but my simple understanding of Allah’s message is clear: 

  وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ(3: 105)

(3: 105) Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: For them is a dreadful penalty

و ..الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ

And .. Praise be to Allah, who hath guided us to this felicity: never could we have found guidance, had it not been for the guidance of Allah