Four Broad Categories of Today's Muslim Ummah:

Muhammad Rizwan-ul Haque

Founding Chairman, Dawood Family Takaful, CEO of an Investment Bank and Director of a Trust

1. Introduction: By the end of time, Muslims will be divided into different groups. Each group will think that they are the blessed one. 

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3. Hadith: Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “My Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of whom will be in Hell except one group.” They said: Who are they, O’ Messenger of Allaah? He said: “(Those who follow) that which I and my companions follow”. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi). 

   
   

4. What Should be Our Goal? In above is a clear guiding principle for Ummah. Therefore, we must follow the teachings of Al-Quran and the ways of Prophet Muhammad SAW, which was strictly adopted by HIS Companions RAA. We should beware of every sect that differs from the main body of religion by introducing and following innovation (or bidat). The Prophet SAW said: “Whoever among you lives after I am gone will see a great deal of dissent.” Abu Dawood (4067); al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

   
   

5. The Current Scenario: Today we (Muslim) are divided in four broad categories, which are briefly defined below.

   
   

6. Ideologist: They spend time & energy to understand and spread the message of Quran & Sunnah with the sole objective that; (a) how we have to live as a family (b) as a society (c) what economic system, we need to adopt and (d) what sort of political and governance system will ensure socioeconomic justice for the masses living in a society. The number of such people is limited and they don't have a large number of followers, because they do not / cannot offer worldly attractions to their followers. Such people maybe very rigid, and to some extent arrogant as well.

   
   

7. Orthodox: They represent religious leaders who have a large number of followers, because they own & operate either; (a) Masjids (b) Madrasas (c) Specialized institutions (like; Islamic banks, Islamic funds etc) (d) Mazars etc. Their primary objective is associated with worldly gains. Of course, they may also be making an effort to spread the message of religion, but the worldly attractions always have better of them. Perhaps, for such people Allah SWT has said that ‘they have sold the signs for a meager price’.

   
   

8. Modern / Enlightened: They have kept 'Deen' (religion) and 'Dunya' (this world) in two separate compartments in their lives. They are well educated professionals and maybe performing all religious duties, but are also engaged in other social activities, which maybe forbidden, as per the religion.

   
   

9. Secular: They are born to Muslim families, but for them religion is not too important and they regard 'love with humanity / nature' as the supreme religion. Their mannerism is exemplary, they work for noble cause and their business dealings are also impeccable. They interact and do not mind performing social activities with people of other religions without any formality, so much so that they don't mind themselves and / or their kids to get married to men and women outside the religion.

   
   

10. An Ideal Scenario: Ideally, we wish that the ideologist will be able to present a clearer picture of; family, social, economic and political laws as per Quran & Sunnah, which will be accepted & adopted by the orthodox, while rejecting Bidat. The enlightened will professionally & personally adopt those laws and the best practices of social & business norms will be learnt from the secular group, while latter are expected to follow the religion in letter and in spirit. 

    
    

11. Dua: May Allah SWT help & guide us to become one united Ummah (Aameen).