Ya Bunayya: #14 – Islam is Not Sufism, Salafism, Ikhwanism, or Talibanism

Ya Bunayya!

Assalamu ‘alaykum,

Yes… you read it or heard me right. Islam is Not Sufism, Salafism, Ikhwan, or Taliban. It’s also not Madkhalism…. Islam is rather Islam. Nothing but Islam… And that is it. Before you turn away, patiently read the next section, first.

Listen Attentively

Ya Bunayya!

Listen to me attentively… I said Islam is not Sufism, Salafism, Ikhwanism, Talibanism, Madkhalism and whatnot. I didn’t say a Sufi, a Salafi, an Ikhwani, a Talibani or Madkhali is not Muslim.

What’s applicable to subscribing to Sufism, Salafism, Ikhwanism, Talibanism, and Madkhalism and making the world revolve around any of them is also applicable to strictly subscribing to a Madhhab. In other words, Islam is not Ḥanifiyyah, Mālikiyyah, Shāfi’iyyah, Ḥanbaliyyah or other schools of thought. This doesn’t mean a Ḥanafī, a Mālikī, a Shāfī’ or a Ḥanbalī isn’t a Muslim.

None has the ultimate representation of Islam. While each of them is presumably propagating and serving Islam, each of them falls short at some point. Evidence to this is when the authorities of a country jumps the ship to adopt a fatwa or a few from a madhhab different from the official madhhab of the country.

As a Muslim and seeker of knowledge and wisdom, you should read for all. Read from all sects and for all schools of thought. Learn each of them. Undoubtedly, each has strengths that represent Islam. And each has a weakness that may misalign with some teachings of Islam. Take the authentic and leave what may lack basis or imply misconception.

What’s Islam Then?

Ya Bunayya,

The question that might have been ringing in your head is, “if that’s the case, then what’s Islam?” Am I right? Errrrm… yes…

Well, the simplest way to understand Islam holistically is to look at it as an ocean. Yes, Islam is like an ocean.

The ocean as said by The Prophet Muhammad, ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, is something, the waters of which is pure, and the dead fishes of which are permissible for consumption (See Abū Dāwūd, 83).  An ocean hides in its belly treasures of pearls and abundant wealth. Moreover, an ocean contains islands. But no island contains an ocean.

Every island is in a different location. And its inhabitants see the world from a different perspective. No inhabitants of a particular island can claim the ultimate representation of an ocean. At the same time, no inhabitants of a particular island can deny the fact that the ocean owns or accommodates all its islands.

Islam is bigger than any sect. Islam is greater than any school of thought. This can’t be emphasized enough. If your loyalty is to a given sect, or school, your relevance can only go to the extent, to which that sect or school of thought can go. However, if your loyalty is for Islam, then your relevance shines, as long as the sun rises and falls.

Benefits of Remaining Holistic than Championing a Sect

Ya Bunayya,

You may be thinking, “then, what is the way out?”

The way out is to embrace Islam with open-mindedness. Let your boundaries set by Islam itself by your limit. Do not restrict yourself to a sect or school of thought. Mind you, I’m by no means implying that you should undermine the sacrifices, contributions and struggles of such sects and schools for the sake of Islam.

The suggestion is, you must be informed about Islam. How to do that? You must learn the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of The Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam from real scholars and seekers of knowledge. Don’t ever learn Islam from jokers, nor from someone who doesn’t believe in it, or is a Muslim but doesn’t practice Islam. Obviously, you won’t be studying Islam from the media, nor from celebrities. Would you?

This is because, when we learn from someone, we don’t only receive his knowledge. We also adopt or inherit his spiritual state and breathes. Most of which are transferred passively.

This is what causes many to adopt opinions of a sect and the them dearer than the teaching of The Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. If this happens to a person who learns from a practicing Muslim scholar, what more if the scholar is not a practicing one. Or worst still, what more if the scholar is not a Muslim in the first place.

Ya Bunayya,

There are few benefits for believing and living as a Muslim rather than restricting one’ self to a given sect or school of thought. Here are a few:

1. You are less restricted by a Madhab’s rules and politics. Yes, every sect or group has its internal philosophy and politics that you must subscribe to. While it may not be unislamic, the interest of the sect or group has priority over the general interest of Islam.
2. You are able to look at things with a broader lens. Remember the ocean? It looks at all islands within it and the treasures what it carries in its belly. However, every island only sees the ocean from its viewpoint.
3. You become flexible. With a broader lens, you become more accepting of a Muslim. You don’t reject the other because of the group or sect he belongs to. You deal with your fellow Muslims on one basis. That’s the basis that they’re Muslims.
4. You become a free Muslim. Your only obligation is to Islam and the authentic teachings, orders and instructions of The Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. And no Muslim should have problem with that.
5. Sectarianism among Muslims started only after the passing of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam and his companions raḍiya Allāhu ’anhum. And the number grows by the day. The more you think sectarianism is the way forward, the more you fall in confusion and lack of direction. For instance, if you are in Salafism, and they anger you, you’re likely to jump to Sufism. If the Sufis angr you, you may jump to Madkhalism, and there you go in more confusion.

Conclusion

Ya Bunauya!

You can’t be a Sufi, Salafi, Ikhwani, Talibani, Madkhali or Tablighi without being a Muslim. However, you can be a Muslim, live as a Muslim and die as a Muslim without subscribing to any of the above.

Remember what Allah says in Surah Fuṣṣilat,

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

“Who speaks better than one who calls to Allah and does good works and says, “I am surely of the Muslims”?” (Sūrah Fussilat, 41:33).

Say “I’m Muslim,” and you are safe. It may not be convenient in the eyes of people. But it’s, definitely safe in the eyes of Allah, and by the side of The Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Allāhu Ḥāfiẓ 🙂