As usual the symbols { } have been added to increase the understanding of the topic being discussed.

With so many Muslims in this world, one would think that there would be one body of believers in agreement. Well, that is not the case although it is a nice object to work towards with knowledge and temperance, of course, which is the opposite of carelessness and lazy ignorance.

The concept of unity is important in any human gathering as it opens the way for a more coordinated approach to the various problems faced by humanity.

Mankind was but one nation, but differed (later). Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your LORD, their differences would have been settled between them.     Q 10 (19)

Mankind was at one time a homogeneous group or one nation as the Quran declares but the breakdown in this system originated from mankind once knowledge came upon them. However, now that we are saddled by this ‘pain’ we should find ways to appreciate our similarities more. In religion one needs to start at the basic points and by the use of science, true history, common logic and stark honesty apply ourselves to seeking out Truth wherever it may lead, and coordinate our efforts to following it as humanly as possible.

There are various sects or groups in Islam which have notions that appear to themselves as grandiose and correct ideas but which in truth are nothing but illogical delusions. And if these sects or groups meet together for a debate as to the ‘pathway’ of the Prophet (pbh), there always occurs major divides that seemingly can’t be breeched.

There are reasons for this no doubt and they will be found in the Quran. Otherwise it is a mystery why people seemingly are taken in by logic that is twisted like a pretzel. In part, we know that if it feels good, why stop it? So, if 5+5 = 11 and that makes a person feel right and comfortable then 5+5 will = 11 no matter what proof one may bring to the contrary.

Let us take one example. In any one example the final outcome will depend upon the schemata of things. Once someone is hooked on an idea, it becomes part of their own perceptions or schemata. So to most people, unfortunately, the outcome is actually present before the parts are put together.

An example of this occurrence is when some born-again Christians want to establish the 3 in 1 principle such that there is One God with three Gods acting as One God being both separate and united at the same time. Now one example they give to show that their evidence is valid is by describing the Sun as ONE entity with THREE properties – heat, light and weight or something like that. Look at how that is packaged! The Sun has a lot more than 3 properties but when you explain that to them they just say, “Well, let’s just suppose about these 3 properties coming from 1 source.” If that doesn’t put one in a box, nothing will!

Naturally, they don’t see that that logic is pure and adulterated nonsense. And that is their trouble in that they seem deaf, dumb and blind to reality on this one point. Their logic is corrupted like the person’s logic who declares the world is flat just because when he looks at boats sailing out from a port, they appear to fall off the Earth. The curvature of the Earth will explain how the ships appear to disappear from sight but for some people it may be more intriguing to actually believe that the world is flat and that boats sailing too near the edge of the Earth have actually fallen off the Earth’s surface.

Let us take an example of something that is easy to prove but NOT universally accepted amongst Muslims. One story is all that is needed although it has been known that if you break asunder 100 fables, the desperate characters who believe in these fairytales will still cling to the next one after that. And this idea we can get from the Quran:

If WE had sent unto you a written (Message) on parchment so that they could touch it with their {very} hands, the unbelievers would have been sure to say: “This is nothing but obvious magic!”    Q (6: 7)

Here is a story about a Muslim Companion of Prophet Muhammad (pbh) who is at the center of Islam’s greatest division and his name is Ali ibn Abu Talib.

Sa‘d b. Abu Waqqas told that ALLAH’s Messenger (pbh) said to ‘Ali, “You are in the same position with relation to me as Aaron was with relation to Moses; but there will be no prophet after me.”     (Bukhari and Muslim)

The Shia sect in Islam take this as proof positive that this was meant to convey to the people that the ‘next’ in line after the Prophet (pbh) to lead the Islamic Community should have been ‘Ali. And all of their claims from other hadiths will get twisted in that direction.

The importance of this hadith can’t be overlooked. It is believed that the Shia can form a base of credibility for establishing what they call the Imamate (of which most Shia have 12 Imams and thousands upon thousands of so-called related relatives which must be honored especially if they are of the ‘black turban’ set). So the above hadith is the Launchpad for other ideas related or ‘created’ to keep the Imamate and therefore the clergy going.

What is the truth of this hadith? Well, it is a true hadith so it should give a ‘clear’ position. Indeed it truly does! For one thing, one has to go back to the time of Moses (pbh) and see his brother Aaron (pbh) being an advisor/councilor to the people when Moses (pbh) was indisposed. As to ‘Ali, he was known to be the chief and trusted advisor/councilor to the first three Caliphs due to his high wisdom and keen knowledge. So that point is explained.

During the 40 days that Moses (pbh) was on the Mountain away from his people, Aaron (pbh) was in charge of the people BUT THINGS GOT OUT OF HAND AND FITNA OR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE SPRUNG UP SUCH THAT THE UNBELIEVERS WERE GETTING ON TOP OF THE BELIEVERS IN THE GOLDEN CALF STORY AND ABOUT READY TO WRECK THE RELIGION {to threaten the very existence of the way of truth} BY WAY OF THE GOLDEN CALF. The outcome looked bad until Moses (pbh) came down from the mountain to confront the villains.

The first great Fitna in Islam occurred during the time of the third Caliph and eventually ‘Ali was embroiled in not only that Fitna but other GREAT DISTURBINCES as well which happened to threaten the very existence of the way of truth (Islam). Although ‘Ali tried valiantly to extinguish all of the fires of illogical thinking and disbelief, he was unable to completely do so. He did, however, manage to get the upper hand and stabilize the religion of truth. Although he wasn’t overcome, he didn’t get a clear cut victory either.

That is similar to what happened to Aaron after Moses (pbh) returned from his historic ‘commune’ with ALLAH for the people of Moses (pbh) at that time continued to show excess in their religious practices and Aaron (pbh) was literally overwhelmed.

Finally, did Aaron (pbh) succeed Prophet Moses after he died? The answer is NO. HE DID NOT BECOME THE SUCCESSOR TO MOSES (pbh). The one who succeeded Moses (pbh) was Joshua bin Nun (pbh). So, like Aaron, ‘Ali did not succeed Muhammad (pbh) after his death but he was an integral part of the success of the first three Caliphs whom he had great respect for.  Now we can understand the above hadith concerning ‘Ali in relationship to Prophet Muhammad (pbh)!

Some Shia are using the story of Aaron and Moses (peace be upon them both) as an explanation of why ‘Ali should have been chosen the first Caliph or successor to Muhammad (pbh). There is no logical reason, however, to support this and certainly NOT from this hadith. Other hadiths, when studied closely and in relationship to history, bear out the correct order of the first four Caliphs.

This is important to know because if one hitches one’s faith to a weak link, the weak link will collapse and everything tied to it will fall.

This is a significant concept especially when human nature is involved. Due to the philosophical notions held by the Shia about the legitimacy of the ruling class, we now have multiple problems.

The first problem occurs when it is known that ‘all’ governments that are not Shia led are considered corrupt and illegitimate. Therefore, all of these governments, due to NOT holding the Imamate should be vanquished (overthrown) to truly be Islamic. Of course that notion is absolutely ridiculous as well as being self-serving.

Another problem occurs when the citizenry are asked to go along with the system that they happen to be under but ‘secretly’ in their hearts must attach themselves to certain ‘schools of thought’ that most likely are in the Shia strongholds. That simply means that those citizens are really showing more loyalty to people like Ayatollah such and such from Hezbollah, Iraq or Iran. Now we have a real big problem! The governments who are ‘Islamic’ have a responsibility to provide resources to individuals that are, in theory, more loyal to an alien source instead of their ‘home’ country. Naturally, this provides an atmosphere of suspicion and doubt concerning loyalty to one’s government.

The Shia have had many centuries to build their bridges concerning the Imamate (their 12 perfect and infallible leaders) but the materials for these bridges basically do not come from sound Islamic thinking but started with the people known as the ‘rejecters’ from a place called Kufah. This is similar to the Catholic faith as Christianity changed in its original doctrines when Rome itself became the center of religious learning.

And in following that route, things have been ‘bent’ to uphold those beliefs. Let us take a look what the Messiah (pbh) said concerning building the soundness or lack of soundness of faith and the result of it:

Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell NOT for it was founded upon a rock {correct belief}.

And every one that hears these sayings of mine and doesn’t do them, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and IT FELL and great was the fall of it.    Matthew (7: 24-27)

Truth is truth! Building one’s faith (house) must be placed on a firm foundation (Correct Faith/Belief/Rituals – Sunnah of the Prophet (pbh) and or the sincere intention of doing so), so that (the rains) vagaries of life will NOT wash away and destroy that house of faith.

Therefore, in building one’s faith upon correct belief, one lets those correct beliefs and actions stand as ‘shields’ for the Day of Judgment acting as protection against the WRATH of ALLAH against those who continuously ‘turned away’.

Yet another bug-a-boo placed on the table by many Shia are the true and logical hadiths that declare that ‘some’ or sometimes declared (by them) ‘most’ members of the Islamic Community called The Prophet’s Companions turned renegades after The Prophet (pbh) died. This idea is extremely dangerous because one can now manipulate the religion as one pleases and then can provide an excuse for that.

Narrated Asma: The Prophet said, “I will be at my Lake-Fount (Kauthar) waiting for whoever will come to me. Then some people will be taken away from me whereupon I will say, ‘My followers!’ It will be said, “You do not know they turned Apostates as renegades (deserted their religion).” (Ibn Abi Mulaika said, “Allah, we seek refuge with YOU from turning on our heels from the (Islamic) religion and from being put to trial”).

Narrated Sahl bin Sa’d: I heard the Prophet saying, “I am your predecessor at the Lake-Fount (Kauthar), and whoever will come to it, will drink from it, and whoever will drink from it, will never become thirsty after that. There will come to me some people whom I know and they know me, and then a barrier will be set up between me and them.” Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri added that the Prophet further said: “I will say those people are from me. It will be said, ‘You do not know what changes and new things they did after you.’ Then I will say, ‘Far removed (from mercy), far removed (from mercy), those who changed (the religion) after me! ”

Narrated ‘Abdullah: The Prophet said, “I am your predecessor at the Lake-Fount (Kauthar) and some men amongst you will be brought to me, and when I will try to hand them some water, they will be pulled away from me by force whereupon I will say, ‘O Lord, my companions!’ Then the Almighty will say, ‘You do not know what they did after you left, they introduced new things into the religion after you.'”

THE BIG QUESTION IS TO WHO ARE THESE HADITHS REFERING TO? If ANY contemporary of the Prophet (pbh) heard, saw, conversed or listened to the Prophet’s voice, he could be considered by some a Companion. So a brief encounter with the Prophet (pbh) qualifies one as a Companion – a person who met, saw or talked with the Prophet (pbh).

Indeed! There were individuals who pretended to be Muslims and declared themselves Muslims but whose hearts were against Islam. These people were NOT close daily companions or helpers of the Prophet (pbh), however. In fact, at times, they coyly abused the Prophet (pbh) behind his back and pretended to be interested in what he said. At times they would question other Companions and ask them, “What did he (the Prophet) say or mean”, that is, what was meant by his words while pretending to be ‘interested’ in the truth as in hiding behind the veil of Islamic brotherhood.

Indeed, other hadiths give us a clue to those people when it is suggested that those people CONTINUOSLY, in secret, strove or did things to hamper the true faith. If this is so and it is, then we can see those people as being of certain groups that ‘day-in and day-out’ committed at times devious and questionable acts – continuously!!!

The importance of this is to show that the closest of the Prophet’s Companions must be deemed by logical minds as INNOCENT FROM THE CHARGE LEVELED AGAINST THEM BY MANY OF THE SHIA. Why? Obviously, ‘day-in and day-out’ mischief and wrong doing would EASILY BE NOTICED by those closest to the Prophet (pbh) after or even before his death and this would include ‘Ali himself.

Therefore, he (‘Ali) would never sully the name of Islam by working with people who day-in and day-out committed questionable acts or who were hypocrites especially since the Prophet (pbh) declared his contempt for them. What the Prophet (pbh) declared was a prophecy but he is not the one to know the Unseen!

Who were these people (wolves in sheep’s clothing) about whom the hadiths speaks? Most probably, but ALLAH ALONE KNOWS FOR SURE, they were pre-Kharijites who later adopted the Kharijite beliefs. We have some hadiths concerning them with a few being presented here:

Jabir b. Abdullah reported that a person came to the Messenger of Allah (pbh) at Ja’rana on his way back from Hunain, and there was in the clothes of Bilal some silver. The Messenger of Allah (pbh) took a handful out of that and bestowed it upon the people. He (the person who had met the Prophet at Ja’rana) said to him: Muhammad, do justice. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Woe be upon thee, who would do justice if I do not do justice, and you would be very unfortunate and at a loss if I do not do justice. Upon this Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Permit me to kill this hypocrite.” Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: “May there be protection of Allah! People would say that I kill my companions. This man and his companions would recite the Qur’an but it would NOT go beyond their throat, and they swerve from it just as the arrow goes through the prey.”      (Muslim)
In another narration:

A person among the people then sought permission (from the Holy Prophet) for his {that man’s} murder. According to some, it was Khalid b. Walid who sought the permission to kill this person. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (pbh), said: From this very person’s posterity there would arise people who would recite the Qur’an, but it would not go beyond their throats; they would kill the followers of Islam and would spare the idol-worshippers. They would glance through the teachings of Islam so hurriedly just as the arrow passes through the pray. If I were to ever find them I would kill them like ‘Ad.       (Muslim)
A hadith explaining this event follows:

That man then returned. Khalid b. Walid then said: “Messenger of Allah, should I not strike his neck?” Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: “Perhaps he may be observing the prayer.” Khalid said: “How many observers of prayer are there who profess with their tongue what is not in their heart?” Upon this the Messenger of Allah (pbh) said: I have NOT been commanded to pierce through the hearts of people, nor to split their bellies (insides).” He again looked at him and he was going back. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: There would arise a people from the progeny of this (man) who would recite the Qur’an glibly, but it would not go beyond their throats; they would (hurriedly) pass through (the teachings of their) Faith just as the arrow passes through the prey. I conceive that he (the Holy Prophet) also said this: If I find them I would certainly kill them as were killed the (people of) Thamud.       (Muslim)

In addition to this, the Old Testament as I have discussed before in one of my articles has declared about the 10,000 SAINTS {his Trustworthy Companions} that followed Muhammad (pbh) especially in reference to the re-taking of Makkah from the unbelievers.

But as I have said before, “Reality is in the eyes of the beholder and if the eyes are corrupt so will the vision be corrupt!!!”

Should we just sit back and ignore our problems then? Not at all! We should seek a common ground on which to believe and knowing that ALLAH is a WITNESS over all things. Therefore, the Muslim should recognize that there are ‘other’ branches of Islam and that on the Last Day, ALLAH will sort things out.

This does NOT mean that I must agree with other Islamic sects or doctrines from other sects or religions as that would be quite foolish. It simply means and with great warnings:

Let there be NO compulsion in religion: TRUTH STANDS OUT CLEAR FROM ERROR:  whoever rejects evil and believes in ALLAH hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And ALLAH hears and knows ALL THINGS {including what is in the most secret inner chambers of the heart}.                                                        Q (2:56)

That is a heavy thought when it is understood. And it is very deep in meaning. It is the ‘TRUTH STANDS OUT CLEAR FROM ERROR’ part that is quite frightening. The reason for this is that it literally declares at least two things:

  1. Unless one is brain impaired as in being handicapped in reasoning, the truth should be EASILY realized by, as in the logic being applied versus the ‘dark forces’ against it that in overcoming all obstacles, a person in being honest with his own soul will know the difference between TRUTH and FALSEHOOD.
  2. That being the case and with a lot of soul searching and dedication (work is implied and even demanded to reach the lofty goals of inheritance of Paradise) one does NOT choose the normal earthly delights of money, family, friends, society, Group, Sect or what not OVER THE OBVIOUS TRUTH. Like all things it takes work and effort to obtain the desired goal of PARADISE rather than the easy path to HELL-FIRE.

Who are these groups?

My Ummah will be divided into seventy three sects. All of them will be in the Fire except one.          (Muslim)

A group of my Ummah shall remain steadfast, on the truth, victorious, unharmed by those who oppose them, and do not support them, until the death or until the Day of Resurrection.        (Bukhari and Muslim)
These are groups dealing in bid’ah (INNOVATION), which are destined to go to Hell for a space of time {even one second in Hell-Fire is beyond comparison}. ***But because they are Ahl al-Qibla (people of the Qibla in prayer), they are NOT to be treated as unbelievers. Something is twisted in their religious beliefs and they also deny those who follow the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah, the understanding of the Companions of the Messenger of ALLAH and the upright scholars who have followed their way.

After all, this is Comparative Religion and so we can get insights from other sources as a warning to those others who don’t really believe {different from believing but having a crooked belief} and even rejoice in that fact by not caring at all concerning the pathway of truth or who find it a topic beneath their contempt:

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that {will} perish; because they received NOT the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And for this cause {reason} GOD shall send them strong delusion{s}, that they should believe a lie:

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, BUT had PLEASURE in {doing} unrighteousness.       2 Thessalonians (2: 10-12)

 

Let NOT the unbelievers think that OUR respite to them is good for themselves: WE grant them respite that they may grow {INCREASE} in their INIQUITY {EVIL ACTIONS} BUT THEY WILL HAVE A SHAMEFUL PUNISHMENT.      Q (3: 178)

 

But the unbelievers (are steeped) in SELF-GLORY and OPPOSITION {to the Truth}.                                  Q (38: 2)

 

The unbelievers will be addressed: “Greater was the aversion of ALLAH to you than (is) the aversion to yourselves {now in} seeing that you were called to the FAITH and you used to refuse.”     Q (40: 10)

Why is the knowledge that the concept of the ‘Children of Israel’ (as presented in the previous two articles) is inclusive of the three Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam instead of representing the Jews only?

I believe it is important for several reasons.

And this is the BLESSING, wherewith Moses the man of GOD BLESSED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL before his death.

And he {Moses} said, “The LORD came {set forth HIS Revelation} from Si’nai {in the form of HIS Messenger Moses the Law Giver} and rose up from Se’-ir {in the form of HIS Perfected (sinless) Messenger Jesus} unto them: HE shined forth {showed HIS Expression – HIS ETERNAL TRUTH in the form of HIS Messenger Muhammad} from mount Pa’-ran {an area classified as in and around Makkah} and he came {set forth with his blessed Companions} with ten thousand of saints {his loyal and faithful Companions}: True Believers {and} from his right hand went a fiery law for them {Prophet Muhammad’s enduring miracle given to him (the Quran) and also, until the end of the good people of this world, his Sunnah – religious practice}.”    Deuteronomy (33: 1-2)

First, it shows a type of unity and harmony between ‘religious thoughts’ extending back many, many centuries even when encountering so-called ‘worldly’ rivalries that were brought about by twisted minds alien to real religious thinking. This gives ‘religion’ and religious practices a type of concrete legitimacy as a ‘hard’ science rather than a revolving, wishful thinking type of make-believe philosophy favored by those who claim that ‘man invented GOD’ throughout the centuries!

Secondly, it presents a challenge to all faithful and earnest but not hypocritical men and women to look at the Israeli-Palestinian situation in a more fundamental and proper light. Truth be told, the Israeli Jew has been given almost a blank check since before 1948 as to their intentions and moral behavior. This may have come about in part due to the world’s collective guilty feeling about how those people were treated in the past by ‘Christian’ countries. Whatever the case, the Jews capitalized on the feelings of sympathy and NOW one can see how the world has become so dangerously and politically polarized.

If the West can ‘protect’ such a state even when the idea is put forward of a two-state solution which is obviously bogus as politicians have had over 20 years to produce any positive results, an average intelligent person would already assume that this is just a trick of the Israeli government to make continuous land grabs. Indeed, the history of Al-Nakba (Day of Catastrophe) of the Palestinian people is truly an eye-opening drama showing some of the darkest and devilish actions and intentions of corrupt and degrading human (Jewish) actions.

Finally, the recognition of the truer nature of the Children of Israel will highlight the reality and chosen position of the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) whom the Jews fail to honor and follow and the status of Islam as the WAY OF CHOICE to those who love GOD. How else could it be when the records are studied with an impartial and intelligent nature!