Do sects exist in Islam /Why are Muslims divided into sects / different school of thought??

When all the Muslim follow one and the same Qur'an then why are there so many sects and different schools of thoughts among the Muslim ?

image credit ; islam-peace 

Answer:

1. Muslims should unite together.

 It is undeniable that today's Muslims are divided amongst themselves. The tragedy is that Islam does not support such divisions. Islam emphasises the importance of building unity among its believers.

"And hold tight, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and do not be divided among yourselves," the Glorious Qur'an says.

Qur'an 3:703/

What is the Allah's rope that is mentioned in .this verse? It is the Magnificent Qur'an. The Glorious Qur'an is Allah's rope that should bind all Muslims together. In this verse, there is a double focus. It also urges, "Be not divided," in addition to "hold firm all together."

The Qur'an further said,

 “Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger”                           Qur’an 4:59)

All the Muslim should follow the Qur'an and authentic ahadith and be not divided among themselves.

 2. In Islam, sects and divisions are forbidden.

  The Glorious Qur'an says:

“As for those who divide Their religion and break up into sects, thouhast no part in them in the least: Their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did.”                     [Al•Qur’an 6:159)

 

In this verse, Allah (swt) instructs us to separate ourselves from those who divide their religion and divide it into sects.

When asked, "Who are you?" by a Muslim, the most typical response is either "I am a Sunni" or "I am a Shia." Some people refer to themselves as Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki, or Humbali. Some claim "I am a Deobandi," while others say "I am a Deobandi.". In Islam, it is forbidden to form sects or divisions. "As for those who divide Their religion and split off into sects," the Glorious Qur'an states,

 "Our Prophet was a Muslim."

"Who was our beloved prophet (pbuh)?" one would ask such Muslims. Was he a Hanafi, Shafi, Humbali, or Maliki?" No! He, like all the previous prophets and messengers of Allah before him, was a Muslim.

Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim, according to Chapter 3/erse 52 of the AI-Qur'an. Furthermore, the AI-Qur'an states in chapter 3 verse 67 that Ibrahim (pbuh) was a Muslim, neither a Jew or a Christian. 

3. The Qur'an instructs Muslims to refer to themselves as Muslims.

a.  If someone asks a Muslim who he is, he should respond, "I am a MUSLIM, not a Hanafi or a Shafi."

 "Who is greater in speech than one who invites (folk) to Allah, practises justice, and says, 'I am of those Who bow in Islam (Muslim)?" says Surah Fussilat chapter 41 verse 33.

[Al-Qur'an, verse 41:33]

"Say I am of those who bow in Islam," the Qur'an states. To put it another way, say, "I am a Muslim."

b.  The Prophet (pbuh) drafted letters inviting non-Muslim kings and rulers to adopt Islam. In these letters, he quoted the following verse from Surah Ali Imran chapter 3 verse 64 of the Qur'an:

: “Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will).”

[AI-Qur’an 3:64]

3.  Respect all the Great Scholars of Islam

All of Islam's great scholars, including the four Imaams, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Humbal, and Imam Malik, must be respected (may Allah be pleased with them all). They were outstanding scholars, and Allah bless them for their scholarship and dedication. If someone agrees with Imam Abu Hanifa's or Imam Shafi's opinions and research,  there is no need to object. When asked, "Who are you?" the only appropriate response is "I am a Muslim."

 Some may dispute by using Sunan Abu Dawood Hadith No. 4579, which contains a hadith from our beloved Prophet.

 "My society will be divided into seventy-three sects," the prophet (pbuh) is supposed to have declared in this hadith.

 

According to this hadith, the prophet predicted the formation of seventy-three sects. He didn't say that Muslims should be actively involved in sectarian divisions. The Holy Qur'an forbids us from forming sects. Those who adhere to the Quran's and Sahih Hadith's teachings and do not form sects are on the right track.

"My Umma will be broken into seventy-three sects, and all of them will be in Hell fire except one sect," the prophet (pbuh) is supposed to have declared in Tirmidhi Hadith No. 171. The companions asked as to which group Allah's messenger was referring to. "It is the one to which I and my companions belong," he said.

"Obey Allah and obey His Messenger," says the Glorious Qur'an in various verses. Only the Glorious Qur'an and the Sahih Hadith should be followed by a true Muslim. He can agree with any scholar's opinions as long as they are fit with the Qur'an's and Sahih Hadith's teachings. If such opinions contradict Allah's Word or His Prophet's Sunnah, they are worthless, regardless matter how accomplished the scholar is.

Inshallah, if all Muslims study the Qur'an with comprehension and follow Sahih Hadith, most of 

these differences would be solved and we could be one united Muslim Ummah.