In Islam, the legalities, practices and jurisprudence are closely associated with the School of Thought that a Muslim follows. There are four main Schools of Thought—Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki and Humbli. These Schools of Thoughts became predominant in the ninth and the tenth centuries CE. By the end of the 12th century, almost all Muslims across the globe had associated themselves with a particular School of Thought. As a result of this association, today, we find that a certain School of Thought stands widely accepted in certain areas. For example, in the North and West Africa, the Maliki School of Thought is the most widely followed. Hanafi School of Thought is predominant in the South and Central Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Russia, etc. East Africans and Southeast Asians follow the Shafi School of Thought. In the North and Central Arabia, Muslims practice according to Hambali School of Thought. Codified state laws in different countries led to a situation that association towards a particular School of Thought became all the more important. In essence, these Schools of Thought gave us different guidelines, laws, jurisprudence, practices and opinions. These Schools were meant to simplify the laws in a particular country and give a path to follow. People, however, made everything they could out of them. These Schools have now been reduced to nothing but means to oppose the other. Today, we have disgraced these schools which were made to ease our lives and simplify our practices. Our Khateeb sahibaan nowadays are busy in delivering sermons from Mimbar Shareef to oppose the other School. They are busy in proving theirs as the only genuine school. Muslims belonging to one sect degrade the other sects.
If we learn the holy Quran and its commentary and if we try to comprehend it and apply it, that would be the ideal Islamic practice. Let’s learn to study and understand each other’s teachings and practices. Respect all Schools of Thought. Hate none. Our ultimate faith is in one God, His Prophet (pbuh) and the Holy Quran. Let’s make peace.
We have created such a silly division that the meaning and the essence with which these schools were formed by their founders have been long forgotten. The founders of these Schools never opposed and hated each other. They didn’t speak and act to downgrade the other. They taught us universal brotherhood. They did not guide us to create division. A Muslim is a Muslim. He follows the practices of a particular school only to associate and simplify his practices. What have we created out of these beautiful schools; we have created hatred, unnecessary debates, oppositions, abuses, and what not. Our Masjids have become centres to speak ill of those who practice the other school. The loudspeakers of tall Minars of our Masjids are now used only for this purpose. Our Khateeb sahiban use every trick in the bag to prove the other school wrong. We no longer preach Islam and the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah’s peace be upon him). We no longer emphasize harmony, peace, brotherhood and mutual respect. We no longer teach and learn the fundamentals of our religion. We speak to vomit venom. It would have been so useful if our Masjids carried out sermons in which we taught our fellow Muslims how to perform ablution and what to read in Salah. If we learn the holy Quran and its commentary and if we try to comprehend it and apply it, that would be the ideal Islamic practice. Let’s learn to study and understand each other’s teachings and practices. Respect all Schools of Thought. Hate none. Our ultimate faith is in one God, His Prophet (pbuh) and the Holy Quran. Let’s make peace.
