Did madhhabs (sects) split the religion?

“Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself.” (ar-Rum, 30/32)
- Does the verse above indicate madhhabs?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The verse above has nothing to do with true madhhabs. As a matter of fact, we are asked to refer to the scholars in another verse:

“If they had only referred it to the Messenger, or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have Tested it from them (direct).” (an-Nisa, 4/83)

It means the state mentioned in the chapter of ar-Rum has nothing to do with true madhhabs and true mujtahids because it is Allah who orders us to ask those scholars, who states that they will know what we ask them and who confirms it.

Then, what is the state mentioned in the chapter of ar-Rum?

Let us see the translation of verses 31 and 32 of the chapter of Rum first:

“Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah,- Those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!”

What is meant by the phrase “those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects...” in the verses above is meant the groups that lost the essence of the religion, substituted their own desires for the religion, and hence broke into small groups - by going beyond the basic principles of the religion. The biggest evidence that they are not related to the four sects is that the four sects are located in a center that represents the vast majority of the Islamic ummah, that is based on the Quran and the Sunnah, and that has educated and trained the greatest scholars and saints for a thousand years, confirming each other in the basic disciplines of the topics of creed and deeds, and representing the collective personality of the Islamic ummah.

Those four sects were named Ahl as-Sunnah and they have been mentioned with that name for about 1,300 years. That fact, alone, is a clear indication that they have followed the path of the Prophet (pbuh) and the Companions.

When it is viewed from the point of view of the groups that are affiliated with Islam but have very different aspects, there are generally two different mentalities. The first one of them is Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah and the second one is Ahl al-Bid’ah. Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah is defined in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as “those who adhere to the creed that I and my Companions have”. (Kanzul-Ummal, h. no: 1057) Therefore, those who do not adhere to that creed are regarded as people of bid’ah. They consist of seventy-two sects. Mutazila, Jahmiya, Qadariyya and similar ones are among them.

Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah have two different madhhabs (sects) of creed: Ash’ari and Maturidi. There is no difference between them in terms of basic principles. There are some small differences in details. Therefore, both represent the same group.

According to another hadith of the Prophet (pbuh), those who are defined as Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah and Ahl an-Najat are “The ones who form as-sawad al-azam (greatest group) and who walk on the path on which I and my companions are.” (Kanzul-Ummal, h. no:8319)

The concept “as-sawad al-azam” in the hadith means the largest group, the largest congregation. What group is larger than the mass/congregation formed around the four sects with a history of approximately 1,300 years?

The movement of sectlessness (following no madhab) barely has a history two hundred years. If we accept the four madhhabs as ahl al-bid’ah since the sects mentioned in the hadiths are - clearly - labeled as the people of bid’ah, can we talk about an Islamic ummah?

With a very optimistic approach, 90% of this ummah is not in a position to directly deduce Islamic decrees from the Quran. In that case, all those people will either follow the millions of scholars and mujtahids of the four madhhabs or a few people who can never be compared with the scholars of the four madhhabs - in terms of their taqwa, knowledge, or religious wisdom.

Should we imitate Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafii and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal or should we imitate a few people who do not have proper taqwa and do not have proper scientific foresight?

In general, all tafsir scholars, hadith scholars, kalam scholars, fiqh scholars, saints and scholars are people who are affiliated with the four madhhabs.

To sum up, if we regard the members of the four madhhabs, who have made up at least 80-90% of the Islamic ummah for thirteen centuries, as ahl al-bid’ah, what will be the Islamic ummah, the best of the ummahs?

Allah informs us in verse 115 of the chapter of an-Nisa that those who do not follow the path of the ummah will end up in Hell:

“If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell,- what an evil refuge.”

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