If I were to list the various sects within Islam today I am confident that they would near if not be more than the figure that was narrated from the prophet(saw). It seems that the days of Islamic concensus are far behind. We all claim to be ahlu sunnah ...claim to take that middle road ...and in the process we cast our brothers as infidels in a subtle or direct manner. If we were to take the position that this fragmentation explains the plight of the muslim community today.. (the idea that God is punishing us for deviating from the path)...what then would be the right path. Do we need a new contemporary epistemology ...or shall we disregard the claims of these minorities and unite under one Islam despite our differences. What ever the answer might be...how ever dogmatic and fanatical it might be...feel free to share..
A man was walking across a bridge one day, and he saw another man standing on the edge, about to jump off and commit suicide. He immediately ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"
"Why shouldn't I?" the other replied.
The man said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"
"Like what?"
"Well ... are you religious or atheist?"
"Religious." "Me too! Are you Muslim, Christian or Jewish?"
"Muslim."
"Me too! Sunni or Shi'ite?"
"Sunni." "Me too! Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafi or Maliki?"
"Hanafi."
"Wow! Me too! Do you follow Sheikh Fulaan al-Fullani or Sheikh Kaza Kazah?"
"Sheikh Fulaan al-Fullani."
To which the first man said, "What?!! Die, infidel scum!" and pushed him off.
[ December 22, 2007, 05:35 AM: Message edited by: Nur ]
