Hold fast to the Rope of Allah, all together, and be not divided. (Qur’an, 3:103)
Suhaib Webb has posted a pledge of Mutual respect among Sunni Muslim scholars, with a really long title (A Great Blessing in a Blessed Month: Pledge of Mutual Respect and Cooperation Between Sunni Muslim Scholars, Organizations, and Students of Sacred Knowledge).
Mujahideen Ryder is collecting signatures for it. Here I sign. ( iMuslim led me to the pledge, JazakAllah, iM)
I wonder, would it not be nice if we could have Shi’as too?
(Update: MM has posted the pledge too.)
(Update: gess has her concerns about the pledge, some others have also expressed unhappiness about ’sunni’ being mentioned in the name and not only ‘muslim’. )
Let’s see how long it will last.
It looks to me people behind this alliance are from same branch .
I rather wanted to see that they elaborate their aim than the colourful [95% men] of list signatures.
I bet the staunch Sufis claim that they follow Sunnah.
Sorry, but finding an authority — a la president or Pope — is not the answer nor Islamic.
OK, I read the alliance party programme, and it is much worse than I thought:
In another words, a muzzle to everyone who has not been in proper school, and does not agree with the authority . And who defines who is an “average Muslim”?
And if that is not a political programme, then I don’t what it is.
It is this kind of mentality that hindered the Muslims to advance themselves, particularly when it comes Islam, because there is always someone who takes care of our duties of Islam, hence, thousands of Fatwaa sites, instead of reading the Scriptures that Allah(swt) commanded us.
Who ever wrote that programme, he should know, Allah(swt) commended us not talk without knowledge– especially in Islam, but no where Does Allah(swt) Discriminate who should have responsible for knowing the basics of creed. There is no average, middle, top in Islam.
That is a caste system.
Manas,
I’ll use these comments on my blog later today, Isha’Allah.
^I meant of course commanded
gess….. i think you misunderstood what they meant by that.
gess
That’s a very poignant question. I agree that there is no bottom, middle or top strata in the Ummah.
However, I don’t think when using the word ‘average’ they implied a caste system. I think they meant those Muslims who have not studied the scriptures in detail. Me included. That does not exclude them from discussion, I suppose.
What I am looking forward to is the main theme of the pledge- that of respecting the other opinion.
I am sure you will agree acknowledging the other opinion is Islamic. That is very scarce in us.
I see an effort in the right direction.
Why just sunni unity pledge? why not all muslims-unity pledge?
I was thinking about that, too. iMuslim says it’s already hard enough!
I hope she’s wrong.
Anyway, this is a step in the right direction.
Why not Shia’s and Sufis? They are not muslims? Why not just Muslims’ unity? It just increase division..
Shahrzad,
I really would have loved if all of them joined. And if the tag Sunni was removed. Why don’t you write to the proponents- Suhaib Webb and MuslimMatters?
I know it is not view of all muslims. There are hands out there who wanna make division and fitnah.
I doubt about honesty of people who are behind this program
I hope that you are wrong, Shahrzad, and that they did not seek to divide. I hope Shia and Sunni can unite one day.
As for myself, I don’t see myself as a Shia or a Sunni. In some things, I align with the Shi’a, in some others, with the Sunni.
Manas, I personally considrate on me as a muslim. That’s who i am and all of us are.
The idea of hands of division, i hope to be wrong about those particular supporters of this program. Yet i’ve gotten that there are many blogs and sites that under name of Islam and muslim being, look for making muslims world apart.
Unfortunately they act like you think they are little God, yet when you ask them for example about zionist, they start to defend zionists and zionism.
I’m completely sure, there are some programs by western goverments to gather opinians of muslims about some spc ideas.
I doubt about the program, for that’s centuries we dont have any unity between Ummah, and we lose more and more everyday. If kind of programs wanted to work, it would be informed by generations before us.. Am i right?
Sorry i say this. Something is weird in kind of programs..
That was worrying. Would you mind sharing some links that claim to be Muslims but defend zionism?
When I saw the title of your post I was about to admonish you for not making it a general Muslim Unity pledge! Then I read the entry. Not sure what to say about it so I’ll go off on a tangent – I’m personally becoming more and more intrigued by the “Plain Muslim” movement.
I have their links. But i got that’s better i dont introduce them to others, then i dont make high rank of visitors for them
Yet you can read the story i had with one of them, in “Made by US of A” post in my blog..
Ashi
lucky me!
gess is worried about the same thing. http://gess.wordpress.com
I shall write more about it when I am more sure about it.
Shahrzad
I wanted to know not to argue with them, but to be cautious, we run ijtema, you know. http://www.ijtema.net so that we don’t publish articles from them. You can email me the addresses if you like.
I email you the link and my story!
What is your idea about reading Quran together, all bloggers? It helps more to make friendship and spiritual connection between us, without focusing on sects and school of thoughts..
I didnt know you are part of Ijtema. I like the site..
I read the entry. I once saw a woman like the one you mention first, only she was younger. May God save us from such people.
Reading the Qur’an is an absolutely brilliant idea. You start it, i’ll carry along. Maybe we can ask other bloggers to step in, too. Or do you think we should tag them?
I sent you an email to your Yahoo email..
I think we should tag. It is good to make a group blog, or just a page? I want your ideas..
As salamu ‘alaykum Manas,
On a side note, I would like to thank you for linking to IslamCrunch. We are honored. May Allah s.w.t. bless you with eternal success.
Wa Alaikum As-Salam
You are most welcome, Mikael. I should thank you for your site. May Allah guide us and bless us with mercy and success.
Amin
You’ve recieved my email, Manas? Just i wanna be sure you did. Thank you
I have, only I took a long time to reply. Sorry for the delay.
Why not a pledge for Unity of Mankind(for a change)?
Because it isn’t practical. Nobody will respect it.
If all of us could be united for good(pun intended), I’d be happiest.