Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Question:

My respected Maulvi, Salaams to you! it was a question concerning different sects in islam and how Allah swt and Prophet saw mentioned more or less we will be divided like the previous ummahs and it was also mentioned we the muslim ummah will have 73 sects and only one would be in Jannah i.e. ‘Jammah Group’. P saw. said “the path which i and my companions are upon” what i’m trying to get at Mufti sab is ppl creating their own division by ideoligies and own ways, all i want to know is did Maulana Elias created his own idea and made a systamatical way for eg. five ammals? and must be done? i know he had a fikr/concern but what came out of this fikr was it an IDEA or WAY?

Answer:

Wa Alaikumus Salaam

JazakAllah for your clarification.

Based on our knowledge of Maulana Ilyas (A.R) and the effort he started, we can safely say that he did not invent a new way or idea that was not in Islam. He simply revived what was established in Islam, and had ‘died out’ to a large extent among the Muslims. The concern and worry the Maulana had for the Muslims to practice upon Deen was the same concern which was shown by the Prophet (S.A).
The act of moving from one place to another to propagate and spread the word of Islam was indeed the mission of the Prophet (S.A).
The practice of visiting the homes of the people to remind them of their duties to Allah was done by the Prophet (S.A) himself. Establishing Taleem (teaching and learning) at home and at the Masjid are all in accordance to the Sunnah of the Prophet (S.A). Engaging in the remembrance of Allah, showing love and kindness (Ikram) to other Muslims and striving in the path of Allah, are from the teachings of the Holy Quran.
Sitting in the Masjid to discuss the affairs of the Muslims in order to create a concern and worry for them is one which the Prophet (S.A) was absorbed in. Going in different localities in order to invite Muslims to the Masjid was the Sunnah of the Prophet (S.A).
The effort which was revived by Maulana Ilyas (A.R) was not an invented ‘way’ or ‘idea’. Instead, it was one which was in accordance to the teachings and practices of the Holy Prophet (S.A). The ‘Call’ that was made by the respected Maulana (A.R) was for Muslims to return to the way of the Messenger of Allah (S.A). He emphasized to the Muslims to love and practice the Sunnah of the Prophet (S.A) and fulfill the commandments of Allah.
This was not a new way or a new ideology. It was upon the way of the Messenger of Allah (S.A) and that of his Sahabahs.
With respect to the statement ‘and he came up with an idea’, it simply means that he had the thought and understanding in his mind that the way to revive Islam was the way which was shown by the Prophet (S.A). Hence, he adopted this manner and began to move from one locality to another, inviting the Muslims to the Masjid and reminding them of their religion, Islam.
Having an ‘idea’ of doing something, does not mean that it is opposing to Islam. It simply means that one has a thought of doing something in a certain manner. If this ‘manner’ is opposing to the teachings of Islam, then it will be condemned. If it is acceptable in the teachings of Islam, then it will not be condemned as being a new way or a new sect. For example, in the past, many people who worked for the revival of Islam had different ‘ideas’ of doing so. Some revived it through the means of writing books on different subjects and became engrossed in the field of writing for their entire lives, and this was their idea of reviving/propagating Islam.
Some, on account of their fikr and concern came up with the idea of debating with others in order to propagate Islam. Hence, we saw many scholars in the past who debated with the polytheists, atheists, Christians and others. Until today, this takes place, however, this is acceptable in Islam since it is not opposing to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. In this way, through the period of 1400 years, many reformers and revivers of Islam came, who propagated and tried to revive Islam in a manner that was beneficial to the people at that time. Each would have adopted a means and a way that was suited for the people and the era, and would have been different from another reformer at another time. The difference in approaches is not what matters. The true criterion is whether something is within the teachings of Islam or not. Whatever is in accordance to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (S.A), then these would be acceptable, and whatever is not in accordance, will not be acceptable.
As highlighted in the Hadith you indicated to, the Prophet (S.A) gave us a guiding principle through which one can detect a deviated sect. This principle is whether or not a group fully accepts the Sunnah/teachings of the Prophet (S.A), and whether or not they hold fast to the ‘way’ of the Sahabahs (R.A).
With respect to Maulana Ilyas (A.R), he was very strict in following the Sunnah of the Prophet (S.A), and also held firmly to the way of the Sahabahs (R.A). This is exactly what he preached and propagated in his noble effort.

And Allah Knows Best

Mufti Waseem Khan